Submitted

Griffin-Spalding County School System officials project there will be 537 graduates, including 129 honor graduates, this year.

The projected number of graduates from Griffin High School is 260, including 52 honor graduates, and the projected number of graduates from Spalding High School is 270, including 77 honor graduates.

A.Z. Kelsey Academy is expected to have seven graduates.

This is an increase of 43 graduates and an increase of 22 honor graduates over 2007.

Griffin-Spalding County School System 2008 graduating college-bound seniors have earned more than $7,279,592 in scholarships from local organizations, higher education institutions and the Georgia HOPE scholarship program.

The total value of reported local and institutional scholarships is $2,769,270, approximately $1 million more than the reported local and institutional scholarship total from 2007.

Many in the class of 2008 will qualify for HOPE scholarships. Final awards and amounts are pending confirmation by the Georgia Student Finance Commission. It is estimated that 86 Griffin High School seniors and 100 Spalding High School seniors will qualify for the HOPE scholarship. The HOPE scholarship has an estimated value of $6,300 per year and is renewable for four years pending academic achievement, for an estimated total of $25,200 per scholarship.

The total scholarship value for Griffin High School is $3,996,567.

The total scholarship value for Spalding High School is $3,283,025.

Superintendent Jesse Bradley said, “Our graduating seniors have worked very hard for these scholarships. Their accolades are astounding. We are extremely proud of our students. The school system and the graduates are particularly thankful for the continuing support of the local organizations that sponsor scholarships.”