Raymond Seniors To Attend College With Minimal Debt: Reach High

RAYMOND, NH — Thanks to a local nonprofit, a group of graduates from Raymond High School will attend colleges of their dreams next year while incurring little or no debt. Through the Reach High Scholars Program, nine of Raymond High's seniors acquired more than $1.3 million in scholarships and grants combined, according to the Raymond School District. Among the members of the Reach High program were the school's Valedictorian Carly Cole and Salutatorian Tovah Duffaut.

The Reach High Scholars Program was founded in 2008 by Raymond High School alumni John McDaniels. The program accepts students as early as in eighth grade who apply with nominations from teachers. As part of the program, students are encouraged to challenge themselves through various opportunities including summer courses based on round table discussions, PSAT and SAT boot camps and multi-week summer boarding enrichment programs taking place in schools such as Philips Exeter Academy.

Reach High also plans group trips to local colleges and pays a portion of college admission fees and admission test fees, based on need. The goal is to help students achieve academic goals and attend high quality colleges without accumulating significant debt, School District officials say.

"Our students are so fortunate to have a program that will help them pursue opportunities to be challenged academically outside of their schoolwork, navigate the college process and identify opportunities to pursue higher education without going into an incredible amount of debt," said Superintendent Tina McCoy.

The nine Raymond graduates who completed the Reach High program this year are going on to colleges including Wheaton College, Hobart and William Smith College, Union College, Emerson College, Colby College, St. Anselm's College and the University of New Hampshire.

"Reach High Scholars provided me with the guidance I needed to make me the best candidate possible for the schools I wanted to apply to; as well as, a safe space to vent about the challenges and hurdles I experienced along the way," said Savannah Cooney, who will attend Wheaton College this fall.

The Reach High program currently has about 70 students in grades eight through 12.

"RHSP has exposed me to so many important aspects of the college process," said Jenny Ferm, who will attend Emerson College this fall. "The advisers were there to help guide me through my decision making process, and aided me in creating my college resume throughout these past four years."

Cole, the valedictorian, will attend Union College this fall, and Tovah, the salutatorian, will attend Colby College, according to School District officials.

Raymond High School alumni from previous graduating classes who had participated in the program have attended schools including Boston College, Brown University, Dartmouth College, Holy Cross, Northeastern and Worcester Polytechnic.

Two former members of the program were the first and second Raymond Public School alumni to receive Fulbright Scholarships to study and work abroad, according to School District officials. Several other alumni of the nonprofit program work in companies including Amazon, Athenahealth, BAE Systems and IBM Watson, and are pursuing or have obtained Ph.D. and master's degrees.