Lake Oconee Youth Alliance (LOYA) empowers underserved youth through mentoring and scholarship programs for post-secondary education.
Since 2018, LOYA has provided undergraduate recurring scholarships to 67 HOPE and PELL-eligible area students attending in-state colleges and universities.
LOYA is proud to announce that it has awarded college scholarships to the following 12 graduates of the Class of 2024 at Greene County High School, Lake Oconee Academy, and Putnam County High School.
Additionally, three outstanding college underclassmen were awarded LOYA scholarships throughout the remainder of their undergraduate careers.
Class of 2024
• Emily Allen (PCHS), N. GA Tech College, Certificate Welding
• Anahi Barranco (PCHS), GCSU, Major: Accounting
• Jasmine Burke (PCHS), KSU, Major: Education
• Jonquail Coates (PCHS), GCSU, Major: Computer Science
• Jude Doredant (PCHS), GCSU/Georgia Tech, Major: Computer Science
• Breylan Evans (LOA), Gwinnett College, Major: Education
• Kamiya Jones (PCHS), Savannah State, Major: Criminal Justice
• Jacory Mapp (GCHS), KSU, Major: 2D Animation
• Katrina Rucker (PCHS), KSU, Major: Computer Science
• Bryant Ruff (PCHS), Emmanuel College, Major: Sports Mgmt.
• Christian Smith (GCHS), Morehouse, Major: Ad./Mktg.
• Samantha Spisak (PCHS), Wesleyan College, Major: Biology
Undergraduates
• Sherlyn Camancho-Bustamante (GCHS, 2023), GCSU, Major: Accounting
• Chandler Gordon (PCHS 2021), KSU, Major: Business Admin./ 1st Lt. U.S. Army upon graduation
• A’Kerria Merritt (GCHS 2023), GSU, Major: Business Administration. LOYA provides college scholarships through three different programs: traditional four-year scholarships to high school seniors attending in-state colleges/universities, two-year GAP scholarships to technical/community college residential students, and Second-look scholarships to outstanding college students completing their undergraduate studies.
As someone who has already walked the paths of collegiate education, LOYA mentors provide guidance, a friendly face, and encouragement to scholarship recipients, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college.
Thanks to generous community donors, LOYA has provided approximately $500,000 in college scholarship awards and about $170,000 in college assistance scholarships so far.
Anyone interested in donating to the program or volunteering as a mentor should email LOYA at scholars4loya@gmail.com.