Three Hopkins County School Districts received grants Tuesday morning at the Sulphur Springs Country Club. The grants were presented by the John and Deborah Gillis and Robin Shrode with the John and Deborah Gillis Foundation. (See video below)
In August, 2018, John and Deborah Gillis announced the largest private educational initiative ever undertaken in Hopkins County with the formation of the John and Deborah Gillis Foundation which will provide scholarships for students and grants for school districts. At that time, the Foundation stated they will provide 10 annual Bright Stars Scholarships to seniors graduating from any of the seven high schools in Hopkins County, beginning in Spring 2019. The scholarships will be in the amount of $4,000 per semester, renewable for up to eight semesters — making it the largest single scholarship program in the county.
In addition, a total of $100,000 in grants over a three-year period will be awarded annually to qualifying schools to support instructional programs, staff development and other initiatives that align with the foundation’s mission. The foundation also committed to a total of $100,000 in grants over a three-year period to be awarded annually to qualifying schools to support instructional programs, staff development and other initiatives that align with the foundation’s mission.
