Through UGA’s Foundation Fellowship, five CCSD graduates are currently attending the university on a full academic scholarship as well as funding for travel-study, research and conferences. The fellowship is the university’s most prestigious academic program and creates a community for top scholars at UGA.
“I owe so much of the joy and success of the college experience to the Foundation Fellowship,” said Dani Garcia-Pozo, a fourth-year student who graduated from Clarke Central High School. “It has introduced me to a community of fantastic, deeply kind people who really want to see you succeed. I’ve met one of my best friends through the program who encouraged me to travel abroad.”
The fellowship supported Garcia-Pozo’s travel abroad to places like the United Kingdom, Ecuador, Spain and Cuba. His travels helped him become fluent in Spanish.
These Clarke County graduates have found a strong sense of community and support through the Foundation Fellowship.
“I always thought I wanted to get out of Athens, but after interning with the Young Dawgs program, I realized UGA was perfect for me,” said Patrick Allen, a first-year student who graduated from Clarke Central High School. “Young Dawgs showed me great professors and a depth of resources, and then the Foundation Fellowship was almost like a family.”
The Clarke County graduates have remained connected to their hometown, volunteering at nonprofits and showcasing local restaurants and businesses to fellow UGA students.
“Coming from Athens I’m more aware of the challenges facing Clarke County, and I’m always looking for more opportunities to serve,” said Ella Johnson, a second-year student who graduated from Cedar Shoals High School. “I joined First-Year Forum my freshman year and worked with Campus Kitchen for a year. This year, I’m focusing on literacy, which was an issue I saw in my [K-12] schools.”