GRUVER, TEXAS -- A newly-formed scholarship foundation in Gruver is making sure every student has the opportunity to receive some money for a higher education.
The Gruver Farm Scholarship Foundation was formed in March. That's a community driven Foundation and farm that is helping Gruver students turn their dream of a college education into a reality.
It's a community rallying around their own, and a better education is the goal. That's what's behind the Farm Scholarship Foundation.
"We're going to create a fund and we're going to build this fund over the next three or four years and then the students that are freshman this year will be the first to receive the funds. It's possible that students may receive $2,000 to $4,000 a semester for eight semesters," said Derik Grotegut, Foundation Board Member.
The Foundation Board will be leasing the district's school farm of about 400 acres of land each year. The members, with heavy community involvement, will harvest cotton and corn. Profits made from those commodities will then be put into scholarships for the students.
"The kids earn points the more they participate in all activities from athletics, to academics, to Ag, any of those activities earn them points and then by the time they graduate the more they're involved the more points they earn the higher percentage of a scholarship they could receive," said Troy Seagler, Gruver High School Principal.
"It's kind of an attempt to get to the future of Gruver. We're looking to get people, more kids here, great school and something we've probably needed for awhile," said Chad Logsdon, Foundation President.
"There's a lot of kids, the top five-percent can easily receive all the scholarships and get all the money. But there are students that are great kids that just don't hardly receive any help and this is going to help those kids," said Grotegut.
By the time this year's Freshman are Seniors, the Foundation is hoping to have a million dollars saved up.
"In the end you know you're doing it for a good cause. And it's going to help a lot of students and it's helping the community, that school is important".
The board also says this first year has been a learning process. They add, without the community's support and help with seed, fertilizer, and other essentials, the project would not be possible.
