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Retired teacher urges Lake County support for ‘Adopt a Fifth Grader’ scholarships
Summary
At the Board of Supervisors public input period, retired teacher Carolyn Jarrett described Mendocino and Yuba College "Adopt a Fifth Grader" programs and asked local groups to consider donations to fund $700 scholarships.
Carolyn Jarrett, a retired teacher and former school board member, urged the Lake County Board of Supervisors during public input to encourage local groups to support an "Adopt a Fifth Grader" scholarship program serving parts of the county.
Jarrett said the Mendocino College program serves Lucerne, Upper Lake, Lakeport and Kelseyville and has run for 17 years, while a Yuba College program that covers other communities began two years ago. "It gave me great hope," Jarrett said after describing the programs' approach to recognizing students who show promise despite difficult circumstances.
Under the program Jarrett described, teachers and principals select students at assemblies. Selected fifth graders receive a $25 gift certificate immediately and a promise of larger awards later: $500 if they graduate high school and $1,000 if they enroll and complete 12 units at Mendocino College. Jarrett said the program costs about $700 per scholarship but that "donations of any amount are gratefully accepted." She also said supervisors cannot allocate money directly for the program but offered that Mendocino and Yuba program directors are willing to speak to local groups.
Jarrett urged community organizations, clubs and individuals to consider supporting scholarships or hosting program presentations in Lake County. She left flyers with contact information for further follow-up.
The comments occurred during the public input portion of the board meeting; no formal county action or funding commitment was made during the session.
