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Franklin City Public Schools announced in late April the nomination of 33 Franklin High School seniors for the Camp Foundation Full Scholarship, making those students Pre-Camp Scholars.

FCPS Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, HR and CTE Dr. Tanieka Ricks stated in her April 24 presentation on the matter that this scholarship provides full funding for students to pursue a post-secondary pathway at Paul D. Camp Community College, leading to either an associate degree or a certified industry certification. 

“We are excited about the opportunities this creates for our students and their futures, and we extend our thanks to everyone who helped make this possible,” Ricks stated in the presentation. “Let’s continue to support and celebrate their success!”

She noted that the criteria for being eligible for the scholarship includes standards relating to attendance, academic performance, discipline, drug testing and volunteer or work hours.

She provided a spreadsheet showing the numbers of FHS students receiving intervention in those different categories of criteria in the fall of 2024 and then in the spring of 2025.

For attendance, four out of 40 students were receiving intervention in the fall, and only one out of 41 were receiving any in the spring, showing that nearly all were meeting the standard for the scholarship in this category by being active in attending school.

For academic performance, one out of 40 students were receiving intervention in the fall, and none out of 41 were receiving any in the spring.

For discipline, two out of 40 students were receiving intervention in the fall, and none out of 41 were receiving any in the spring.

For drug testing, 21 out of 40 students were receiving intervention in the fall.

“Now this was huge, and our team really worked with these students with intervention,” Ricks said, noting that 21 out of 40 equaled 53% of the group. “By the spring, we have only eight students out of 41 still receiving interventions because those (13) students stepped up to the plate in the spring, took the drug test and passed it, and that’s reduced (the 53%) to 20%, and that’s something to clap for.”

Applause at the April 24 Franklin City School Board meeting promptly followed.

For volunteer or work hours, 12 out of 40 students were receiving intervention in the fall.

“We had 30% of students that did not have either volunteer hours or part-time working hours,” Ricks said. “In the spring, all 41 of those students either have a part-time job, are volunteering in the community or volunteering with our Jobs for Virginia (Graduates) program. That’s why that’s a 0% (now). So that was another major accomplishment.”

Just prior to announcing that 33 students had been nominated for the Camp Foundation Full Scholarship, Ricks said, “I would like to say tonight … we’re working with Camp, because there’s some other scholarships that we can work on with those eight students that did not meet the criteria based on the drug testing. So we’re still working with them, and we have not given up on them.”

After Ricks announced the 33 Pre-Camp Scholars, Board Chair Robert Holt said, “It’s obvious that the intervention programs are really working big-time, so thank you, Dr. Ricks.”