Aha! - At Home Internet Access for Students
About 40% of students in Wilkes County, GA do not have access to the internet at home, almost always for financial reasons. This learning gap was made worse by the coronavirus pandemic because of the increased reliance on distance and virtual learning. Aha! is designed to decrease the number of students who don’t have internet access at home.
To improve educational opportunities by providing no-cost, at home internet service and equipment for Wilkes County public school students who live in homes which do not have internet access because of limited financial resources.
Please consider donating specifically to the Aha! program so that we may expand our services. Select the button below and then choose "Aha! - At Home Internet Access for Students" from the dropdown menu.
SUPPORT AHA!The Aha! Program
Founding & Managing Partner
WCCP is responsible for:
WCCP will rely on BOE for:
Education Partner
Internet Service Partner
Who can apply for an Aha! Scholarship?
Students qualify for consideration in Aha! if: (a) they are enrolled and a current student in a Wilkes County, GA public school, (b) do not have internet service in their home, and (c) are financially disadvantaged. A student will be considered to be financially disadvantaged if they or their parents participate in one of the following programs: Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Supplemental Social Security Income (SSI), Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8), Veteran’s Pension and/or Survivor Benefits, or if household income is at or below 135% of Federal poverty guidelines. WCCP will consider other criteria as necessary or appropriate.
How do I apply for an Aha! Scholarship and where do I get an application?
You can obtain an application from the Wilkes County Board of Education. You can also get an application on this website by clicking [here]. Aha! applications should be submitted directly to the school where the student is enrolled.
How are students selected for Aha! Scholarships?
More students will probably apply for Scholarships than there will be funds available. If this happens, WCCP will make final selection decisions based on the recommendations, criteria and priorities of the Wilkes County Board of Education and also internal WCCP criteria and processes. WCCP uses a Committee to make these decisions.
How long does an Aha! Scholarship last?
Each Scholarship lasts from the time of internet installation until the end of the school year during which the service was installed. WCCP will consider extending the Scholarship during the summer if the student plans to return to a public school in Wilkes County and has been a good participant in Aha!
The Scholarship will terminate if the student no qualifies under the Aha! rules, for example, if the student no longer attends school in Wilkes County.
Scholarships may also be terminated by WCCP if the student has violated the rules of WCCP, the Wilkes County Board of Education and/or Relyant Communications.
What costs does the Aha! Scholarship cover?
The Aha! Scholarship covers the full cost of internet service fees charged by Relyant. These fees will be directly billed to, and paid for, by WCCP. The Scholarship does not cover the costs of any additional services or products purchased or subscribed to by the student or the student’s family.
The Scholarship also covers the costs of the Aha! computer equipment, software, and related items provided by WCCP. The Scholarship does not cover the costs of any extra computer equipment, services or products acquired by the student or the student’s family.
If I receive a Scholarship do I have to reapply for a Scholarship for the next year?
Yes. Each Scholarship last only for the school year in which the system is installed. Each student must reapply for the Scholarship for each school year. Students who have a Scholarship will receive a preference the next year if they are in good standing and meet the program criteria.
Does the student get to keep the computer and other equipment at the end of the Scholarship period?
No. All computer equipment, software and related items provided by WCCP remain the property of WCCP and must be promptly returned to WCCP when the Scholarship ends.
What are the responsibilities of a student who receives an Aha! Scholarship?
The Aha! Scholarship application contains the student’s responsibilities. Each student is responsible for:
What are responsibilities of the parents/guardians of a student who receives a Scholarship?
The Aha! scholarship application contains the responsibilities of the parents/guardians of a student who receives a Scholarship. Some of those responsibilities are:
Can the student use the equipment and internet service for other than schoolwork?
The student may use the internet and equipment for purposes other than schoolwork; however, the student’s schoolwork is the primary purpose of the Internet Scholarship and other online activities should not be allowed to interfere with the student’s schoolwork.
May members of the student’s household use the Aha! internet service and equipment?
Other members of the student’s household may use the equipment and the internet, but the student’s use always takes precedence. Other people’s use of the equipment and the internet must never be allowed to interfere with the student’s use.
If there is more than one student in a home, may the other students use the equipment and the internet?
Yes. The Scholarship student should have priority on the system to do their schoolwork.
But the student should make reasonable accommodations to allow other students in the home to use the system for their schoolwork.
I want to give but can’t afford to donate $1,000 for a one-year Aha! Scholarship. What happens if I donate less than a full scholarship?
Donations of all amounts are welcome and will make a real difference to students in Wilkes County. We expect that most donors will make contributions of less than $100. WCCP will combine individual donations until there is a sufficient amount to fund another Scholarship.
Will I learn the name of the student who receives an Aha! Scholarship based on my donation? Can I direct that my donation go to a specific student?
Donors will not learn which specific student their contribution is supporting and donors may not specify that their donations go to specific students. All donations will be placed in one account and all expenses will be paid from that one account.
Can I make a donation through my employer or through an organization that I belong to?
WCCP does not currently have any formal contribution programs with businesses or organizations. We hope that business, civic, faith-based, and other organizations will encourage participation by their members and employees. We encourage organizations to sponsor Scholarships and will be happy to discuss ways to create a streamlined, easy donation process.
Are contributions to Aha! tax deductible?
Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. WCCP is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization (Tax I.D. 58-2269288). Please consult your tax advisor regarding specific questions about your deductions.
What’s a brief description of how Aha! works?
The process works generally as follows:
Who are the three main partners of Aha!?
Aha! is a public-private partnership among WCCP, Relyant Communications, and the Wilkes County Board of Education. WCCP, as founding and managing partner, makes final selections of Internet Scholars, provides family support, manages fund-raising, and orchestrates a hoard of details The Wilkes County Board of Education, as education partner, sets educational priorities, and nominates students for Aha! scholarships. Relyant Communications, as internet partner, installs and provides internet service at students’ homes.
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Have questions or comments for the Wilkes County Community Partnership? Let us know! We would love to hear from you.