Alumni Spotlight GOAL Scholarship Edition: Kieran Dollarhide ... Giving Comes Full Circle
It's the loving intentionality that Truly sets Perimeter School apart.
By: Kieran (Mayer) Dollarhide, PERIMETER SCHOOL alum
We recently caught up with several of our Perimeter School alumni, and we are excited to share with you how Perimeter School has influenced their stories and how God is using them for kingdom impact.
Our next alumni spotlight is Kieran Dollarhide, Perimeter School Class of 2009.
What do you do? Where do you live?
I work at Perimeter Church as the Program and Events Coordinator for the Jhi Ministry. My husband, Brian, and I live in the Johns Creek/Norcross area.
How Did your time at Perimeter School influencE who you are and what you do today?
I came to Perimeter School when I was in fourth grade. Little did I know, just a year later, my dad would suddenly and unexpectedly pass away. It was an insanely difficult thing for my family to walk through emotionally, spiritually, and financially. Anyone who has lost a parent as a child knows this deep pain and loss. The Perimeter School covenant community really surrounded our family during that time.
I will never forget when my sixth grade teacher, Mr. DeMaris, went out of his way to have my fellow classmates secretly write notes of encouragement to me for Valentine's Day. He knew it would be a hard day for me without my dad, and he found it valuable to invest in not only my education but also me as a person.
This memory has stayed with me into my adult years. You will not remember everything from when you are in school, but you will remember the people who really saw you and loved you.
It's the loving intentionality that Truly sets Perimeter School apart.
Everything really feels like it's come full circle, too, since I now spend my time investing in middle school students with Jhi. I want them to feel like they have someone loving them and looking out for them, just like I did.
Why is the GOAL scholarship fund so important to you?
I never would have been able to attend Perimeter School if not for the scholarship fund. My family simply could not afford it, and we would have missed out on all the richness that Perimeter School had to offer. From an educational perspective, I believe Perimeter School set me up for academic success in high school and beyond. From a spiritual perspective, the impact is simply immeasurable.
I believe that God provides people to meet us in the season we're in to help propel us forward. There are several people from Perimeter School that did that for me, and I am truly forever grateful.
Now that you have your own family, Why do you give to the GOAL scholarship fund?
I will be the first to admit that the temptation to let life get in the way and push off giving to GOAL is very strong. And there are a couple of questions such as, "I'm not losing money, right?" (The answer is, no, you are not!) Anyone can do this, and the process is actually very simple!
Thankfully, there are so many at Perimeter School who can answer any questions you have and follow up with you. Seriously, it only takes a few minutes to provide a student with the opportunity to go to Perimeter School (at no cost to you!). There are parents and students who are eager and who need your help to receive the blessings of what Perimeter School has to offer.
In what ways is the work you are doing now spiritually and culturally Significant?
Middle school is a crucial time in a student's life, especially developmentally. They are deciding who they want to become and what their general core beliefs and values will be as they move towards high school and young adulthood. They will have a million voices telling them who they should be and what they should be doing, and our goal is to continually point them to freedom and joy in finding their identity in Christ.
We want them to walk in faith of their own and, in turn, be bold to share that faith with others. They are the next generation of leaders. They can (and will!) have a huge impact on their peers in a way that no adult can. God has a wonderfully significant and unique path for them, and so investing in this generation is of the utmost importance.
118 students are able to attend Perimeter School this year through the Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program, and your participation is needed now more than ever with the growing financial needs due to the pandemic. You still have time to claim your tax credit and redirect your Georgia state taxes for the 2021 tax year! There is approximately $26 million remaining in the 2021 education tax credit cap. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to make a remarkable impact on Perimeter School students and the overall financial health of our school with the taxes you already pay. No payment is due for 60 days from the date of your approval, and you will be able to claim your tax credit when you file your 2021 taxes next year. Click here to learn more, and please contact Missy Terjung with any questions.
God shows up in our messy places and transforms ordinary moments into holy ones.