Sarah and George William Grier, Jr. Scholarship Fund
Background
George William Grier, Jr. was a lifelong resident of Macon, Georgia, from his birth in 1911 to his death 99 years later in 2010. He was a member of the initial graduating class of Lanier High School for Boys on Holt Avenue and lived on Holt just across Napier Avenue. He was involved with Boy Scouts in Macon from the age of 12 and was among the first Eagle Scouts in the city. He was later a Scout master of two troops at Cherokee Heights United Methodist Church and was awarded the Silver Beaver for his devotion to the Scout movement and the boys it serves. He worked at Jos. N. Neel Company for 50 years and served in the U. S. Army Air Force during World War II. He was very proud of being a Lanier High graduate and his signature can be found on the final beam erected in the new Central High building on Holt Avenue.
George married Sarah Coleman Hodges in 1941. Sarah was a graduate of Bessie Tift College in Forsyth, Georgia. She began teaching in Bibb County Schools in 1954. The majority of her teaching career was at Pearl Stephens Elementary. She went on to earn her Master’s Degree in Education from Mercer University. Sarah retired from the Bibb County School System with 29 years of service. She was an outstanding educator who was devoted to her profession and her students.
After both Sarah and George retired, they continued to give back many hours of service to the Macon and Bibb County community through volunteer work with Red Cross blood drives, the Macon Exchange Club, the Methodist Home for Children, and ministries of Mulberry Street United Methodist Church.
Proceeds from their estate have been used to create and initially fund the Sarah and George William Grier, Jr. Scholarship Fund. This scholarship fund is designed to produce annual scholarships for outstanding college-bound Central High School or Howard High School seniors who intend to pursue a college curriculum with a major in Education and who express their goals for a career as a primary or secondary school teacher.
Purpose
To help graduating seniors of Central High School or Howard High School in Macon, Georgia, by providing college scholarships for the purpose of pursuing a college degree in Education.
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be a graduating senior from Central High School or Howard High School in Macon, Georgia.
- Must be accepted at an accredited college or university with the intention of pursuing a degree in Education.
- Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 to apply
- Must provide an essay expressing reasons for pursuit of a career goal as a primary or secondary school educator.
Selection Criteria
Applicants will be selected based on the following:
- Expressed desire for a career as a primary or secondary school educator
- Potential to succeed
- Personal character
- Extra-curricular involvement
- Demonstrated financial need with a preference to students not receiving other scholarships or financial aid other than HOPE.
- Academic success
- School pride
Additional Short Answer Questions and Attachments
On the last page, you will select the Sarah and George William Grier, Jr. Scholarship Fund and complete the following additional information:
- A short essay describing your reasons for pursuing of a career goal as a primary or secondary school educator.
- A resume listing your school and community activities, athletics, awards, offices held, and other relevant experience.
- Your most recent high school transcript – you must request this from your current school.
- A current, submitted FAFSA Student Aid Report that indicates the value of your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) in the upper right hand corner. If this value is not shown, your application will be considered incomplete.
Awards
Amount of Award: $1,000
Number of Awards: Eight total, two new recipients selected annually
Renewal for Prior Recipients: A prior recipient of this scholarship fund is eligible to renew the award each subsequent year of his/her undergraduate education career for up to four years. In order to renew, he/she must:
- Complete the online renewal application by March 15th of each year.
- Submit an unofficial transcript scholar@cfcga.org at the end of each fall and spring semester for which he/she receives the scholarship.
- Maintain full-time enrollment, completing 12 or more credit hours each fall and spring semester he/she receives the scholarship.
- Maintain the eligibility criteria as defined in the scholarship’s guidelines.
If a prior recipient does not maintain the eligibility criteria or faces unique circumstances that require him/her to take time off or take a reduced course load for a semester, the student should contact the Community Foundation to determine if he/she is eligible for continued funding.