Louis C. Harper Memorial Scholarship Fund
Background
Louis Harper was someone who could “figure anything out and make anything run.” A constant tinkerer, inventor, and successful serial entrepreneur, he called Coffee County home. The eighth of nine children, he lost his father at an early age and worked numerous jobs as a child to help support his family. After serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, he held many jobs, including working to establish numerous manufacturing operations during the early high growth years of Fleetwood Mobile Homes. Together with his wife, he went on to establish multiple successful businesses to support his family, including welding, custom steel and ironworks, precision machining and importing European antiques. He was a patriotic American and a devoted Christian family man who believed deeply in hard work and self-reliance, and his work ethic was unmatched by most people.
The Louis C. Harper Memorial Scholarship honors Louis Harper’s legacy by supporting hardworking students who are pursuing a technical education. The Harper family recognizes that determination and dedication do not always show up in grades or extracurricular activities. This scholarship is intended for students who may not be at the top of their class but who show up, work hard, and take on responsibility, whether through a job, caring for family, or running a business of their own, and who persevere and find a way to get things done.
Purpose
The purpose of this scholarship is to aid and encourage capable students who are residents of Coffee County, Georgia to pursue their technical education and to inspire and prepare them for establishing their own successful businesses in their chosen trade.
Eligibility Criteria
• Applicants must be a resident of Coffee County
• Applicants must have and maintain the minimum cumulative 2.8 GPA
• Applicants must be enrolled at, or accepted to, an accredited trade school, vocational school or technical college.
• Applicants must pursue an associate degree, professional degree or certificate
• Applicants must maintain enrollment as a full-time student (completing 12 or more credit hours) or may be enrolled as a part-time student while working full-time each fall and spring semester he/she receives the scholarship.
Selection Criteria
Applicants will be selected based on the following criteria:
- Work ethic and responsibility: The student demonstrates perseverance, dependability, and a willingness to work hard, whether through employment, family responsibilities, or other commitments.
- Financial need: The student demonstrates a need for financial assistance to pursue their technical education.
- Commitment to technical education: clear interest in a chosen trade and the drive to succeed in it
- Preference will be given to students who show initiative and resourcefulness: an entrepreneurial spirit, such as starting a business, solving problems independently, or “figuring things out and getting it done.”
Additional Short Answer Questions and Attachments
The Louis C. Harper Memorial Scholarship Fund will request the following additional information:
- Letter of Recommendation– Please provide the name and email address of a teacher who has agreed to submit a letter of recommendation on your behalf. This letter should come from an academic dean, advisor, counselor, teacher, coach, or employer.
Awards
Amount of Award: $2,000 per year (payable as $1,000 annually, renewable for one year)
Number of Awards: One new recipient selected annually, up to four concurrent awards.
Renewal for Prior Recipients: A prior recipient of this scholarship fund is eligible to renew the award each subsequent year of his/her education career for up to one year. To renew, he/she must complete all the required follow-ups assigned by the CFCG Scholarship Director and adhere to the above scholarship fund eligibility criteria.
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.