Shield Club Scholarship Fund
Background
The original idea of The Shield Club came from Mr. Peyton Anderson in the late 1960’s. Mr. Anderson had heard of a similar organization in Florida called the 100 Club. He was concerned with all the unfortunate accidents that had happened to law enforcement officers in the past, leaving the families with nothing much to continue on. So, he called on a few prominent, well-known friends in the community to see if they would be interested in starting the organization. The interest was apparent and in 1968 Mr. Anderson drafted a petition and the charter was established.
Purpose
To provide college scholarships for current employees of the Bibb Sheriff’s Office, the Macon-Bibb Fire Department, and their immediate family members, including spouses and children.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be current employees of the Bibb Sheriff’s Office or the Macon-Bibb County Fire Department. Immediate family members (spouses and children) of employees are also eligible to apply.
- Applicants must be enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited four-year public or private institution in the state of Georgia. Students must be participating in an undergraduate degree seeking program only. The scholarship is not for those receiving a Master’s degree or PhD.
- Applicants must have and maintain a 2.0 GPA.
- Preference will be given to officers and previous scholarship recipients.
Selection Criteria
Applicants will be selected based on the following:
- GPA
- Financial need
- Personal character – based on letters of recommendation
- Preference will be given to officers and previous scholarship recipients.
Additional Short Answer Questions and Attachments
On the last page, you will select the Shield Club Scholarship Fund and complete the following additional information:
- The contact information (Title, Name, Phone Number, Email) of the supervisor of the Sheriff’s Office or Fire Department employee.
- Provide the name and email address of one reference who has agreed to submit a letter of recommendation for you. This should be your school principal, guidance counselor or teacher/professor. This person will receive an email from our system allowing them to submit your recommendation. Please ask them before submitting their email address and let them know when you have submitted your application because that is when they will receive the email.
- A resume listing your school and community activities, athletics, awards, offices held, and other relevant experience.
- Your most recent high school or college 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: $5,000 per year for up to 4 years
Number of Awards: 6 total per year, preference will be given to renewals and current Sheriff’s Office and Fire Department employees
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 enrollment as a full time student (completing 12 or more credit hours), or Officers maybe enrolled as a part-time student while working part-time or full-time 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.