Military Scholarships Available To Georgia High School Graduates

Each year, the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) offers 78 military scholarships to Georgia high school graduates who want to earn a first-class college education as they prepare for service in the Georgia National Guard. Now is the time for high school graduates of 2007 to begin the process for nomination. (Students who graduated from a Georgia high school in previous years are also eligible to apply for the scholarships, providing they have never been enrolled in a college program.)

The scholarship programs and the deadlines for applying are:

• The four-year North Georgia College & State University (NGCSU) Military Scholarship. The application deadline is March 10, 2007.

• The two-year Georgia Military College (GMC) State Service Scholarship. The application deadline is March 10, 2007.

The scholarships cover full tuition costs, fees, housing, meals, books and supplies. Recipients must make a commitment to serve, upon college graduation, in the Georgia National Guard. Recipients of the North Georgia College & State University Military Scholarship commit to four years of service in the Guard, and recipients of the Georgia Military College State Service Scholarship commit to two years of service in the Guard.

Each of the programs, which are funded by the Georgia General Assembly,  offers 39 scholarships – up to three students are selected from each of Georgia’s 13 Congressional Districts.  To be considered, a student must be nominated by a state legislator who represents a state legislative district within the U.S. Congressional District where the applicant resides.

Applications are received by the two colleges and reviewed to determine which ones satisfy basic program-eligibility requirements. Applications that do meet the basic requirements are then reviewed by committees consisting of representatives from the appropriate college (NGCSU or GMC), the Georgia National Guard, and the Georgia Student Finance Commission. The committees also interview the applicants before determining which students will be awarded the scholarships. All recipients and their families will be invited to attend a special recognition ceremony and banquet at the State Capitol in April 2007.

More information about the scholarship programs is available at www.GAcollege411.org. In addition, information about the North Georgia College & State University Military Scholarship is available from the university’s College of Military Science at 706-867-2712. Information about the Georgia Military College State Service Scholarship is available from the college’s Office of Admissions, 800-342-0413.