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03/11/2024

2024 GAHRA Scholarship Program Deadline 3/15

Scholarship Applications for high school seniors living in public or assisted housing at a GAHRA member agency.

Applications are due to the GAHRA Scholarship Committee by March 15, 2024.

Click here to apply on the GAHRA website or contact us for the Applications.

2024 Scholarship Program Expected Awards: Students

Academic Awards

  • $5,000 - GAHRA
  • $2,500 - SERC
  • $1,500
  • $1,000
  • $1,000

Vocational/Technical Awards

  • $2,000
  • $1,500
  • $1,000

2024 Scholarship Program Expected Awards: Adults

Academic Awards

  • $2,500 
  • $1,500
  • $1,000 - In Honor of Don McGlamory

Vocational/Technical Awards

  • $2,000
  • $1,500
  • $1,000 - In Honor of Michael Janis

The scholarships will be formally presented at the GAHRA Spring Workshop May 12-14, 2024, at Jekyll Island Convention Center. The scholarship recipient and one (1) parent/guardian will receive
a ticket to the awards luncheon. All other guests must obtain award luncheon tickets payable by the sponsoring agency prior to the deadline for registration through the GAHRA website.

Eligibility Checklist

  • Resident Status - Applicant must be a current resident, with at least two (2) years of residency (not required to be consecutive), of federally assisted housing or as a recipient of assistance through the Community Development Block Grant Program and agency at which they reside must be a GAHRA member.
  • Student Status - Applicant must be a senior graduating from High School for the 2023-2024 school year. Students must have at least a 3.0 GPA to be considered for the scholarship. Note: Current school counselors must complete and certify the Grade Point Average/Test Scores Certification Form of this application.

Required Checklist

Applicants must submit the following documents to the Executive Director of your housing. authority. All documents must be typed with no exceptions.

  1. APPLICATION - Applications are available at your Housing Authority or Community Development Office. Your housing authority may visit www.gahra.org/scholarship to access the online application. The application and all required materials must be submitted to your Executive Director.
  2. VERIFICATION MATERIAL
    • High School Transcript through December 31, 2023. You must provide an official copy of your high school transcript mail to the Scholarship Committee.
    • Grade Point Average/Test Scores Certification SAT/ACT scores. (must be completed by your school counselor).
    • Submission Certification (must be completed by your Executive Director)
  3.  SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS - Source and amount of other scholarship awards received or pending.
  4. ESSAY - You must submit a typewritten essay (350-500 words). Topic: How my Public Housing experience has influenced my life.
  5. THREE LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION - Letters supporting the character, achievements, and advancement of the applicant. One (1) letter must be from a school official, and two (2) letters may be from employers, ministers, or anyone with significant knowledge of the applicant must be a NON-Family member.
  6. Sponsorship Letter - The Executive Director of your Housing Authority or sponsoring agency must be an active member of GAHRA at the time of the application and they can only submit one academic (degree) and one technical/vocational (non-degree) application to the Scholarship Committee for the high school student award selection process.
  7. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND SPONSORING AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES - Application and supporting documents must be in typewritten English and submitted to Scholarship Chair in PDF format via email.
    • The Executive Director is responsible for verifying all application requirements.
    • Applicants must be recommended by the Executive Director of the sponsoring housing authority in a signed letter by the Executive Director to be considered complete.
    • All application material must be received by GAHRA Scholarship appointee no later than the deadline of March 15, 2024.
    • Promotion of the scholarship program is the responsibility of the local Housing Authority.
    • All finalists will be interviewed virtually by Scholarship Committee. Invitation date and instructions will be emailed to the Executive Director and/or designee.
    • The sponsoring agency is responsible for ensuring applicants are equipped with the technology for virtual interviews at the authority are any means approved by Executive Director.
    • The Executive Director must make a commitment to support all expenses for Award Luncheon and trip if their applicant(s) should be awarded a scholarship.
    • The Executive Director must ensure all staff (not registered for the conference) providing transportation and attending the Award Luncheon and all guest of selected applicants for scholarship awards excluding One (1) guest and awardee is registered on the GAHRA Website.
    • All applicants' official transcripts Must be mailed to: GAHRA Scholarship Committee C/O Eastman Housing Authority, PO BOX 100, Eastman, GA 31023-0100.
    • ALL application materials and forms marked as required original must be received by GHARA Scholarship Committee no later than March 15, 2024.
    • Each sponsoring agency may submit up to two (2) applications for either High School or Adult Students in any of the four (4) following combinations:
      1. High School Academic
      2. High School Vocational/Technical
      3. Adult Academic
      4. Adult Vocational/Technical

Notes: One scholarship awarded per student. Only Two (2) awardees per housing authority and must be different categories. Awardee and parent/guardian of High School will be required to sign a Scholarship Agreement Contract prior to receiving a scholarship.

Applications must be completed in their entirety. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

AWARD DISTRIBUTION INFORMATION
The scholarship fund will be administered by the GAHRA Scholarship Committee. The money will be paid directly to the school that the recipient will be attending as a full-time student. The school will deposit the money into the student's account and may only be applied against tuition, books, room and board fees, and activities directly related to the student's education. If the student discontinues his or her education, the unused portion of the scholarship will be returned to GAHRA.