Affinity Bank - as a Member of the Community Bankers Association of Georgia - Recommends the Julian & Jan Hester Scholarship to a Deserving High School Senior.
The goal of the Julian & Jan Hester Memorial Scholarship is to assist deserving high school seniors in their first year of college and to promote community banking. All Georgia high school seniors are eligible to compete for this scholarship if they are planning to enter a Georgia university, college, or technical institute (two-year program or more) in the fall semester of 2023, following their high school graduation (applicant must be a full-time student).
Each year, CBA awards four (4) $1,000 scholarships.
To compete, students must be sponsored by a local community bank, must complete an activity record expressing their leadership activity in school, write a short essay on community banking, provide teacher recommendations and an official high school transcript. Awards are based on academic merit and not financial need.
The scholarship is named after former community banker and long-time CBA Chief Executive Officer, the late Julian Hester and his late daughter, Jan Hester. Jan was a senior at the University of Georgia when she died in an auto accident on April 15, 1990. In addition to supporting community banking, this scholarship is an opportunity to pass on the positive qualities both Julian and Jan Hester exemplified to further the development of tomorrow’s generations.
Applications are due to the bank on April 7, 2023 and to CBA by April 14, 2023.
The Ideal Candidate:
In addition to excellent academic scores and school group/club involvement, an ideal candidate is a student who understands the importance of community banking, its relationship to the community it serves and his/her involvement in the community with the intent of making it a better place. SAT and ACT scores as well as GPAs are also considered.
The scholarships are not awarded based on financial need. Recipients will be named solely on the basis of merit; family financial need is not a consideration.
HESTER FAQS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Does offering the scholarship cost my bank money?
No; CBA’s Education Foundation pays the four $1,000 scholarships annually at no cost to the bank. The bank, if willing, may certainly offer their own scholarship, but it is not mandatory.
Who in my bank should oversee the program?
Anyone who is involved with the bank’s community outreach; someone in marketing/PR; or, an Executive/Admin Assistant. It’s really up to the bank!
How many applications can my bank submit each year?
As many as you want! The more, the better! (Please be sure all applications are complete before submitting.)
Is it possible more than one applicant from the same bank can win a scholarship? Yes, it is!
Are children of bank employees eligible? Yes!
Why should my bank participate?
It’s wonderful PR within your bank’s community and the program helps promote the community banking industry to our youth! Read this American Banker article on the positive outcome of what community outreach can provide for your bank and the industry as a whole.
How do I let local high school seniors know about this Scholarship?
CBA has emailed the packet to many Georgia high school guidance counselors; however, we encourage banks to reach out to the counselors at their local high school(s) and inform them, as well. You may direct them to the scholarship page on our website for all the information they need to promote it to their seniors. All other instructions are outlined within the packet.
You may certainly contact CBA for additional assistance – email Lindsay Greene or call her directly at (770) 541-0376.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS, Continued
When should my bank begin promoting this in my community?
CBA publicizes the application in the fall of each year. You may start promoting at any time after that. In 2023, the students’ applications are due to the banks no later than Friday, April 7th. And the applications the bank wishes to submit should be submitted to CBA no later than Friday, April 14th.
When are the winners chosen and by whom are they chosen?
CBA hosts the judging some time during the week following the last deadline. The judging committee is made up of two CBA Bank Members, two CBA Associate Members and a professor from a Georgia college or university.
When will we know if one (or more) of our applicants won?
As soon as the judges determine the four winners and two alternates, CBA will notify the winning applicants’ bank President/CEO. Then, you may notify the student as you wish. We encourage you to invite them to the bank and share photos of him/her with the bank’s personnel. CBA then handles payment of the $1,000 scholarship to each winner’s Georgia university/college/technical school of choice.
Who is an ideal candidate?
In addition to excellent academic scores and school group/club involvement, an ideal candidate is a student who understands the importance of community banking, its relationship to the community it serves and his/her involvement in the community with the intent of making it a better place. SAT and ACT scores as well as GPAs are also considered. The scholarships are not awarded based on financial need. Recipients will be named solely on the basis of merit; family financial need is not a consideration.
