Thousands of Georgia residents who’ve seen combat while in the Georgia National Guard or the U.S. Military Reserves, as well as their offspring, may qualify to receive up to $8,000 each to attend Gordon College. 

The scholarship also is available for any college in the University System of Georgia, the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education or an eligible private college or university.

The Georgia HERO (Helping Educate Reservists and their Offspring) Scholarship Program has been providing educational grant assistance to U.S. servicemen and women and their children since March 2006. To date, more than 200 scholarships totaling nearly $400,000 have been awarded. 

“We are extremely grateful for the sacrifices made by our returning heroes and want to encourage them to take full advantage of this opportunity to continue their education,” said Dr. Beheruz N. Sethna, interim executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer for the University System of Georgia. “Whether guard members or reservists use the scholarship to further their own education or have their children apply for it, this is an excellent reward for the service they gave their nation.”

To qualify, Georgia residents must be active members of the Georgia National Guard or the U.S. Military Reserves who have served in a combat zone for at least 181 consecutive days since May 3, 2005. Depending on when they were born, the children of eligible servicemen and those killed in action, totally disabled, or evacuated prior to completing 181 consecutive days in a combat zone, also are eligible for the HERO award.

Soldiers and eligible offspring may receive up to $8,000 for four years of undergraduate study - $2,000 per academic school year for each qualifying term of service served in a combat zone.

The Georgia General Assembly passed legislation sponsored by senators John Wiles and John Douglas establishing the HERO Scholarship Program during the 2005 session. The first nine recipients, all children of qualifying service personnel, received their awards in March 2006 from the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC), the agency that administers HERO, HOPE and other state and lottery-funded financial aid programs.

Full details of the Georgia HERO Scholarship Program, a list of eligible colleges and universities and an online scholarship application are available in the “For Students” section of the Gacollege411.org Web site. Potential students are encouraged to make early contact with the institutions of their choice to determine eligibility for admission and complete the application process in time for the start of a future term.

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