Georgia United Foundation College Scholarship Competition

Terms and Conditions

Immediate family members of Georgia United Credit Union team members or board members are not eligible. 

Eligibility

The scholarship competition is open to graduating high school seniors. Applicants, parents or grandparents of the student must be a member(s) of Georgia United for at least 6 months from date of entry and be in good standing. Membership will be verified upon receipt of entry. Applicants must be a high school senior graduating in the 2020 – 2021 school year and enrolling as a full-time student in an accredited college, university or technical school during the 2021 – 2022 school year.

Official verification of school acceptance must be provided to Georgia United Foundation prior to funds being disbursed. Home school applicants are accepted as long as proper accreditation paperwork is provided. All entry components must be provided by the application deadline to be considered.

Entry

Scholarship applications (with requirements attached and submitted) and video submissions are accepted through February 28, 2021, at 11:59 pm. No extensions will be provided for entries. Videos must be YouTube compatible, such as WMV, MPG, MOV or AVI formats. Videos are to be uploaded to YouTube with a link provided in the application where space is provided, and the original video file must be included in the submission. Applicants are responsible for submitting a working link to the video uploaded.

Rules for creating the video:

  • Applicant must obtain written permission from third parties if filming on property other than their own.
  • Video must be no longer than 1-minute in length and answer the following question "How are you going to use your education to help your community?".
  • If music is included in the video, applicant must submit a complete list of production credits. Music must be original, or applicant must have written permission by the composer/author to use music.
  • Only one video submission is accepted per applicant. Video must be original, unpublished work and must address this year’s scholarship entry topic.
  • Video submission cannot be derogatory, slanderous, offensive or threatening. It must not contain any content or material that displays a third-party advertising, logo, trademark or slogan.
  • Application with video link included should be submitted online at gucufoundation.org.
  • Applicant is responsible for successfully submitting all entry requirements by the deadline.

Awards

Applicants are in competition for one of six scholarship opportunities:

  • $10,000 for the Vernon E. Carne Scholarship in honor of our credit union’s founder, Vernon E. Carne.
  • $5,000 for the Geraldine Tilson Scholarship in honor and memory of Georgia United’s first female board chair, Geraldine Tilson.
  • $5,000 for the Polly Hinde Scholarship in honor of one of the original 1959 members, who served on the board from 1963-2007, Polly Hinde.
  • $5,000 for the Dorothy Dusenberry Pirkle Scholarship in honor of our long-time board secretary, Dorothy Dusenberry Pirkle.
  • $2,500 for the Monsignor Stephen Churchwell Scholarship in honor and memory of our board member who passed while active on the board in 2018.
  • $2,500 for the T. Randall Dennis Scholarship in honor and memory of our board member who passed while active on the board in 2020.

Awards can be used to help pay tuition, meal cost or purchase books and will be paid directly to the college, university or technical school by Georgia United Foundation. There is no restriction to the applicant’s county of residence. Applicant must be a U.S resident.  

Publicity

Winners agree to have their names, photos, submission videos and essay excerpts published in Georgia United and Georgia United Foundation marketing and promotional materials, publications and press releases.

Judging

Videos will be judged on how well the scholarship entry topic was answered and the creativity and originality of the video. Aside from the video, students will be judged on community involvement, academic excellence and financial need.

Judging will take place in early March and will be conducted by a panel selected by Georgia United Foundation. Judging criteria will be tabulated to determine the winners. All decisions are final. Winners will be notified in writing and announced on Georgia United Foundation’s website gucufoundation.org.

 

Georgia United Credit Union and Georgia United Foundation are not required to report scholarship award funds to U.S. residents as income, either to the IRS or the student recipient, or to withhold taxes from scholarship payments. Federal tax laws consider it the student’s sole responsibility to know when income is taxable or not, and to report income accordingly on his or her personal tax returns. Scholarship awards are tax-free for the recipient when: The scholarship award is used to pay for tuition and fees, or books, supplies and equipment required for courses at the institution. The recipient is a candidate for a degree at an educational institution that maintains a regular faculty and curriculum and has a regularly enrolled student body (i.e. an accredited college or university).