COAG Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Constitutional Officers Association of Georgia

Introduction
Each year the Constitutional Officers Association of Georgia (COAG) invites Georgia high school seniors to apply for one of its scholarships by submitting a required essay and application materials. Essays are evaluated anonymously by the COAG Scholarship Committee. All application materials must be received by email no later than midnight on March 13, 2026. Details follow.

Who is eligible
- Georgia high school seniors graduating by spring 2026, or applicants with a GED equivalency dated between December 31, 2024 and May 31, 2026.
- Applicants must be citizens of the United States and residents of Georgia.
- The award is for students pursuing an undergraduate degree only (not for certificate, diploma, master’s or doctoral study).

Required documentation and criteria
To be considered, applicants must provide:
- A letter of acceptance or proof of enrollment from an accredited Georgia institution of higher education (four-year college, junior college, or technical college).
- Proof of Georgia residency (a photocopy of a Georgia driver’s license or state-issued ID card).
- A completed COAG scholarship application form (downloadable at www.coagonline.org/coag-scholarship).
- A 1,000-word essay meeting the formatting and content rules below.

Essay format and rules
- Length: 1,000 words.
- Must be typed or computer-generated, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12-point font, on 8.5" x 11" unlined white paper.
- Language: English. Handwritten or otherwise nonconforming submissions will be disqualified.
- A title page is required. The essay itself must NOT include the applicant’s name, the name of the high school, or any reference to the applicant’s city, town, or county. You may mention an office (for example, “Clerk of Superior Court”) but you must not include the names of elected officials or any county names. Any such identifying references will result in disqualification.
- Essays must be original, factually accurate, and must not violate copyright. Failure to follow these requirements will disqualify the entry.

2026 Essay topic
Counties in Georgia elect county “constitutional officers” — such as the Clerk of Superior Court, the Judge of Probate Court, the Sheriff, and the Tax Commissioner — who serve four-year terms and whose duties are defined by state law.

Topic: Interview one of the following county constitutional officers — Clerk of Superior Court, Probate Judge, Sheriff, or Tax Commissioner — and write about what they do day-to-day, why they chose to run for office, and any other information you gather that helps answer the topic. Schedule and conduct the interview by phone, virtually, or in person (post-COVID interviews may be conducted by any of these methods). Be sure your essay is based on the information you collect.

Submission procedures
- Combine the completed application, residency documentation, acceptance letter, title page, and the essay into a single email and send them as ONE EMAIL to coagdirector@gmail.com. Do not send multiple separate emails.
- Send materials directly to coagdirector@gmail.com — submissions transmitted through a local constitutional officer will not be accepted.
- The email subject line must read exactly: 2026 COAG SCHOLARSHIP SUBMISSION
- Deadline: All materials must be received by midnight (12:00 a.m.) on March 13, 2026. Late entries will not be accepted.

Selection, award, and ownership
- The COAG Scholarship Committee will review entries and select recipients based on essay content. All essays are evaluated anonymously.
- Essays become the property of COAG. Winners’ names may be released for publicity and to news media.
- Scholarship recipients will be announced by April 17, 2026. Awards will be paid directly to winners in person.

Scholarship application packet checklist
The packet you email should include:
1) Scholarship Application Form — 1 original
2) Title Page — 1 original
3) 1,000-word Essay (meeting the essay requirements) — 1 original
4) Proof of acceptance/enrollment from an accredited Georgia institution — 1 copy
5) Proof of Georgia residency (photocopy of GA driver’s license or GA ID) — 1 copy

Questions / Contact
Dr. Reagan Pritchett, Executive Director, COAG
Email: coagdirector@gmail.com

Please verify that all items are included and that the essay strictly follows formatting and anonymity rules before submitting.