The Georgia Military Service Scholarship is open for applicants hoping to attend the University of North Georgia as a member of the Corps of Cadets.
Worth over $85,000, the GMSS is offered by the state of Georgia for 42 high school seniors annually to attend UNG and commission as officers in the Georgia Army National Guard after graduating with a bachelor’s degree.
“This scholarship provides ample opportunity to students seeking a top-level education at no cost to them,” Jordan Mund, Cadet Legacy Recruitment Network coordinator, said. “The GMSS is a wonderful way to propel our cadets into a wonderful service career, while also providing them a gateway to priceless education.”
The scholarships cover tuition, books, uniforms, and room and board.
Bentlee Roberson of Florence, Alabama, is a senior pursuing a degree in kinesiology with a health and fitness concentration. She said receiving the scholarship had a huge impact.
“It is a great setup for people who know that they want to be in the military but without the full-time commitment like on active duty,” Roberson said. “There is a balance of the best of both worlds of pursuing a civilian career and a military career. Receiving GMSS altered the projection of where I was going to attend college and what I believe my college experience would have been.”
Applicants must be a legal resident of Georgia, have a 3.0 GPA, receive a nomination from a Georgia legislator in their congressional district, meet Army National Guard enlistment standards, and agree to serve as an enlisted member in the Georgia Army National Guard while participating as a cadet at UNG.
Kennesaw, Georgia, resident Cleo Johnson is a freshman attending UNG on the GMSS. He knew he wanted to be a commissioned officer for the National Guard.
“This means a lot to me. It was a blessing,” Johnson said.
He is pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration in management with an entrepreneurship concentration, and he is encouraging others to apply, including students at his high school alma mater and other local high schools.
“It’s been my dream to go into the military,” Johnson said. “Without the scholarship, I never would have seen myself in the military or being here at UNG. It still feels surreal.”
Senior Jack Rainbow, also from Kennesaw, Georgia, received his scholarship in 2019.
“I have come to truly appreciate to scholarship. It allows me to focus on excelling at school and in the Corps of Cadets, something I don’t know if I could have done as well if I was always worrying about paying for school,” Rainbow said.
He is pursuing a degree in strategic and security studies.