COAG Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Constitutional Officers Association of Georgia

Below is a clearer, teacher-friendly version of the COAG Scholarship announcement. Read it carefully, follow the format exactly, and give yourself plenty of time for the interview and proofreading — small mistakes (wrong font, missing page, identifying information, or late submission) will disqualify your entry.

Overview
- The Constitutional Officers Association of Georgia (COAG) offers scholarships each year to Georgia high school seniors. Essays are reviewed anonymously by the scholarship committee.
- Official deadline for receiving submissions by email: midnight, March 13, 2026. (Do not wait until the last minute.)
- Winners will be announced by April 17, 2026. Awards are payable in person.

Who is eligible
- Georgia high school seniors (or GED equivalency dated between December 31, 2024 and May 31, 2026).
- Must be U.S. and Georgia citizens.
- Must be graduating by spring 2026.
- Must be entering an undergraduate degree program (four-year college, junior college, or technical college) — NOT for certificate, master’s, or doctoral study.

What the committee requires (minimum criteria)
You must submit all of the following to be considered:
1. Letter of acceptance or enrollment from an accredited Georgia institution (four-year college, junior college, or technical college).
2. Proof of Georgia residency (photocopy of GA driver’s license or GA ID).
3. A 1,000-word essay that follows the formatting rules below.
4. A completed COAG scholarship application (download from www.coagonline.org/coag-scholarship — 2026 form).
Send all items together in a single email (one message, not multiple attachments sent separately).

Essay — strict formatting and content rules
- Length and format: Exactly 1,000 words; typed or computer-generated; double-spaced; Times New Roman, 12-point; 8½ x 11 white unlined paper (digital file is fine but must match these specifications).
- The essay must include a separate title page.
- Language: English only.
- No handwritten essays or nonconforming formats — these will be disqualified.
- Anonymity rules: Do NOT include your name, the name of your high school, or the city/town/county where you live. You may refer to an office (for example, “Clerk of Superior Court”), but do NOT use the name of the elected official or the county name. Any identifying references will disqualify your essay.
- Original work only: essays must be original, factually accurate, and not infringe copyright.

2026 Essay theme and instructions
- Background: County constitutional officers in Georgia include the Clerk of Superior Court, Judge of Probate Court, Sheriff, and Tax Commissioner. These officials are elected to four-year terms and perform duties established by law.
- Topic: Interview a county constitutional officer (Clerk of Superior Court, Probate Judge, Sheriff, or Tax Commissioner) and write about:
- What they do on a daily basis,
- Why they ran for office,
- Other questions you think are important to learn about their role and duties.
- How to conduct the interview: Contact the chosen office and schedule a phone, virtual, or in-person interview. (Post–COVID-19, any of these formats are acceptable.) Take notes, but remember your essay must not identify the official or the county by name — describe roles and answers without identifying details.

Common reasons for disqualification (avoid these)
- Handwritten essays or wrong font/spacing.
- Including applicant name, high school, town/county, or the official’s name/county name.
- Missing any required documents (acceptance letter, proof of residency, application).
- Submitting after the deadline.
- Plagiarism or copyrighted material.

Submission procedures — must follow exactly
- Email everything in ONE EMAIL to: coagdirector@gmail.com
- Subject line MUST read exactly: 2026 COAG SCHOLARSHIP SUBMISSION
- Attachments to include in that single email:
1. COAG Scholarship Application (original)
2. Title page (original)
3. 1,000-word essay (original; formatted as required)
4. Proof of acceptance/enrollment from a Georgia accredited school (copy)
5. Proof of Georgia residency (photocopy of GA driver’s license or state ID)
- Do NOT send your submission through a local constitutional officer — send directly to coagdirector@gmail.com.
- Deadline reminder: Email must be received by midnight, March 13, 2026. NO LATE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Selection and award
- Essays are reviewed anonymously by the COAG Scholarship Committee and recipients are selected based on essay content.
- All essays become the property of COAG.
- Winners’ names may be released for promotional purposes.
- Scholarship funds will be paid to winners in person.

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

Final tips from a teacher
- Start early: schedule the interview well before the deadline.
- Keep your essay focused on responsibilities and motivations — show insight and evidence from the interview without identifying details.
- Follow formatting rules exactly and proofread carefully.
- Double-check that you’re sending one email with all required attachments and the correct subject line.