The purpose of the GGS scholarship awards is to offer financial support to persons committed to embarking upon, or seeking to advance, a career in aging. The fund provides scholarships for study in gerontology and other aging related programs in order to promote leadership development in the field of Aging. Leaders with a broad knowledge base, strong organizational skills, and a vision for the future are needed to advance the field.

Note: In previous years, students have applied for funds to be used for research. While GGS recognizes the importance of this work, scholarship funds are sent directly to the student’s institution and can only be applied to tuition and fees.

 

Robert P. Wray Scholarship Award (Undergraduate)	Virginia M. Smyth  Scholarship Award (Graduate)
$2,000 scholarship awarded in Fall 2025.  If you are graduating in spring or summer of 2025, you are not eligible.	$3,000 scholarship awarded in Fall 2025. If you are graduating in spring or summer of 2025, you are not eligible.
Both Scholarships Include A one–year GGS membership renewal and complimentary registration, mileage, and hotel accommodations to the 2025 GGS annual conference held on July 14-16, at the Chateau Elan in Braselton, Georgia. Recognition at the GGS awards ceremony on Tuesday, July 15, 2025.

Eligibility for the Robert P. Wray $2,000 Undergraduate Scholarship

• The student must have completed a minimum of one academic term (semester or quarter) and
• Must fulfill at least one of the following,
  • (a) have a minimum of one fall academic term remaining or
  • (b) hold a letter of admission to a graduate program to begin no later than the next fall term.

Eligibility for the Virginia M. Smyth $3,000 Graduate Scholarship

• The student must have completed a minimum of one academic term (semester or quarter) in a graduate program and
• Must have a minimum of one fall academic term remaining in a graduate program.

Additional Eligibility Requirements for Both Scholarships

All candidates must:

• Be a GGS member. You can become a student member of GGS for only $25!*  To join, click here.
• Be enrolled in either an undergraduate or graduate program in gerontology or another field with a focus on aging at a Georgia college or university,** 
• Demonstrate leadership potential and a commitment to older persons, and 
• Have achieved a strong academic record.

Financial need will be a consideration but not a sole determinant.

If you have won a GGS scholarship previously, you are eligible to apply in a different category but cannot win the same scholarship more than once.

*    If applying for a GGS membership would create a financial burden, please describe this in your statement of financial need.  Not a member of GGS? You can visit http://www.georgiagerontologysociety.org/members.htm to read about the benefits and apply for student membership.

 **  Colleges and universities with a Georgia campus are also eligible.

The application and all supporting documents must be received by midnight on April 25, 2025. Please note that mailed documents must be in hand by April 25, 2025, not postmarked by April 25, 2025.

Applicants will be notified of the committee’s decision by May 16, 2025.

 

For this application, the following items are required and must be submitted by the student applicant

• Demographic information,
• A 500-word or less essay describing career goals and commitment to the field of aging,
• A 250-word or less statement of financial need, and
• A current résumé or curriculum vitae.

The following additional documents must be submitted separately from this form.

Letters of Recommendation

• Two letters of recommendation are required and must be submitted directly from the recommender.
• The letters must be from a professor or professional familiar with your abilities, accomplishments, or goals.
• Letters must be on letterhead and emailed  to administrator@georgiagerontologysociety.org.
• Have the recommender write "Letter of Recommendation for [Your Name]" in the subject line of the email.
• Please list the names of the two individuals who will supply your letters of recommendation below:
  

Official Transcript

• Electronic transcripts must be submitted directly from your college or university.  Please have the transcript emailed to administrator@georgiagerontologysociety.org.

   

If you cannot or do not wish to complete this application online, please contact GGS at administrator@georgiagerontologysociety.org.  Please write "GGS Student Scholarship" in the subject line.