Realizing that transplantation poses financial hardships on the entire family, the Georgia Transplant Foundation annually awards academic scholarships to students who are transplant recipients, dependents, living donors or siblings of a transplant recipient and are presently enrolled in an accredited institution or beginning such a program.

Scholarships will be awarded for tuition fees, and may include room and board, books, and/or supplies. Scholarships are $2,500 and are awarded in two payments, payable to the institution in the amount of $1,250 per semester. Recipients may apply for grants on an annual basis.

The Thomas F. Smith Scholarship will be awarded to a transplant recipient in honor of our founder, Thomas F. Smith. Mr. Smith, a kidney recipient, saw people struggling with the many financial challenges associated with transplantation and founded the Georgia Transplant Foundation in 1992.

The Dunkerley Family Scholarship will be awarded to a dependent of a recipient in honor of the Dunkerley family. Founders Dick and Pat Dunkerley and their family are avid volunteers and have been instrumental in developing the programs of the Georgia Transplant Foundation.

The Riticher Accounting Education Scholarship will be awarded to a student pursuing an accounting degree with the goal of becoming a certified public accountant (CPA). This scholarship has been endowed by Carolyn Riticher, CPA, GTF board member and kidney recipient, with additional funds provided by The Educational Foundation for the Georgia Society of CPAs.

The Theresa Lackey Living Donor Scholarship will be awarded to a living donor. This scholarship was endowed by the Lumpkin family in honor of kidney recipient Karen Lumpkin Sortor’s living donor Theresa.

Created in 2005, a Sibling Scholarship will be awarded to the sibling of a transplanted child.

Additionally, GTF awards three General Scholarships to transplant recipients or dependents.

Eligibility Guidelines:

Any of the following qualified individuals who are pursuing a post high school educational program at an accredited college, university, or technical school are eligible to apply. The applicant must be a resident of Georgia and accepted or enrolled in an accredited college, university, vocational technical or professional degree program.

Scholarships are available to applicants who meet one of the following categories, depending on which scholarship is applied for:

• Transplant recipient.
• Dependent of a transplant recipient.
• Parent of a transplant recipient.
• Living Donor.
• Sibling of a transplant recipient (both the sibling and the recipient must be 22 years of age or younger)

Applicants for the scholarship must submit all of the following:

1. Completed application form
2. A copy of the most recent Federal Income Tax Return for the entire household (proof of income)
3. Official transcripts or grade reports from the most current institutions attended, including high school, GED, technical school, or college; if you are presently a high school senior, transcripts from grades 9-12; if you are presently enrolled in an educational institution, transcripts for all course work; or if none of the above apply, the most recent transcript from the last school attended
4. High School exit exam scores
5. A copy of either the ACT or SAT scores (entrance test)
6. Three letters of reference from previous teachers, employers, or counselors
7. A neatly written personal statement of no more than two pages describing career objectives, how this school will help you attain your goals, and any other pertinent information that may affect your application
8. A copy of the acceptance letter or most recent registration card/class schedule from the program you will be attending
9. Complete information should be submitted by June 1

All information will be kept confidential. Applicants who do not submit all of the above information will not be considered.

For Complete Eligibility Guidelines and Application Procedure
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