SGBC Announces Local 2026 Julian & Jan Hester Memorial Scholarship Winners
Emily Thompson (left); Tucker Moore (center); Lyla Scott (right)
TIFTON, GA—Emily Thompson, a senior at Colquitt County High School, has been selected as the local winner of the Julian & Jan Hester Memorial Scholarship by South Georgia Banking Company. Thompson received a $500 scholarship from South Georgia Banking Company as the winner and will move on for consideration in the statewide selection process for one of four $1,000 scholarships, sponsored by the Community Bankers Association (CBA).
Thompson was chosen through a panel of local judges for her exceptional academic work, SAT scores, and community involvement. In addition to her academic work at Colquitt County High School, she has also done dual enrollment at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College for the past two years. She plans to attend the University of Georgia or Georgia Southern University after graduation.
Tucker Moore, a senior at Tift County High School, and Lyla Scott, a senior at Wilcox County High School, were chosen as runners up. Both Moore and Scott will also be considered for one of the four $1,000 scholarships in the statewide selection process.
“We are so excited to support Emily, Tucker, and Lyla in their pursuit of higher education,” said Sam McCard, Bank President. “We believe that young people are our future. By offering a local scholarship and sponsoring applications for students in South Georgia to move onto the statewide Julian & Jan Hester Memorial Scholarship selection, we are proud to help connect exceptional local students with an opportunity to fund their future.”
The Julian & Jan Hester Memorial Scholarship, sponsored by the Community Bankers Association, awards $1,000 scholarships to four high school seniors who plan to attend a Georgia college/university/technical school each year. Local banks like SGBC help identify and nominate outstanding students from their communities.
The Julian & Jan Hester Memorial Scholarship is named after long-time CBA Chief Executive Officer, the late Julian Hester and his late daughter, Jan Hester. Jan was a senior at the University of Georgia when she died in an auto accident in April of 1990. In addition to supporting community banking, this scholarship is an opportunity to pass on the positive qualities both Julian and Jan Hester exemplified to further the development of tomorrow’s generations.