Scholarships
The Peyton Anderson Scholars program serves as a tribute to the value Peyton Anderson placed on education. The scholarship was created in 2009 to commemorate 20 years of the Foundation improving lives and enhancing Central Georgia. Promising high school students from Bibb County who plan to attend a selection of Georgia colleges and universities are eligible to apply.
More than a decade later, more than $3 million has been awarded to over 225 deserving Macon-Bibb County students. Every year, 15-20 new students are chosen as Peyton Anderson Scholarship recipients. To date, the Scholars have performed in excess of 10,000 community service hours as part of the program.
Because Mr. Anderson valued education, he was known to provide funding to assist highly promising, deserving Central Georgia young people in their collegiate pursuits. One of the most notable was Tom Johnson, whose heralded news career started in the Macon Telegraph and News office at age fourteen. After earning his MBA from Harvard University, Mr. Johnson was selected to be a White House Fellow. At the request of President Lyndon B. Johnson, he joined his staff and eventually became Deputy White House Secretary. Later in his career Mr. Johnson was the chief executive officer of the Los Angeles Times and CNN.
Eligible students are promising graduating seniors who attend a Bibb County, Georgia public or private SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) accredited high school. Applicants must be U.S. citizens who have both resided in Macon-Bibb County and attended school there for the previous two school years. Applicants must have at least a 2.0 GPA, have financial need as determined by FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), demonstrate good character and active community involvement and obtain enrollment with an eligible college or university for the Fall Semester immediately following their high school graduation.