Announcing Winners of the 2024 Julian & Jan Hester Memorial Scholarship

Congratulations to the winners of the Julian and Jan Hester Memorial Scholarship, which is funded by CBA and its membership. Each year, CBA awards four $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors attending a college, university or technical school in Georgia in the fall. Congratulations to:

Payton Beaver Berry College  United Community Bank Jasper |Mr. Daniel Lopez	Emalee Collins Georgia Tech United Community Bank Rome | Mr. Scott Tucker
Jackson Dowdy University of Georgia Queensborough National Bank & Trust Louisville | Mr. Bill Easterlin	Hannah Posey University of Georgia Queensborough National Bank & Trust Louisville | Mr. Bill Easterlin

The scholarship is named for the late Jan Hester, daughter of Lalia and the late Julian Hester, long-time CEO of the CBA. To compete, students must write a short essay on the characteristics of a community bank, and the continuing benefits they offer to their home communities.

“CBA is proud of these students and wish them well as they continue to further their education,” stated John McNair, President & CEO of CBA. “Each winner demonstrated outstanding scholastic achievement and community service. This was no easy task for the judges, who took their responsibility very seriously. The quality of applications was extraordinary with students who excelled in academics, athletics, community involvement and more – really an impressive group of high school seniors.”

Special thanks to the 2024 judges: Dr. Marguerite Brickman, University of Georgia, Athens; Katie Funderburke, Mauldin & Jenkins, Albany; Drew Kessler, Genesys Technology Group, Norcross; Kyle Ray, Builtwell Bank, Dalton; and Linda Smith, Embassy National Bank, Lawrenceville.   Read more about the scholarship program including this year’s winning essays.