2026 AAG Darrel Hess Community College Geography Scholarship
Offered by American Association of Geographers
About this scholarship
The 2026 AAG Darrel Hess Community College Geography Scholarship helps students move from two-year institutions into bachelor’s programs as geography majors. The American Association of Geographers expects to make two $1,500 awards, although its selection criteria allow two to four awards in a year when funding and qualified applications support them. Applicants must be enrolled at U.S. community colleges, junior colleges, city colleges, or comparable two-year institutions when applying. They need at least two completed transfer courses in geography and must plan to transfer to four-year colleges or universities as geography majors during the coming academic year. The scholarship can be used for any educational expense and includes a formal certificate of merit presented through the AAG awards program. Selection considers the overall quality of the application, scholastic excellence, academic promise, and financial need. The sponsor’s secure portal requires an academic transcript and initiates requests for two recommendation letters from college instructors. Awardees later provide official proof of admission to four-year institutions and verification that they are majoring in geography before funds are released. AAG conference attendance is encouraged but not required. Applications must reach the direct portal by midnight Eastern Time on November 15, 2026.
Eligibility
- Be currently enrolled at a United States community, junior, city, or similar two-year college
- Have completed at least two transferable geography courses
- Plan to transfer to a four-year institution during the coming academic year
- Plan to major in geography after transferring
- Upload the required academic transcript
- Arrange two recommendation letters from college instructors through the portal
- Comply with the AAG Professional Conduct Policy
- Submit by midnight Eastern Time on November 15, 2026