MACON — Mercer University awarded Drew N. Hartley of Peachtree City the first-ever Jackson W. Tarver Memorial Scholarship on March 14 at McIntosh High School.
The scholarship, which provides full tuition and room and board for four years, is based on academic criteria, interviews and leadership activities. The high school senior competed against more than 150 incoming Mercer freshmen in the Jackson W. Tarver Memorial Scholarship competition .
“Drew exemplifies the qualities of Jack Tarver, such as leadership and service to others,” said Allen London, associate vice president and director of freshman admissions. “I can’t think of a better young man to receive this inaugural scholarship.”
The Jackson W. Tarver Scholarship honors the late Jackson “Jack” Williams Tarver, Mercer class of 1938 and former president and publisher of the Atlanta Journal & Constitution during the 1960s. Tarver was also a great civic leader.
Son of Robey and Teresa Hartley of Peachtree City, Hartley is a varsity letterman in basketball, baseball and football. He is a three-time MVP and the team captain for the basketball team, making the All-Fayette and Coweta County Team, and a one-time MVP for the baseball team, making the Fayette Sports All-Tournament Team. He was honored with the “Most Athletic” senior superlative.
In addition to his athletic accomplishments, Hartley has received the “Algebra II Student Award” and “Most Outstanding Math Student” award and has been named to the high school’s Honor Roll. He is a member of National Spanish Honor Society, National Honor Society, Spanish Club and Key Club. Hartley is an Eagle Scout, on his Church Youth Group Leadership Team, a D.A.R.E role model, as well as a high school and elementary school student mentor.
Accepted into Mercer’s College of Liberal Arts, he plans to study mathematics.
Founded in 1833, Mercer is a 7,300-student, comprehensive, Baptist-affiliated university offering undergraduate and graduate degrees through the College of Liberal Arts, the Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics, the Tift College of Education, the School of Engineering, the Walter F. George School of Law, the School of Medicine, Georgia Baptist College of Nursing, the Southern School of Pharmacy and the James and Carolyn McAfee School of Theology.
Mercer University has campuses in Macon and Atlanta, as well as four extended education centers located in Douglas County, Covington, Griffin and Eastman. The University also operates the Mercer Engineering Research Center in Warner Robins and the Mercer University Press in Macon. For the past 12 years, Mercer has been ranked among the leading universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report.
