ATLANTA, GA (May 19, 2026) – GA Athletic Coaches Association, in partnership with Positive Athlete Georgia, proudly announces the recipients of the 2026 GA Athletic Coaches Association “Legacy Award” Scholarships. Six exceptional student-athletes, each a relative of a high school Coach or Athletic Director, have been awarded $1,000 college scholarships in recognition of their positive athletic spirit and exemplary representation of their parents’ lasting legacies.
Scholarship Recipients
The GA Athletic Coaches Association “Legacy Award” awarded to: Scholarships for the 2025-26 academic year have been
- AJ Brown Trinity Christian
- Blythe Edgar Eastside High School
- Deanna Lowther East Laurens High School
- Paul Risper Westside High School
- Max Lasseter Heard County High School
- Lola Hunter Union County High School
These individuals were selected from over 4,500 nominations representing more than 415 public and private high schools across Georgia.
Recognition Ceremony
The scholarship recipients will be formally recognized at the 2026 Georgia Positive Athlete Awards Ceremony on Monday, June 1, 2026 at the Georgia State Capitol. This event will celebrate all state sport winners and recipients of partner scholarships, with $38,000 in total scholarships being awarded.
About Positive Athlete
Positive Athlete is a national organization that seeks to promote the benefits of positivity to young athletes around the country through awards, scholarships, career-readiness programming, and special opportunities. Active across all 50 states, Positive Athlete recognizes high school athletes who lead with character, resilience, service, and leadership both in and out of sport. Since 2013, Positive Athlete has recognized thousands of student-athletes nationwide and awarded more than $825,000 in scholarships and special opportunities.
Mr. Fred William Shaver Jr., age 91, died on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at East Georgia Regional Medical Center in Statesboro, GA. Fred was born in Garden City, AL on August 2, 1934. He attended Hanceville High School and graduated from the University of North Alabama. Fred is better known as Coach Shaver by all those who know and love him. From 1966-1973, Coach Shaver served as the head football coach at Southeast Bulloch High School. He took a brand new program that was 0-11 in 1966 and transformed it into a powerhouse, winning the South Georgia Championship in 1971 and State Championships in 1972 and 1973. In addition to being the head football coach, Fred Shaver was also the assistant principal, full-time math teacher, Head Coach of Varsity Baseball, and Head Coach of the JV Girls Basketball. He also served as assistant Varsity Girls Basketball coach.
