When Adonis McCrary walked into Georgia Tech’s Office of Undergraduate Admission in March 2025, he was expecting to drop off some paperwork. Instead, he left with his acceptance letter, hand-delivered to him by the Undergraduate Admission team.
The surprises didn’t end there — weeks later, McCrary noticed a new line of funding in his student account for Georgia Tech.
“I saw a whole bunch of money credited to my student account, and I remember thinking, ‘Hold on, wait a minute. What’s going on there?’” recalled McCrary, a first-year public policy major from Atlanta, Georgia.
The next day, things became clearer. In the college guidance office of Frederick Douglass High School, McCrary again met with Undergraduate Admission counselors. They told him he qualified for the G. Wayne Clough Tech Promise Scholarship, Tech’s need-based scholarship for qualifying students to pursue a debt-free degree.
“I was deciding between Georgia Tech and another school, and I knew I needed a scholarship to go to Tech,” said McCrary. “I’m beyond thankful for it.”
Georgia Tech: A Guiding Light
McCrary had long dreamt of the kind of opportunity provided by Tech Promise. McCrary grew up in College Park, Georgia, before moving in with his grandmother in Atlanta. In the time before his move, McCrary struggled to find guidance and a sense of identity.
“I didn’t want to become a product of my environment. Living around all the elders in the neighborhood, the neighborhood was the only thing they knew. I knew I wanted to do something different,” said McCrary.
When he started high school, he quickly found himself drawn to Tech. His first introduction to the university came during a football camp, where he was captivated by the campus atmosphere. Despite being the first in his family to pursue college, he set his sights firmly on Tech.
Driven by that goal, McCrary excelled both academically and socially — graduating valedictorian, being elected homecoming king, and competing in four varsity sports.
Through it all, his dream school remained Tech. And with the help of his school support network and Achieve Atlanta, a local nonprofit providing resources and guidance to Atlanta students to navigate higher education opportunities, McCrary successfully submitted his first-year application and financial aid forms.
Finding Motivation, Following Footsteps
Another motivating force during McCrary’s time at Frederick Douglass was mayor of Atlanta and Tech alumnus, Andre Dickens. When Mayor Dickens visited McCrary’s high school, McCrary was tapped to give him a tour and have lunch together. McCrary describes this time spent with the mayor as an inspiration.
“My biggest takeaway was that whatever you want in life: Say it out loud, write it down, pray about it, and put the work behind it,” said McCrary. “Mayor Dickens said he wanted to be the mayor of Atlanta at 16. So now I have my own unique goals that I’ve written down and said and prayed about, and I’m working towards them.”
With the help of Tech Promise and community support, one major goal can be crossed off the list: attending Georgia Tech. As he reflects on his journey so far, McCrary hopes to excel not only for himself, but for his younger brothers.
“I know they look up to me. I’m the oldest of three boys, so I feel like if I show that I can do it, then they know they can do it, too,” he said.
To be considered for Tech Promise, students must complete financial aid forms annually, including the GT App and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. These forms become available on Oct. 1 each year. Students who apply for first-year admission must submit their applications by Jan. 31 for consideration for Georgia Tech financial aid.
Contribute Today to Transform Tomorrow
Experiences like Adonis’s and other scholars are made possible by contributions to Transforming Tomorrow: The Campaign for Georgia Tech. Thanks to the support of alumni and friends, this comprehensive campaign is bringing unparalleled advancements to the Institute and building a foundation to support our students, advance our research and innovation, enhance our campus and our community, and expand our impact at home and around the world. To learn more and support the campaign, visit https://transformingtomorrow.gatech.edu/
