This fall, 50 students joined the Stamps President’s Scholars Program and 20 joined the Gold Scholars Program. Both programs are merit-based scholarships at Georgia Tech.
The Stamps President’s Scholarship offers the premier, full-ride Georgia Tech merit scholarship and programming to a select group of students. The Gold Scholarship provides programming for selected students, with Georgia residents receiving a scholarship to cover tuition, fees, and books, and non-residents receiving an out-of-state tuition waiver.
“These students exemplify the program pillars of scholarship, leadership, progress, and service,” said Chaffee Viets, executive director of the Office of Scholar Programs. “These scholarships attract and retain some of the brightest minds to Tech, and we’re excited to watch these students flourish through the program’s environment of collaboration and commitment to the program pillars.”
Making Tech Possible for Inspired Students
Colton Merriner, a biomedical engineering major from Anchorage, Alaska, is the first Stamps President’s Scholar from the state. Merriner came to Tech to learn how to use technological systems to improve the health-related issues he has witnessed in his home state, particularly in rural regions.
“There’s a real heartache out there,” said Merriner. “I found myself on trips to help parts of my state, and feeling unprepared to fully tackle some of the issues. While being there for people and listening to their stories is effective, I also want to get the skills I need to offer solutions.”
The Stamps President’s Scholarship made Tech possible for Merriner, who was on his own to fund his college education. Moving thousands of miles from home started as a far-fetched goal, but Merriner was excited by the opportunities he saw in Atlanta and the return on investment provided by Tech.
Merriner notes a strong connection with other members of his cohort as one of his favorite parts of the experience. On Aug. 20, Merriner’s birthday, other Stamps President’s and Gold Scholars threw him a surprise party in his residence hall.
“I totally did not see it coming, and now we’ve got a calendar with everyone’s birthday so we can celebrate together,” he said.
Merriner hopes to get involved with the Stamps President’s Scholars ambassador program to meet the next class of scholars and continue building his network. He’s also excited by the opportunity to join some of his fellow scholars’ research and service projects.
“Everyone has some insight or experience to offer, and I’m really excited to deepen the connections I’ve made so far,” he said.
Scholars Bringing Solutions
Gold Scholar Sheona Diwakar also underscores her relationship with her fellow scholars as one of her favorite parts of the program so far. Philosophical conversations that last hours are commonplace, and learning about different perspectives has been a highlight of the last couple of months.
“There are 20 of us, and genuinely, I consider them some of my best friends. We come from such drastically different backgrounds in the sense of upbringings and beliefs, but they are truly amazing people,” said Diwakar. “The Gold Scholarship gave me monetary support, which is amazing, but it’s also given me friends who I never see myself letting go of.”
Diwakar, an industrial and systems engineering (ISyE) major from Marietta, Georgia, chose Tech because of the Institute’s guiding principles of Progress and Service, though the Institute’s No. 1 ISyE program was the cherry on top.
Tech’s mission to advance the human condition is an area where Diwakar already feels comfortable — in 2020, a 13-year-old Diwakar started Soaring Doves, a nonprofit organization providing menstrual products to those with limited or non-existent access.
Within a week of the initial idea, Diwakar was coordinating her first drive. The resulting effort brought in over 10,000 products that were distributed to those in need.
Now, Diwakar plans to build on the knowledge she acquired in her leadership of Soaring Doves to improve society and make processes easier for everyone.
“So many things boil down to a systems issue — even access to menstrual products as I’ve worked on within Soaring Doves,” she said. “Out of all the engineering majors, I felt ISyE is most centered on humans, and that’s what I’m interested in.”
Diwakar spent her summer as a systems engineer intern at WellStar Kennestone Hospital and hopes to pursue a similar position at Delta Air Lines in the coming semesters.
The Next Class of Stamps President’s Scholars and Gold Scholars
All Early Action applicants are automatically considered for both programs based on holistic excellence and potential within the programs’ four pillars. The Early Action 1 deadline, which is reserved for Georgia residents, is Oct. 15. The Early Action 2 deadline, which includes all other early applicants, is Nov. 3.
To learn more about Scholar Programs at Tech, visit the website. To learn more about Undergraduate Admission at Tech, visit the website.