In August, the Office of Scholar Programs welcomed a new G. Wayne Clough Tech Promise Scholars Program cohort to Georgia Tech. Tech Promise, Tech’s need-based scholarship program, makes it possible for qualifying Georgia students from low-income households to earn a debt-free degree at Tech.
“We are proud to welcome these exceptional Georgia students to our program,” said Chaffee Viets, executive director of Scholar Programs. “For many of these students, Tech Promise is what makes Georgia Tech possible. And in recent years, we’ve made massive strides to make it more than a scholarship – this is an all-encompassing program to help these students succeed.”
Since 2007, over 1,250 students from 112 Georgia counties have been involved in the Tech Promise Scholars Program.
In 2023, the program expanded to assist students from households making less than $55,500 per year, allowing more Georgia students than ever before to pursue a debt-free Tech degree. Around this time, the Tech Promise Scholar Ambassadors program and governing executive board were established by current scholars to assist in the mission of bringing awareness to the program, both on campus and to prospective students.
“As the program expanded and we started to get more visibility and recognition, we decided it was time to have a dedicated team – the executive board – to lead the student ambassadors, create events, and work with staff to oversee the operations of the program,” said Andrés Robles Sotomayor, the inaugural president of the executive board. “Our Stamps President’s Scholar colleagues have seen success through this system for years, so we decided to emulate them to take Tech Promise to the next level. This gave us the opportunity to reach more donors and prospective students, and increase cohort engagement within the program.”
Welcoming New Scholars to Campus
This year’s festivities kicked off with the new scholar orientation, held on Aug. 12. During this time, scholars got to know one another, program staff, faculty support, and members of the executive board of the ambassador program.
Photos from the Tech Promise orientation on Aug. 12. Photos taken by Rob Felt.
On Sept. 5 – 7, the first-year cohort went on the second annual Tech Promise Scholars retreat at the Rock Eagle 4-H Center. An event developed by the ambassadors and executive board, the retreat offers an opportunity for new scholars to continue getting to know one another while building skills in smaller groups.
Scholars then enjoyed professional development and community engagement through various activities, including the Tech Promise Olympics. Throughout the retreat, teams competed for points in the various activities.
Photos from the Tech Promise Scholar Retreat on Sept. 6. Photos taken by Amanda Budd.
“It is essential for these students to have a strong support network, and that includes us, as program staff, but also their fellow cohort,” said Ashton Tomlin, senior assistant director for Scholar Programs. “There’s no better way to connect with one another than to be out in nature and through some friendly competition.”
The scholars were also joined by academic faculty Chrissy Spencer and Diley Hernández, who signed on to mentor and guide the scholars for their next four years at Tech.
To be considered for Tech Promise, students must complete financial aid forms annually, including the Georgia Tech Application for Scholarships and Financial Aid and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. These forms become available on Oct. 1 each year. All students, including those who apply for first-year admission, can submit their applications any time before Jan. 31, 2026, for consideration for Georgia Tech financial aid.
Contribute Today to Transform Tomorrow
These experiences 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/
