Georgia Tech alumnus Francis Lott has made a significant gift to the Georgia Tech Foundation, funding the Francis and Diane Lott Scholarship Endowment as part of the Wayne Clough Georgia Tech Promise program. The Tech Promise program was established to help provide a debt-free Georgia Tech education for dependents whose primary obstacle to success is the lack of financial resources.
To qualify, total family income must be less than $33,300 per year. First preference will be given to undergraduate applicants who are residents of Coffee County and, secondly, to students from the 62 other counties which comprise “South Georgia.” An additional preference shall be given to those students from other counties who purse a degree in architecture. Initially, the Lott endowment may provide scholarships to GT for up to tswo students each year, debt-free. In year 2023 another endowment kicks in support as well, at which time, up to four scholarships to GT may be funded each year.
A native and life-long resident of Douglas/Coffee County, Francis Lott is a graduate of Georgia Tech (architecture 1959) and is founder/CEO of Lott Properties, a successful real-estate development firm.
Dr. Wayne Clough, also a native of Douglas, served for nearly 14 years and is the most esteemed President of Georgia Tech for many years (1994-2008) and was the first graduate of the Institute to also become its president. During Dr. Clough’s tenure, student enrollment increased 20% from 13,000 to 18,000, and campus facilities literally exploded across the interstate.
Following his tenure at Georgia Tech, Dr. Clough served with great distinction and success at the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institute, in Washington, DC. He left an enviable legacy at both institutions. Dr. Clough has been engaged to continue to provide services at both institutions.
The Lotts wish to raise the visibility of Georgia Tech among high-performing high school students across South Georgia, noting the relatively small number who apply and attend. Hopefully, their endowment will increase interest in Georgia Tech among high school students in Coffee County and the rest of South Georgia, leading to increased application rates from the area.
For more than 16 years, Georgia Tech has been ranked among the top 10 public universities in the United States and, for the 2nd year in a row, the #1 best tuition investment in the US by Smart Money magazine. GT offers top-rated academics with a focus on STEM and cutting-edge technological research. Median starting salary is $61,000 per year for GT graduates with a bachelor’s degree.
Since 2007, when the program began, 383 Tech Promise scholars from 89 Georgia counties have earned Bachelor of Science degrees at Georgia Tech, with 32 going on to earn Master’s degrees.
Details and requirements of the GT Promise Scholarship Program are available online at http://www.finaid.gatech.edu/promise or phone (404) 894-4160.
-Submitted copy