The expendable scholarships have an enormous impact, especially for out-of-state students. As one recipient, an aerospace engineering major from Alabama, observed, “I would not be where I am today without such support.” Not only do they make a Georgia Tech education more affordable, but the SAIC ROTC scholarships also provide opportunities for extraordinary young men and women to reach their highest potential in leadership, service, and academic achievement.

Colonel Sheri Andino, Air Force ROTC commander and professor of aerospace studies, notes that the ROTC program, which is housed in the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, demands so much of students’ time for training and professional development that few are able to work to pay for their college expenses. This scholarship, she says, “allows them to focus more on their studies and on community service, and they’re doing incredible things.”

Whether preparing for a career in the U.S. Army Special Forces, as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Navy, or an aircraft maintenance engineer, SAIC ROTC scholars represent tomorrow’s leaders, deeply committed to serving their country as well as their communities. As Navy ROTC Captain Stephen Kirby explained, private philanthropy has lowered some of the financial hurdles along their path to success: “Everything that we can do for them helps.”