Georgia Southern Elite Scholars Program

Enabling Lifelong Success in the Information Technology Workforce

This Georgia Elite Scholar project will contribute to the national need for well-educated scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and technicians by supporting the retention and graduation of high-achieving, low-income students with demonstrated financial need. Over its six-year duration, this project will award a total of 161 scholarships to 65 talented undergraduate students, with a demonstrated financial need, who are pursuing degrees in Information Technology. The objectives of the project include generating stimulating educational opportunities for students to improve their academic performance, increasing degree completion, ensuring their technical competence, and preparing them for rewarding jobs in Information Technology fields.

At a Glance

When: Starting Fall 2023

Who: Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in information technology

What: Up to $10,000 per year in scholarship support and more

Sign Up

The overall goal is to increase STEM degree completion of low-income, high-achieving undergraduates with demonstrated financial need. A group of computer scientists, information technology experts, and educational specialists will be assembled to adapt, implement, and evaluate a set of evidence-based curricular and co-curricular student support activities. These activities will be evaluated based on the success, retention, and graduation of low-income students in STEM fields. This project will advance our understanding of best practices and lessons that will assist other educators to improve STEM education.

Scholarship Support and Eligibility

Scholarship Support

• Up to $10,000 per year.
• Up to 5 years of support to complete a bachelor’s degree in the Department of Information Technology.
• Other support includes but is not limited to research opportunities, travel to conferences, career mentorships, and others.

Scholarship Eligibility

• Full-time student majoring in Information Technology
• Verified financial need (by the university Financial Aid office, as determined by the U.S. Department of Education rules for federal financial aid.
• U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, and
• Academic promise – a minimum 3.0 GPA (cumulative)

Scholarship Application

Students interested in applying for the Georgia Elite scholarship must:

• Complete the Elite Scholar application form online.
• Participate in an interview (to be scheduled after the application is submitted)

Application Deadlines:

• Fall – June 1
• Spring – Nov. 1

2024-2025 Scholars

2023-2024 Scholars

Faculty Support Team and Contact

Faculty Team

• Dr. Yiming Ji, Professor and Chair of Information Technology, Principal Investigator
• Dr. Lei Chen, Professor, Information Technology, Co-Principal Investigator
• Dr. Hayden Wimmer, Associate Professor, Information Technology, Co-Principal Investigator
• Dr. Elise Cain, Assistant Professor of Leadership, Technology, and Human Development (College of Education), Co-Principal Investigator
• Dr. Kania Greer, Program Coordinator of the Center for STEM Education (i2STEMed), External Evaluator

Contact: For questions related to the Elite Scholarship, please contact the faculty team at: EliteScholars@georgiasouthern.edu.

Acknowledgments: This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 2321939.