Philanthropy

Joseph N. Thomas Technoship

The Joseph N. Thomas Technoship will be awarded annually to a graduating high school senior who is college-bound to a research university. The “technoship” is a scholarship in the form of a new laptop computer to further support the recipient’s development as a scholar in a math or science related field. The scholarship will be awarded to a student who needs an efficient laptop to keep up with the increasing use of technology in the classroom.

  • PURPOSE OF TECHNOSHIP

    Students benefit greatly from owning a personal laptop in college; one could argue it has become necessity to keep up with classwork and peers in college. Necessity or not, we want a brilliant mind to have knowledge and endless possibilities ever-available. We want a student to have opportunities he or she might not have had otherwise, and to ease struggles he or she might have had otherwise.

  • ELIGIBILITY AND EVALUTATION CRITERIA

    The Technoship recipient will be selected based upon evaluating the following criteria:

    1. The applicant attends a high school in one of the following counties in Georgia: Columbia, McDuffie, or Warren. (Required)
    2. The applicant has a need for a new laptop computer to support his or her studies at a research university. (Required)
    3. The applicant has shown a passion for solving math and science related problems. (Preferred)
    4. The applicant has demonstrated a genuine talent for, creative approach to, and/or brilliance in math and/or science. (Preferred)
    5. The applicant has an interest in pursuing a math or science related degree and future profession (or a math or science related application in a traditionally non-math or science field). (Preferred)

  • APPLICATION MATERIALS

    A. A cover letter from the applicant. This 1-2 page, single-spaced letter should include:

    1. Name, phone, email address.
    2. A description of your math and/or science related passions and/or interests. Specific examples are encouraged over descriptions of general interests.
    3. An explanation of why you need a new laptop for college. (What do you have now to take to college with you? How do you see it benefiting you?)

    B. One letter of recommendation for the applicant from someone at their high school. This 1 page letter should include:

    1. School name.
    2. Your email address and best phone number to reach you for follow up questions.
    3. Evidence that the applicant has demonstrated the evaluation criteria.

    C. A scanned copy of the acceptance letter from the research university the applicant plans to attend. In Georgia, the research universities are The University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Georgia State, Emory, and the Medical College of Georgia. You do not have to attend an in-state university to be awarded this Technoship.

    Annually, a maximum of 2 students from the same high school can be recommended for this award.

    Applications are due by March 20th by email only. Please email applications to laineb@uga.edu.

  • APPLICATION REVIEW, NOTIFICATION, AND QUESTIONS

    Applications will be evaluated by Dr. Laine Bradshaw, professor of Quantitative Methodology in the College of Education at the University of Georgia. Please feel free to email me any questions you may have about the application process.

    All applicants and schools will be notified of our decision via email by April 20th. The recipient of the award will be required to sign a form stating he or she is attending the research university and needs the laptop and that he or she accepts full ownership and responsibility of the laptop once it has been awarded to him or her. We will work with the recipient’s school to determine when and where to award the applicant his or her laptop.

    At least one recipient will be awarded a technoship each year. If funds are available and multiple deserving students apply, we will consider awarding more than one technoship. In year one of the technoship (2014), we will likely only have funds for one technoship. We hope to grow in the future through others’ support and donations.
  • IN MEMORY OF JOE THOMAS

    The scholarship is in memory of my grandfather Joseph Norman Thomas, my “Daddy Joe.” He had a brilliant left brain that guided his success in the geometry and creativity of design in carpentry and millwork. Outside of work, he was always joking in riddles and relished in the number and logic puzzles he daily conquered. He didn’t have the opportunity to graduate from college and he wouldn’t have had the laptop equivalent in his time had he been financially able to attend college. He did, however, get to enjoy the joys of electronic Sudoku and Facebook on his own laptop before he passed away on the spring equinox of 2011. This scholarship is to honor his life, remember his gift, and to give to others who share his love of numbers.

     

  • DONATE TO THE TECHNOSHIP FUND!

    The Joseph N. Thomas Technoship is provided by private donations; 100% of the money donated to the fund will be spent on purchasing laptops for Technoship recipients.

    If you would like to donate, please mail donations to:

    Laine Bradshaw
    323 Aderhold Hall
    The University of Georgia
    Athens, GA 30602

    The Joseph N. Thomas Technoship is run by Laine Bradshaw and her family and is not affiliated with the University of Georgia.