The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) invests in students, and the return on that investment pays dividends every day.

With more than 300 students currently filling roles at GTRI, senior leadership created a new way to recognize, honor, and recruit talented students. In October, GTRI awarded $40,000 in scholarships to four students at Georgia Tech: Carlos Alas, a mechanical engineering major from Naples, Fla.; Victoria Falk, a chemical engineering major from Lilburn, Ga.; Joseph Luck, an electrical engineering major from Summerville, S.C.; and Bianca Palacio, an industrial engineering major from Ridgewood, N.J.

“We have about 300 students who are embedded in our research initiatives,” GTRI Director Bob McGrath said in a luncheon with the recipients Oct. 16. “You and these 300 other students are an investment in our future. We’re very excited about the future of our technical workforce.”

Already, Mr. Luck, an EE junior and an Army veteran with a background in electronic warfare, has been hired in the Electronic Systems (ELSYS) Laboratory at GTRI as a student assistant.

“Joe Luck comes to ELSYS with skills that can immediately help our programs, while giving him experience to broaden and strengthen his career.” said Joe Brooks, director of ELSYS. “We’re glad he’s come on board. We are confident he can make contributions to our research in a way I think senior leadership envisioned when the scholarship was created.”

The committee that selected the recipients was led by Human Resources Consultant Shatanese Reese, and included GTRI Deputy Director of Support Lisa Sills and GTRI Chief of Staff Tom Horton. Scholarship eligibility criteria were provided to the Georgia Tech Financial Aid Office, which reviewed their database of students and provided GTRI with potential scholarship candidates.

“These are incredibly gifted students, and I’m glad GTRI could be a part of their educational opportunity,” McGrath said.