The Goldia Mae Burchfield Memorial Scholarship was established to support students in pursuit of their undergraduate degree. Ms. Burchfield, mother to Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems Financial Manager, Gay Burchfield, died on June 8th, 2020, at the age of 80, in Starkville, Mississippi of COVID-19.

Ms. Burchfield, lived a life of service to those in her community, with a particular emphasis on education. During the segregation era, her family moved from rural Mississippi to a larger town where she could pursue her high school education, which she completed in 1958. She worked as a part-time custodian in a local bank for 35 years, as well as numerous odd jobs to care for her family and her community. Ms. Burchfield would put together care packages with stipends for the young people of her community who were college bound. She also self-funded an after-school meal and care program to help support families so that kids could stay in school, and parents could remain employed. If asked what her greatest achievements were, she would say that she was a great mom, provided free meals to many, greeted everyone with a heartfelt smile, and genuinely cared for everyone she encountered.

Donations by check should be made payable to the Georgia Tech Foundation, Inc., with "Goldia Mae Burchfield Memorial Scholarship" noted on the check or in a separate note, and should be mailed to: Georgia Tech Foundation, Inc., 760 Spring Street, NW, Suite 400, Atlanta, GA 30308. 

On-line gifts can be made at https://development.gatech.edu, using the ‘GIVE NOW’ button and following directions provided. In the ‘Other Designation’ box, enter “Goldia Mae Burchfield Memorial Scholarship.” Each donor will be acknowledged by the Georgia Tech Foundation, and a list of all donors will be shared with the Burchfield family.

Application and award selection criteria have not yet been decided upon for this scholarship, since it was so recently established. However, the Burchfield family, in conjunction with the Georgia Tech Foundation, will arrange these details soon.