The Foley Scholarship

In October of 2007 the GVU Center announced the establishment of the Foley Scholars Endowment. Named for Dr. James D. Foley, professor and founder of the GVU Center, the endowment supports annual fellowships to exceptional students involved in research at the GVU Center at Georgia Tech. This endowment, which is a tribute to Professor Foley, was established by his family, colleagues and former students to honor his visionary leadership in Graphics, HCI and, more broadly, his significant contributions in the field of computing.

The Foley Scholars Endowment is a direct financial gift from GVU alumni, faculty, associates and friends to outstanding graduate students actively involved in GVU research. The gift bypasses administrative overhead and directly benefits the program’s best students and the best of what GVU is. The Foley Scholars Endowment is awarded on a merit basis for overall brilliance and potential impact.

What the Scholarship Covers 

Two students will be awarded $5,000 each with no stipulation as to how the money is to be used.

Eligibility Requirements

Candidates must be at least a second year Master’s or PhD student currently enrolled and in good standing with the Georgia Institute of Technology, and actively doing research with and relating to the GVU Center. Citizens, permanent residents, and international students are eligible to apply.

Recipients will be designated ‘Foley Scholar’ and will be called upon to represent GVU at various conferences, events, and functions. This award is the highest academic honor awarded by GVU, and Foley Scholars, past and present, will represent the visionary spirit of the GVU Center.

How to Apply 

E-mail a 2 to 4 page document (PDF) containing:

·         Your full name

·         Your physical address, e-mail address, and phone number

·         The name of your advising professor

·         The colleges/universities you have attended and degrees earned

·         Your current degree program, date of last academic milestone (quals, proposal, etc.), and expected graduation date

·         A current copy of your CV (your CV does not count toward the 2-4 page application limit)

·         Answers to the following essay questions

(suggested word count is 300 - 500 words per question):

1.       Describe a current research project, and how this project exemplified your personal research vision. If this is a group effort, be sure to specify your individual role and contributions.

2.       Describe your plans following graduation. How do you expect to impact GVU or Georgia Tech, and how do you expect to impact the world into which you will go?

3.       Give one or two examples of your leadership. Explain how you were influential and what you were trying to achieve. These need not be demonstrated through formal or traditional leadership roles.

Applications are due by 5:00 pm on Wednesday, June 1, 2011; selection of finalists will be made by Thursday, June 30, 2011.  Eight finalists will be contacted via e-mail and be asked to submit:

·         A letter of recommendation from your advising professor

·         A letter of recommendation from another professor with whom you have closely worked

·         A copy of your academic record

Preliminary selections will be made by a panel of GVU faculty.  Final selection will be made in the fall by a committee comprised of external industrial partners and GVU alumni.  Awardees will be honored at the Foley Scholars dinner on Wednesday, October 26.

Contact information

For more information on the Foley Scholars please visit http://www.gvu.gatech.edu/foleyscholars; specific questions can be e-mailed to GVU (at) cc.gatech.edu.