TCCa supports those entering the Georgia Tech Savannah/Armstrong Atlantic Engineering Alliance Program

(Savannah, GA – November 19, 2009) – The Advisory Board of The Creative Coast Alliance (TCCa) is pleased to announce the recent disbursement of eighteen $1,000 scholarships awarded to freshman students enrolling in the Georgia Tech Savannah/Armstrong Atlantic State University Engineering Alliance Program. Continuing the tradition of the former Coastal Business, Education and Technology Alliance (cBETA), TCCa issued scholarships to incoming students committed to the innovative program that allows those interested in pursuing technology and engineering degrees to do so locally.

The scholarships were made possible by funds from cBETA with which The Creative Coast Initiative merged in late 2007 to create The Creative Coast Alliance (TCCa). In addition to a focus on professional development, networking and attraction of business to support Savannah’s knowledge-based community, historically, cBETA funded annual scholarships for qualified students entering technology and/or engineering programs in area schools.

In an effort to continue that mission, in 2007, TCCa met with former cBETA Board members to designate a purpose for the remaining funds. It was decided that TCCa would work with Georgia Tech Savannah (GTS) and Armstrong Atlantic State University (AASU) to identify qualified students entering the engineering alliance program. With the available funds, TCCa was able to offer eighteen freshman scholarships in both 2008 and 2009. Mike Polak, Chairman of TCCa’s Advisory Board explained, “We are proud to honor the commitments of the former cBETA. Supporting these students as they pursue their technology and engineering degrees is an important part of the infrastructure we are constantly working to develop. We hope nurturing this education results in further expansion of the technology community in and around Savannah’s creative coast.”

Admitted as Georgia Tech students, GTS/AASU Engineering Alliance Program participants initially enroll on AASU’s campus to complete humanities, mathematics and science courses, as well as freshman and sophomore engineering courses required by Georgia Tech engineering curricula. At the start of their junior year, these students will begin taking classes on the GTS campus where they will complete their degree program. The GTS/AASU Engineering Alliance Program allows students to earn bachelors degrees in Civil Engineering, Computer and Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering without leaving Savannah.

Many of the scholarship recipients recently attended TCCa’s Innovation Awards where they were acknowledged alongside Savannah’s entrepreneurial and organizational leaders, as the future innovators of our community. By supporting these students as they pursue their degrees in engineering and technology, TCCa hopes to continue to spur growth in related fields that, in turn, supports Savannah’s creative economy.

To find out more about this program visit the TCCa website, www.thecreativecoast.org, or contact Jamie Wolf at 912-447-8450 or via email at jwolf@thecreativecoast.org.