Scholarships
SAME Savannah is committed to the future of the AEC industry and the engineering and vocational/trade professions, as well as supporting the industry’s next generation of industry leaders. One of the key ways SAME Savannah supports future STEM and industry leaders is through the Annual Scholarship program, which is funded throughout the year by SAME Savannah members, guests, and events – namely the Savannah Post Scholarship Golf Tournament. Each year, the Post receives dozens of applications from deserving students across the region who are pursuing higher education in STEM and vocational-related programs. The scholarships are competitive, and recipients are selected on a mix of criteria, ranging from SAT/ACT test scores, GPAs, recommendations, degree pursued, military background, character and leadership criteria, and the application responses.
For more information on the program, criteria, or application process, or to apply, please click here.
Deadline for Applications: April 24, 2026
2025-2026 SAME Savannah Scholarship Recipients
Milena Bringman
Milena Bringman is a graduate and valedictorian of the Herschel V. Jenkins High School Class of 2024. She is the daughter of David and Kelly Bringman. During her time at Jenkins, she was the president of the FIRST Robotics Competition team and Co-President of the Georgia Association of Student Councils Executive Board. She is proud to be an International Diploma Seal and Civic Engagement Seal recipient as well as an active member of the National Honor Society. Beyond this, in her free time she enjoys live music, baking, and spending time with her friends. Melina is attending the Georgia Institute of Technology where she is pursuing a career in mechanical engineering.
Philopatir Azer
Philopatir Azer is currently a student at Georgia Southern University, where he is studying mechanical engineering. He is the son of Nadia and Essam Azer. Philopatir hopes to pursue a career in avionics and systems integration. At Georgia Southern, he is involved with the university’s tutoring services and serves as an Eagle Ambassador. Prior to college, he completed the Gulfstream Aerospace High School Apprentice, served as an officer for the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA, and volunteered at the Richmond Hill Public Library.
Jean Nasbin
Jean Absin is a 2024 graduate of Savannah Early College High School and currently attends Georgia Southern University. She is the daughter of Myra and Dexter Absin. Her mother, Myra, teaches mathematics at the college level and has also taught high school, while her father, Dexter, is a religious educator. Jean was actively involved in her high school community, participating in multiple clubs. Outside of school, she served as a bassist on the worship team at her church. In her free time, Jean enjoys playing tennis and continues to practice the clarinet.
Gage Gaskins
Gage Gaskins is a 2024 graduate of Lexington High School. He plans to attend Presbyterian College for three years before transferring to Clemson University to complete a degree in engineering. He is the son of Chris and Mary Gaskins, who have careers in engineering and education, respectively. During high school, Gage was an active member of the National Honor Society, Future Farmers of America, the Lexington High School Varsity Golf Team, and the St. Stephens Church Youth Group. An avid duck hunter, Gage also had a successful junior golf career and plans to play Division I college golf for Presbyterian.
Matthew Geller
Matthew Geller is a 2024 graduate of Alan C. Pope High School and is currently attending Auburn University, where he is pursuing a degree in engineering. He is the son of Brian and Nancy Geller. During high school, Matthew was involved in the National Leadership Forum for engineering, volunteered at his church, and was a three-year varsity soccer player. He also played club soccer for 15 years and was an active member of the Foreign Language Club and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at his school.
Michael McGalliard
Michael McGalliard is a 2023 graduate of Calvary Day School and is currently attending Mercer University, where he is studying biomedical engineering. He plans to transfer after his sophomore year to the Georgia Institute of Technology to continue his degree in biomedical engineering. He is the son of Rachel and Todd McGalliard. Michael enjoys playing nearly every sport and appreciates the problem-solving aspects that sports offer. At Mercer, he is involved with RUF, a Christian ministry on campus.
Radeen Dixon
This year I began the upperclassman portion of the Georgia Tech Chemical Engineering curriculum, including Unit Operations and Process Control Labs. In addition to my coursework I was also very active on campus and continued to work as a Teaching Assistant for Physics I and II, an Undergraduate Research Assistant, and an ambassador for both Georgia Tech and the school of Chemical Engineering. I also had the opportunity to advance my career, attending a number of national conferences to present my research and completing an internship at SpaceX on the Starlink Materials Engineering team. I was fortunate enough to secure a return offer and will be working at SpaceX again this summer as a Materials Engineer for the Starship program.
Beyond professional involvements I also had a wonderful time on campus this year. Georgia Tech went undefeated at Bobby Doddy this year, which was an incredible sight to behold. I also had the pleasure to be on the Georgia Tech climbing team this year, which was a great outlet to stressful academics. In addition to this I picked up mountaineering as a hobby this year, summiting the tallest mountain in the continental United States with some of my Georgia Tech peers. In total I spent over 50 nights this year camping, backpacking, or climbing with my classmates.
As I now enter my last year at Georgia Tech, I am beginning to seriously consider my lasting impact on campus and have opted to take a number of mentorship roles to help incoming students have access to the same resources that I have had. With all of this being said, the opportunities I have been able to take advantage of as a result of the SAME Savannah post Scholarship have been limitless and have helped me pursue my interests to a degree I never would have imagined. Thank you again for your generosity, I strive to make the most of the investment that you have made in my life everyday.
Scarlet Giggleman
Scarlett Giggleman currently attends Bob Jones University, where she is studying Interior Architecture. During high school, she was dually enrolled at Trident Technical College and Bob Jones University, and she was homeschooled for most of her academic career. She is the daughter of Holly and Hugh Giggleman. Scarlett plans to pursue a master’s degree in architecture after completing her undergraduate studies. Her interests include music, the art of patisserie, and traveling to explore diverse styles of architecture.
Kendall Pittman
Kendall Pittman is from Clermont, Georgia, and is a student at the University of North Georgia. She is the daughter of Chris and Rhonda Pittman. Kendall is pursuing a degree in science with the goal of entering a career in medical research. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, being outdoors, walking, deep sea fishing, and hunting.
John Nelson
John Nelson is a sophomore at Troy University, where he is pursuing a degree in cybersecurity. His interest in technology began at a young age, exploring coding, digital photography, and computer science during high school. In addition to attending college, John has worked for The Kroger Company for four years. Outside of work and academics, he enjoys traveling, biking, and hiking. His father, David Nelson, is a member of SAME in Savannah.
Louis Magilton
Louis Magilton is a student at The Tome School in North East, Maryland. He is the son of Maria and Nick Magilton. At school, Louis is a member of the varsity lacrosse team and participates in various clubs, including the debate club and Spanish club. Outside of school, he enjoys fishing around his local area. Louis plans to attend West Virginia University to study aerospace engineering, inspired by his lifelong passion for space and space travel. His love for space can be traced back to his grandfather, a NASA astronaut during the 1980s space shuttle missions. Although Louis initially considered becoming a software engineer, receiving a telescope from his grandfather in middle school sparked a deep fascination with the stars. Combined with his enjoyment of mathematics, this passion ultimately led him to pursue a future in aerospace engineering.
