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| Family members
standing from left: William L. Smith, II, William L. Smith, Sr., Selena J.
(Brown) Smith, Jasmine Smith, Makayla Smith. Seated on sofa from left: Garry F.
Grant, Sr., Leroy Brown, Jr., Rose A. (Lanier) Brown, Valerie S. (Brown) Grant.
Seated on floor: Dr. Sheila E. Brown and Garry F. Grant, Jr. |
Valerie
S. Grant has established a $50,000 endowment honoring her parents, the late
Rose A. (Lanier) Brown and Leroy Brown Jr., alumni of Savannah State
University. The endowment rewards students enrolled in the university’s College
of Sciences and Technology.
Eligible candidates include undergraduate and graduate students seeking
full-time degrees in the Department of Mathematics or the Department of
Engineering Technology. To qualify for the scholarship, students must have a
cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 on a 4.00 scale, and demonstrate the qualities
of scholarship, community service, leadership and commitment to racial equality
in their chosen field.
“Savannah
State University was very dear to my parents,” said Grant. “Their time at SSU
was transformative. They were introduced on campus by a mutual friend, started
dating, and got married after graduation. Their marriage ultimately endured for
the rest of their lives - almost 60 years. In addition, they earned degrees in
mathematics from SSU, which gave them the foundation to further their education
at the graduate level and build successful careers in the public sector. They
were both the first in their families to finish college, and they would be
pleased to know that this scholarship is being established with the goal of
giving future students at Savannah State University the support they need to
enroll at the university and complete their degrees.”
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| Valerie S. Grant |
Mrs.
Brown, class of 1960, earned a Master of Science degree in computer science
from American University in Washington, D.C. She was a lifetime member of Delta
Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Beta Kappa Chi National Scientific Honor
Society. She served as a deacon at First Baptist Church of Silver Spring,
Maryland, and retired from the U.S. Army as an operations research analyst in
the U.S. Concepts Analysis Agency.
Mr. Brown,
class of 1959, also earned a Master of Science degree in computer science from
American University in Washington, D.C. He was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi
Fraternity, Inc. and Beta Kappa Chi National Scientific Society. He served as a
deacon and trustee at Northminster Presbyterian Church, Washington, D.C., and
retired as a computer engineer from Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA.
The Rose
A. Lanier Brown and Leroy Brown Jr. Endowment Fund is established for the
purpose of attracting and providing financial awards to students enrolled and
matriculating at Savannah State University. Donors may contribute additional
gifts to the fund at any time.
The
Savannah State University Foundation is a Georgia non-profit corporation with
the purpose of receiving, investing and administering the private support of
SSU by encouraging charitable gifts from alumni and friends leading to academic
programs of excellence. These gifts allow the university to build upon a
growing reputation of quality and value beyond the traditional resources
provided by state appropriations or student tuition and fees.
If
you would be interested in financially supporting the university, contact
University Advancement by calling 912-358-3059 or visit give.savannahstate.edu.
About
Savannah State University
Established in 1890,
Savannah State University is the first public historically black college or
university in Georgia and the first institution of higher learning in the city
of Savannah. Students select majors from 30 undergraduate and five graduate
programs in four colleges — Business Administration, Education, Liberal Arts
and Social Sciences, and Sciences and Technology.