Five for Full Rides: Durham Tech students headed to NC State on prestigious Goodnight Scholarship
Five Durham Tech students are headed to North Carolina State University on full scholarships as part of this year’s prestigious Goodnight Scholars transfer class.
Katie Jordan, Caitlyn Frazier, Jesse Parmelee, Jorge Rivera-Lopez, and Susan Edelstein were notified last month that they were among the 51 Goodnight Scholars in the transfer class of 2025.
Acceptance into the Goodnight Scholars Program includes a scholarship of $22,000 per academic year, renewable for up to three years. Recipients were selected from 30 counties across North Carolina and participated in a rigorous selection process, including an extensive application and interview.
In recent years, Durham Tech has been a consistent home for Goodnight Scholars. Six graduates from 2017-21 were selected for the program. In 2022, the transfer class was expanded from 25 to 51, which provided even more Durham Tech recipients.
Susan Edelstein, one of the new scholars, said she is interested in pursuing a career in seismology and volcanology – gathering data to predict future natural disasters. She said she was in shock when she received the phone call.
“An opportunity like this scholarship has the potential to change my life if I use it right, so that awareness both excites and terrifies me,” Edelstein said. “With this scholarship, I can connect with like-minded individuals equally passionate about STEM and grow as a leader in my community. I couldn't be more grateful to Dr. Jim and Ms. Ann Goodnight. They give so much of themselves to inspire young adults in STEM to pursue their passions without the burden of finances altering their dreams.”
Rivera-Lopez, another recipient, said he was applying to the Accelerated Bachelor/Master Program for Computer Science with a cybersecurity specialization and minor in economics.
“I am thrilled to be part of a welcoming group of rising young professionals,” Rivera-Lopez said. “I'm looking forward to learning from one another and discovering new things about myself through self-exploration while at NC State.”
The Goodnight Scholars Program first introduced transfer classes in 2017 and Durham Tech has had recipients every year since its inception.
“Durham Tech is proud to have had winners every year since the first transfer class in 2017, and we're excited that the Goodnight Scholars Program has expanded its transfer class to make this transformative experience available to more students,” said Lea Bingham, Assistant Dean of University Transfer.
NC State is one of 15 colleges in North Carolina that Durham Tech partners with to assist students in seamless transitions to four-year institutions.
The Goodnight Scholars Program is available to low- and middle-income families from North Carolina and is limited to students studying in the STEM disciplines or affiliated education majors.
About the Goodnight Scholars Program
The Goodnight Scholars Program provides talented STEM students transferring to NC State with a full scholarship for up to three years. Funded by SAS CEO and Founder Dr. Jim Goodnight and his wife Ann, the Goodnight Scholars Program seeks to encourage low- and middle-income students to become STEM leaders in North Carolina and beyond.
Learn more about the Goodnight Scholars Program.