Florida Tech Names Newest Farmer Scholar: Thompson Is Astronaut High School High Achiever
MELBOURNE, FLA.—Florida Institute of Technology has named Brayden Thompson the 2012 recipient of the Farmer Scholarship. A senior at Astronaut High School in Titusville, Brayden is the son of Jim and Cindy Thompson of Mims. He is also dual-enrolled at Brevard Community College.
Thompson maintains a 4.5 grade point average with a workload that has included honors English, honors chemistry, advanced calculus, advanced physics, honors American history and German. Throughout his high school career, Thompson has also participated in a roster of extracurricular activities, including the Student Government Association, the Buddies Club and the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Mid-Florida Conference.
He is current president of the National Honor Society at his school and past treasurer. He is also a varsity letterman in swimming and diving and in track and field, and participated in football as a freshman. Thompson also works part-time as a property account coordinator at Fortress Management Group in Mims.
Thompson put Florida Tech at the top of his wish list when he heard professor and head of the Chemical Engineering Department Manolis Tomadakis give an introductory chemistry lecture.
He said, “Dr. Tomadakis’s lecture gave a first-person glimpse into what chemical engineers do and what their careers entail. His lecture also provided a view into how the Florida Tech Chemical Engineering Department places emphasis on the undergraduates, giving them as much access to facilities and interaction with professor as do the graduate students. After my visit to Florida Tech, I knew that Florida Tech would provide me with the research and work experience needed for me to determine my specific career path in chemical engineering.”
The Farmer Scholarship program provides a full four-year scholarship awarded annually to a Florida resident and high school graduate. Included in the scholarship are all tuition and university fees, a room in Harris Village’s Farmer Hall and the regular university meal plan. There are now four Farmer Scholars in residence.
Additionally, the Farmer Scholar is given a stipend between the junior and senior years for enrichment through Florida Tech’s summer study abroad program at Oxford University.
Phillip W. Farmer, retired chairman, president and chief executive officer of Harris Corp., has donated in excess of $1.5 million to establish this endowed scholarship. The Farmer Scholars program began in 2009.
“Mr. Farmer’s generosity is making it possible to bring the best and brightest students to Florida Tech. He’s helping us to compete with the nation’s top universities for some great additions to our student body,” said Florida Tech President Anthony J. Catanese.
