Sussex Tech's Brittany Ritter enjoys full ride

Sussex Tech grad Brittany Ritter had never been to Georgia Tech when she applied to the school early in her senior year.

But she's learned plenty about it since winning a full, four-year scholarship to the Atlanta university.

“I applied early through the common app, but I didn't know much about the school,” she said.

The common application is a computerized program that universities use to receive college applications. Students enter their high school information once and then choose universities that will receive their applications.

Brittany said applying through the common app is all it took. “They picked me through the common app,” she said.

The Stamps President's Scholarship is the most prestigious scholarship offered to the top 1 percent of the incoming applicants to Georgia Tech, according to the Georgia Tech website. In 2006, Penny and Roe Stamps created the scholarship to benefit scholars at their alma maters – Georgia Tech and the University of Michigan. Roe Stamps is a private investor and co-founder of Summit Partners, a Boston-based investment company.

The scholarship is awarded to 40 students annually, and it covers tuition, fees, housing and board. Brittany is one of 20 out-of-state students awarded the scholarship; 20 scholarships are reserved for Georgia residents.

Stamps scholars also receive a stipend for a laptop and $15,000 in enrichment funding for international experiences, unpaid internships or unpaid research, the website states.

Applicants must apply for early admission to be considered. Grades are a consideration, but not the only one; Brittany said they also took into consideration her extracurricular activities.

Brittany has quite a few: she was valedictorian, class president and served on student government for four years. She was a baton-twirler for the Sussex Tech marching band, was on the school's math league team, participated in the Science Olympiad and was a member of National Honor Society.

“There's a big emphasis on giving back,” she said.

Brittany said she was one of 300 semifinalists chosen, and after an interview in Philadelphia she made the next cut of 120 candidates. All 120 traveled to Atlanta for another round of interviews and a tour of the school. “I loved it there,” she said.

A week later she found out she won. “I opened an email, and I started crying,” she said.

Brittany said she intends to study industrial design with a minor in modern architecture. She said an industrial design degree focuses on maintaining the functionality of objects while keeping them appealing. “They can design anything,  something that has a function – such as a chair,” she said.

Brittany, who lives with her family in the Long Neck area, said she plans to take the summer off before leaving July 30 for orientation.

“I'm going to enjoy not having to do anything for a few weeks,” she said.