Dr. Julius Montgomery Scholarship Fund
Type
Scholarship / FellowshipYear Established
2022Purpose
Award tuition scholarships to undergraduate students enrolled or planning to enroll at Florida Tech. (GF000453)Description
Recipients will be selected by the Office of Financial Aid. Recipients must be full-time students and must be in and remain in good academic standing; scholarships shall be awarded on the basis of need and merit. Preference will be given to renewing the same student in successive semesters.
History
The Dr. Julius Montgomery Scholarship Fund is in recognition of the work and dedication of Dr. Julius Montgomery. This scholarship will stand as a testament to Dr. Montgomery’s legacy. Before the Civil Rights Act made equal employment opportunity the law, Dr. Montgomery was making history in 1956 as the first black professional in the U.S. space program. In 1958, he was the first African American student to sign up for classes at the university. As the university did not yet have its own campus, the Brevard County School District’s ultimatum to prohibit the use of certain classrooms if he attended was potentially debilitating. Dr. Montgomery met with the university’s president, Dr. Jerome Keuper, and agreed to withdraw. President Keuper promised a place for him once the university had its own property. Shortly after receiving the land for the current campus, Dr. Montgomery effectively desegregated the school when he enrolled in classes. To honor the pioneering spirit and his contributions, the Alumni Association presents an annual Julius Montgomery Pioneer Award to a deserving candidate. Like the award, this scholarship will continue to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Montgomery by providing financial support for students from historically marginalized backgrounds. The student named for this scholarship may continue to receive the award each year until their graduation. Students receiving this award will be known as “Dr. Julius Montgomery Scholars”.