Lauryn Carter set her sights on Georgia Tech after losing her mother to cancer

Lauryn Carter was in sixth grade when she lost her mother to cancer. By eighth grade, she set her sights on Georgia Tech — even though the schools in Americus, Georgia, didn’t offer much engineering curriculum.

With the aid of a Tech Promise scholarship, she will graduate debt-free as a first-generation college student with a degree in industrial systems and engineering. At the end of the ceremony, Lauryn will turn a special tassel that features a picture of her and her mother, whom she says has been with her every step of the way.

After graduation, she’s headed to Texas to work for Pepsi.