Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) has announced O’Darius Davis as the 2026 recipient of the Matthew Vroman Memorial Scholarship.

Davis, a Rome resident, is an Aviation Maintenance Technology student at GNTC’s Floyd County Campus.

The scholarship honors Matthew Vroman, a GNTC Aviation Maintenance graduate who earned a diploma and three Aviation Maintenance Technician certificates before passing away in 2024 at age 25 following years of serious health challenges. Established last year, the scholarship supports Aviation students who reflect Vroman’s kindness, strong values, and relentless work ethic.

“We were shocked and devastated at Matthew’s passing and wanted to honor him in the best possible way,” said Kathi Vroman, noting that completing the Aviation Maintenance program and earning FAA certification was her son’s proudest accomplishment.

Vroman’s passion for aviation started early, his mother said, recalling how he loved identifying planes and began flying lessons at age 12, later flying solo at 19. She described a proud milestone when he passed the oral exams for FAA certification, calling it “a huge accomplishment for him after so much hard work.”

GNTC’s Executive Director of Aviation and TCSG State Aviation Advisor Jon Byrd remembered Vroman as a rare kind of student—quiet and reserved in class, but intensely dedicated.

“His love of Aviation kept fueling his fire to push through the challenging FAA curriculum and time demands, but I never once witnessed Matthew complain,” Byrd said, adding that it was only after Vroman’s passing that he learned the full extent of the personal battles Vroman faced while completing the demanding program.

Matthew Vroman worked as an aviation mechanic at S&S Aviation Co. at the Cherokee County Regional Airport in Ball Ground, according to GNTC.

For more information about GNTC Foundation scholarships, see the scholarships page here: https://www.gntc.edu/foundation/scholarships