Lamar unveils McGill Memorial Scholarship in Engineering

Thomas McGill earned a master's and doctorate from Caltech.
Thomas McGill earned a master's and doctorate from Caltech. | File photo

Lamar University recently announced the Dr. Thomas C. McGill Jr. Memorial Scholarship in Engineering, which honors the life and work of McGill, a pioneer in semiconductor research and Lamar State College of Technology alumnus.

Following his time at Lamar, McGill earned a master's and doctorate from Caltech and a moved on to postdoctoral appointments at England’s University of Bristol and Princeton University. He returned to Caltech to teach the new discipline of applied physics, authoring hundreds of publications in his time at the institutions. McGill also served as a Defense Advance Research Project Administration (DARPA) consultant for three decades, eventually being named a DARPA Senior Fellow.

“There was nothing Tom enjoyed more than working with students,” his wife, Toby McGill, said. “He cherished their enthusiasm and zest for discovery. Hopefully this scholarship will enable its recipients to reach their full potentials and use their skills to make the world a better place. Nothing would make Tom happier or prouder.”

Stephen Grace Jr., a friend and classmate of McGill’s, established the scholarship with colleagues of his to honor McGill’s memory. Full-time students in the College of Engineering are invited to apply for the scholarship. Preference is given to incoming freshman, and recipients must maintain a 3.0 grade-point average.