By Yvonne Medina
Nicole Wilson’s journey from HOPE Scholarship recipient to establishing and funding a scholarship in her mentor’s name, the new Fred Cook scholarship, is a story about hard work and innovation, of course, but it is mostly one of gratitude.
Wilson grew up in Atlanta’s Toco Hills with three siblings and a single mother who opened five local restaurants while her children were in school. Wilson’s mother worked hard to put her children in private schools where they could thrive and be challenged academically, and Wilson’s passion for math and science remained consistent across her primary and secondary schooling. When she was deciding where to go to college, Wilson said she had two options: the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Georgia. With four children planning to attend college, Nicole’s mother told her she needed to go to a state school with a scholarship. Tech was her first choice, and she was elated when she was accepted early with the HOPE Scholarship.
At the time, the School Polymer, Textile and Fiber Engineering had not yet merged with the School of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), and it boasted great scholarships. Manufacturers and other stakeholders wanted to encourage American students to work in manufacturing. At first, Wilson was not sure what she wanted to major in; chemical engineering felt close if not quite right, so that’s what she chose. Much like a research scientist, she conducted a series of tests to see what subject area and industry would most suit her since she was not particularly drawn to research labs.
Every summer, she worked at a different internship to experience various industries before she decided on a career path. Wilson said she felt deflated when she realized she was not finding what she was looking for in the chemical engineering program, so she thought to herself, “I like clothes; let’s give the textile engineering school a try.” Meeting and working with Fred Cook, now a professor emeritus, confirmed for her that textiles was the area where she wanted to work. Cook took the time to meet with both Wilson and her mother to discuss the program. Wilson said she enjoyed the program’s small community where she could get to know faculty and staff more personally.
Using a proprietary manufacturing process and blend of fibers, the Pure Filter Sock allows utilities to quickly remove water from the site to do their job safely and protect the environment. “Georgia Tech had a huge impact on my life,” Wilson said, giving her technical and research skills to solve problems and make an impact in her community. Her undergraduate research project prepared her to experiment and innovate a solution in water filtration. Her Georgia Tech degree, and the HOPE Scholarship that supported it, allowed her to pursue her dreams and start her own company.
Wilson said, “everyone deserves to have the same opportunity and same education.” The HOPE Scholarship gave her the opportunity to find her home, and she wants to give that same opportunity to future students. To do that, she has funded a scholarship named for the mentor who helped her explore materials science, Fred Cook.
Now, every time she meets a high school student remotely interested in engineering, she gives them a spiel about materials science, coming full circle to that impactful meeting she had with her mother years ago in Cook’s office.