Media release from Georgia Northwestern Technical College:
Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) announces Shasten Tomas as the first recipient of the Matthew Vroman Memorial Scholarship.
Matthew Vroman earned a diploma in Aviation Maintenance Technology and three Aviation Maintenance Technician certificates at GNTC. Vroman passed away in 2024 at age 25 after years of battling numerous health issues. This scholarship, established last year, supports Aviation students who possess Vroman’s traits of kindness, solid values and relentless work ethic.
Tomas is an Aviation Maintenance Technology student at GNTC’s Floyd County Campus in Rome, a first-generation college student and a resident of Dalton.
“My dream is to become a certified Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) mechanic specializing in commercial aircraft,” Tomas said. “I envision myself working in a bustling hangar, contributing to the safe and reliable operation of these magnificent machines. The thought of being a vital part of ensuring the safety of countless passengers is incredibly rewarding.”
Vroman’s parents, Tim and Kathi Vroman, established the scholarship to help deserving students who shared their son’s character traits and love of aviation.
“We were shocked and devastated at Matthew’s passing and wanted to honor him in the best possible way,” Kathi Vroman said. “My husband and I thought of this scholarship, because completing GNTC’s Aviation Maintenance program and becoming certified by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) was Matthew’s proudest accomplishment.”
“From a very young age, Matthew was fascinated by all things related to planes,” Kathi Vroman said. “He was the little boy that had a toy aircraft carrier and stopped whenever he was playing outside to identify whatever plane was going by. He began taking flying lessons at age 12 and flew solo at age 19.”
The Vromans’ proudest moment was when their son passed the oral exams for his FAA certification. Kathi Vroman said, “It was a huge accomplishment for him after so much hard work.”
Matthew Vroman was shy, soft spoken and “one of the kindest and gentlest souls you could ever meet,” his mother said, adding that he was determined if there were something he wanted to accomplish.
“Matthew was the type of student that might only come around once in a career,” said Jon Byrd, executive director of Aviation at GNTC and Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) state aviation advisor. “In class, he was quiet and reserved and had to be encouraged to ask questions during lectures, but he studied harder than any of his cohort classmates.”
“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. “Once he knew what was expected of him, he went to work and delivered—no matter what struggles he was dealing with in his personal life. It was only after his passing that I learned the gravity of his personal battles.”
Byrd said he does not know how Vroman managed to complete the demanding program and continues to marvel his resilience to pursue his dreams and goals in aviation.
“I hope every GNTC Aviation Maintenance Technology student that is worthy to receive the Matthew Vroman Memorial Scholarship can know just what an honor it is to keep Matthew’s name and spirit present,” Byrd said, adding his gratitude to Tim and Kathi Vroman for keeping their son’s memory alive and well at GNTC.
“Jon Byrd was so incredibly supportive of our Matthew, and we will always be grateful for him and how he cared for our son,” Kathi Vroman said.
Matthew Vroman worked as an aviation mechanic at S&S Aviation Co. at the Cherokee County Regional Airport in Ball Ground.
Visit www.gntc.edu/community/foundation/scholarships/ for more information on GNTC Foundation scholarships.
In this GNTC photo:
(From left) Lauretta Hannon, executive director of Institutional Advancement at GNTC; Kathi Vroman; scholarship recipient Shasten Tomas; Tim Vroman, who is holding a photo of GNTC Aviation Maintenance Technology graduate Matthew Vroman; and Jon Byrd, executive director of Aviation at GNTC and Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) state aviation advisor, celebrate the award of the first Matthew Vroman Memorial Scholarship.
