Ronald Yancey, the first Black graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology, recently handed his granddaughter, Deanna Yancey, her diploma. It was a moment of history and meaning. Deanna, who earned a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering, is one of the family members who attended Georgia Tech.
Notably, Deanna received her undergraduate degree from Penn State University in 2020. Initially, she kept her master’s application to Georgia Tech a secret from her family. However, when she got in, she read the acceptance letter to her grandfather, who was excited and was almost jumping.
Deanna Yancey Follows in Her Grandfather’s Footstep
Ronald Yancey graduated in June 1965. Since 2019, a sculpture dedicated to him has been on campus, celebrating his huge achievement. According to the institution, it was the first university in the Deep South to integrate peacefully without a court order. Moreover, it welcomed its first Black students in 1961.
Deanna recognized her grandfather as a pioneer at Georgia Tech. In a video during her graduation ceremony, Deanna notes that it is a different world to be known for something as huge as what Ronald was able to start.
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Notably, Ronald’s journey started roughly. In the 1960s, Georgia Tech rejected him twice and told him he wasn’t an ideal fit for the Tech model for success. Unbothered by that situation, he proceeded to Morehouse College, a historically Black institution.
Sadly, Morehouse was not offering an engineering program at that time. This later prompted Ronald Yancey to reapply to Georgia Tech in the spring of 1961. Luckily, Georgia Tech accepted him because he retook the SAT and passed a summer class. Yes, he resat for the exam, ultimately becoming the first Black graduate of the institution in June 1965.
Ronald Yancey’s Educational Journey in Georgia Tech
Once Ronald Yancey got on campus, he faced some challenges. According to a Georgia Tech news release, Ronald was warned against using public transportation or attending sports events for his safety. As if that was not enough, he experienced isolation, with classmates avoiding sitting beside him.
Additionally, he never had a lab partner. Also, to prevent malpractice accusations, he completed all his papers and exams in ink. Unlike his peers, Ronald Yancey had to meet extra graduation requirements. While other seniors were exempt from final exams, he spent his last three weeks at the institution taking 18 exams across five classes.
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To ensure his success, he requested and completed an additional six-hour exam for extra credit and wrote a 30-page paper on transistor theory. Despite these challenges, Ronald Yancey was a victor.
Despite these hurdles, Ronald Yancey earned his electrical engineering degree from Georgia Tech 59 years before his granddaughter would achieve a similar milestone. According to Ronald, Deanna’s graduate degree is indeed an impressive accomplishment.
Deanna Yancey’s Career Path
At a very young age, Deanna started building computers with her dad while living in Columbia, Maryland. Eventually, she realized she wanted to understand the electrical side of many things. Her curiosity prompted her to apply, and she was accepted into Penn State to study electrical engineering.
Post-graduation, she started another three-year rotational program at Northrop Grumman in Maryland. Notably, she will complete the program in August.
Reflecting on her undergraduate and graduate educational experiences, Deanna loved that she got the same education as everyone else. She noted that online students and in-person students are treated equally. Besides, she was happy all her professors were passionate about their jobs and industry experiences.
In 2019, when Ronald Yancey’s First Graduate Sculpture was unveiled in the Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons, Deanna could not attend. However, whenever she visits the campus, she ensures a friend sees it. That’s some proud granddaughter moment!
Although Deanna is still figuring out what to do next at Northrop Grumman, she is keen on getting a career in management to help the next generation of young engineers.
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