TACC Celebrates 2025-2026 Fratkin Scholarship Recipients

TACC congratulates its latest cohort of Susan Fratkin Scholarship recipients on receiving a well-earned honor.

In May, selected Code@TACC alumni gathered with their families, TACC staff, and Susan Fratkin herself to celebrate the fourth year of the Susan Fratkin Scholarship program. In recognition of their academic promise, seven outstanding students received scholarships to help cover higher education expenses for the coming school year.

“This cohort increases the breadth and depth of people who have been touched by Sue and her legacy in computing,” said Senior Outreach Program Coordinator Geoffrey Reid. “From internships to research experiences, Code@TACC alumni will always be connected to the TACC community.”

Sue Fratkin, the scholarship’s namesake, is a renowned advocate for high performance computing (HPC) workforce development. For 26 years, Fratkin served as executive director of the Coalition for Academic Scientific Computation (CASC), a sustaining partner of the Fratkin Scholarship Fund. Founded in 1989, CASC is an educational nonprofit organization with more than 110 member institutions representing many of the nation's leading universities and advanced computing centers.

“These young people inspire me every year,” Fratkin said. “I’m glad we’re able to support these outstanding students and this scholarship is another way make a difference in their lives.”

The scholarships were made possible through the generous support of private donors and CASC, the fund’s premier sponsor.

"Sue Fratkin didn’t just support the research computing community — she shaped it, one relationship and one emerging leader at a time."

“Sue Fratkin didn’t just support the research computing community — she shaped it, one relationship and one emerging leader at a time,” said CASC Executive Director Kathryn Kelley. “The scholarship bearing her name carries that same spirit forward, investing in the next generation of people who will define what HPC looks like for decades to come. CASC is proud to stand alongside TACC in honoring her legacy by championing the scholars who will build on it.”

Citlali Gaytan of Bloomington High School will attend Victoria College to study Cardiology.

“I’m excited to be a graduating senior and a Fratkin Scholarship recipient," Gaytan said. “I will use this award in my pursuit of becoming a cardiologist to pay for up-front costs like books and other supplies.”

Joshua Adeolu of Harmony School of Excellence plans to study Computer Science at St. Edwards University.

“Receiving this scholarship will take some of the financial pressure off of me and my parents,” Adeolu said. “I’m thankful for this award because it will help me get through college and, eventually, into an AI career.”

“I’m thankful for this award because it will help me get through college and, eventually, into an AI career.”

Since 2015, TACC’s flagship Code@TACC camps have empowered more than 700 students, many from economically underserved communities, by providing hands-on STEM experiences. Hundreds of alumni have continued to pursue post-secondary education in STEM, turning early exposure into lasting opportunity.

“The Fratkin Scholarship is one of the programs at TACC that makes us all incredibly proud,” said TACC Executive Director Dan Stanzione. “It is especially rewarding to see students whom we’ve often known for years through their summers at TACC progress through their academic careers and set out to change the world themselves.”

Full List of Recipients and Post-Secondary Enrollment