Jermaren’s Scholarship Story

Finding a Future at LSU

For as long as he can remember, Jermaren Robertson has been fascinated by how things work. As a child, he took apart household objects just to see if he could put them back together. That curiosity sparked a passion for engineering. For a long time, though, he wasn’t sure if college was in his future because the cost felt out of reach.

Today, as a mechanical engineering major and an LSU Future Scholar, Jermaren is not only achieving his dreams but also inspiring others to chase theirs.

“It gave me a level of confidence I didn’t have before,” he said.

The Future Scholars Pipeline Initiative is a partnership with the East Baton Rouge Parish Public School System, focusing on schools that educate students living in the lowest-income households in each of its five attendance zones. Scholars incur zero costs for participation. Starting in seventh grade, the program provides mentorship, leadership opportunities, and academic support, culminating in the continuation of these crucial resources, alongside financial support, throughout earning their LSU degree. The first cohort of Future Scholars, which launched with high school seniors in 2023, includes 78 students who are now concluding their freshman year at LSU. Eighty-four percent are the first in their families to attend college.

Like many of his classmates, Jermaren discovered the program during a school outreach event — and it changed everything. “My mom saw it and was like, ‘You need to do this.’ And she was right,” he recalled. The promise of a scholarship eased the financial burden of college while linking him with a network of experts invested in his success.

“The trust these students and their families put in us is incredible. Watching them thrive, knowing they belong here, is what makes this work so rewarding,” said Langley McClay, PhD, director of the Future Scholars program. “They see a future here … just being on this journey with them is why I do it.”

From day one, the program has empowered Jermaren to grow both academically and personally. As a self-proclaimed introvert, stepping into a bustling college environment was a challenge, and support from Future Scholars helped him break out of his shell.

At LSU, Jermaren has embraced the rigorous curriculum of the mechanical engineering program, where he’s channeling his lifelong curiosity into a deeper understanding of how things work. He’s especially fascinated by engines — their scale, complexity and power.

“I’m just fascinated with engines,” he said. “Like, how can something that size generate power for things, like aircrafts? It’d be so cool to work on something like that.” That sense of wonder drives him in the classroom, where he’s exploring energy systems, mechanical design, and the physics that make innovation possible.

Beyond the classroom, Jermaren has discovered a passion for giving back. Through Future Scholars outreach opportunities, he speaks to middle school students about the importance of education and following their dreams.

“I want to give back to my community. I love talking to kids who were just like me — curious, full of potential, but unsure about their future,” he said. “I want them to see that college isn’t just for a certain type of person. It’s for them, too.”