GASTONIA, N.C. — Samantha Bolton is a senior at Forestview High School. The historical treatment of students of color and current diversity efforts at universities are factors she takes into account when choosing a college. 

What You Need To Know

  • Samantha Bolton, a senior at Forestview High School in Gastonia, was accepted into Georgia Tech and five other universities

  • She recently found out her grandfather couldn’t go to Georgia Tech in 1953 because he was Black

  • Georgia Tech desegregated in 1961 and now Bolton is reflecting on the past and the strides made since then

She’s been accepted into six universities, including Georgia Tech. 

“I always knew I wanted to be an engineer and go to a great college,” Bolton said. 

The 18-year-old is following the footsteps of her late grandfather, Robert Cheeseboro, and her mother, Evelyn Bolton.

When Samantha Bolton started applying, Evelyn Bolton remembered Cheeseboro, her father, applied to Georgia Tech in 1953 but wasn’t admitted because he was Black. 

“He really never talked about his younger days in the South. I think it was pretty traumatic,” Evelyn Bolton said. 

A few years ago, Cheeseboro was diagnosed with dementia, so the Boltons turned to the Library of Congress to look into the history. 

They found correspondence between the University System of Georgia and Cheeseboro. 

“It was just so much that we realized this is something we want to bring to life,” Samantha Bolton said.

The letters don’t explicitly mention he was denied admission. But he was given the option of obtaining financial assistance only at universities outside of Georgia. Several of the colleges listed as options on the letter were historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). 

“It was so gut-wrenching what was going on and so blatantly racially motivated,” Bolton said. 

She adds that makes being accepted to Georgia Tech bittersweet. 

“It kind of adds more gravity to this letter knowing that someone who very well could have been more qualified than me was unable to get this 70 years ago. It makes me understand the privilege I do have to be holding it and the progress we have made, but it also reminds me of where I came from and how important it is to remember that,” Bolton said. 

Cheeseboro kept asking the University System of Georgia to reconsider his acceptance.

“His perseverance was unmatched because he just kept writing to them and just kept asking to be evaluated based on his merit. And I mean, it's heartbreaking to see,” Bolton said. 

During their research, the Boltons found articles about Cheeseboro’s unsuccessful application to Georgia Tech. 

He ended up earning an engineering degree from the University of Rochester. 

Cheeseboro died in February and the Boltons want to ensure his story is not forgotten. 

“It is hard to see that none of that worked out for him and that he did live his life in poverty when he was so brilliant and so determined,” Bolton said.

Georgia Tech desegregated in 1961. 

Bolton said she talked to representatives of the university when she found out her grandfather’s story and they listened to her.

She said in past decades the university has made strides to be more inclusive. 

“That past is everywhere. You can't change it, but they are making a lot of active efforts. There’s a lot of communities, organizations on campus to be a part of, in regards to diversity and inclusion, so they’re doing their best,” Bolton said.

After the interview, she visited Georgia Tech and said she’s very interested in going there. She likes the school’s focus on diversity and innovative science programs. 

Bolton will have to make a decision on which college to attend on May 1.