MACON, Ga. — Mercer University’s Robert Delgado, EGR ’27, was awarded the highly competitive Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship to support him in pursuing his engineering degree and career.
SMART is a Department of War (DoW) Scholarship Program for STEM students that provides merit-based scholarships to bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral students pursuing STEM degrees. Scholarship recipients receive full tuition, annual stipends, summer internships and civilian employment with the Department of War after graduation.
Delgado called receiving the SMART Scholarship one of the “biggest blessings in my life” and a reflection of the opportunities and support he’s received at Mercer.
“I never imagined that I would reach my fourth year with a funded path through graduate school and an engineering career lined up afterward,” he said. “Mercer and the School of Engineering have put me in a position to succeed through the professors, coursework, resources and professional opportunities I’ve had here, and I am incredibly grateful for that.”
From Gainesville, Delgado is enrolled in Mercer’s 4+1 program. He’ll earn his Master of Science in Engineering, with a specialization in computer engineering, in May 2028. After earning his master’s degree, he will transition into full-time employment as an electronics engineer at Robins Air Force Base in summer 2028.
Hannah Nabi, lecturer of human-centered information design and technology in the School of Engineering, encouraged Delgado to apply for the SMART Scholarship.
“Robert is one of those rare students who combines intellectual curiosity with genuine initiative and humility,” said Nabi. “He doesn’t just excel academically — he asks thoughtful questions, seeks out opportunities and makes the people he works with better. I’m thrilled to see him receive the SMART Scholarship because his intellect, integrity and collaborative approach make him exceptionally well suited for the kind of challenging engineering work this program supports.”
Delgado said one of the things he appreciates most about Mercer’s engineering program is that he’s been able to see connections between what he learns in the classroom and the engineering work he encounters professionally.
“Concepts from courses such as microcomputer fundamentals directly connected with concepts I encountered during my engineering internship,” he said. “Experiences like that have helped me understand that the education I’m receiving at Mercer isn’t isolated from the work I want to do after graduation.”
At Mercer, Delgado has been named to both the Dean’s List and President’s List and is a member of the Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Fraternity. He has been a member of the Mercer University Marching Band and Mercer University Wind Ensemble since freshman year, and he is a member of Bear Force — the student-worker team that manages daily operations and special events at the University Center on the Macon campus.m that manages daily operations and special events at the University Center on the Macon campus.
