Peyton Manning, Georgia Tech create scholarship in memory of Demaryius Thomas
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It has been four months since the sudden death of Georgia Tech and NFL star wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, but his loved ones have found another way to make sure he is never forgotten.
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Georgia Tech announced Wednesday a new scholarship endowment in Thomas’ memory. The program will be funded by Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, his wife Ashley and their foundation.
Manning and Thomas played for the Denver Broncos together.
“Demaryius Thomas was an incredibly talented and unselfish teammate, but more importantly, he was a special person and friend,” Peyton Manning said. “My family and I miss him dearly, and we wanted to honor D.T.’s memory by partnering the PeyBack Foundation with Georgia Tech to establish the Demaryius A. Thomas Scholarship Endowment.
Thomas died suddenly at age 33 at his Roswell home on Dec. 9.
The Demaryius A. Thomas Scholarship Endowment will award scholarships to Georgia Tech for students from Laurens County, where Thomas grew up.
The scholarships could also be offered to other students in need who live in nearby areas.
The endowment will give out both full and partial scholarships. To qualify for the scholarships, students must have a 3.2 GPA or higher and show a dedication to community service.
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Thomas played high school football at West Laurens High School near Dublin before signing on to play college football Georgia Tech.
Thomas is remembered as one of the best players in Georgia Tech program history. His impressive career with the Yellow Jackets landed him a 10-year career in the NFL, including eight years with the Denver Broncos.
Manning and Thomas became a dynamic duo for the Broncos.
Thomas caught 36 of his 60 NFL touchdowns from Manning, marking the fourth-most hauled in by any receiver during Manning’s 18-season Pro Football Hall of Fame career, according to the school.
Thomas still owns 16 Broncos franchise records.
Georgia Tech also announced it will recognize August 8 as Demaryius Thomas Day. That date matches his jersey No. 88. The football team will also sport a DT helmet decal in his memory throughout the 2022 season.
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