George White, BE’86, approached college with an openness to new experiences that made his undergraduate years deeply enriching and, by his account, “insanely fun.” Through a bequest establishing the Michele and George Hardin White Family Scholarship in the School of Engineering, he hopes to give future students the same chance to grow and discover their own paths.
George is also serving as Reunion Chair of the Sarratt Society, Vanderbilt’s planned giving donor society, encouraging fellow alumni to consider how they can build a legacy of support for future Commodores.
After his father died when he was 11, George learned to make practical decisions. He left high school a semester early to preserve Social Security survivor benefits and apply them toward college. He began taking classes at the University of Louisville while applying to a full-time program, setting his heart on Vanderbilt after seeing the campus during a visit.
In the pre-internet era, universities mailed postcards so prospective students could request paper applications. An administrative error caused him and many other high school students interested in Vanderbilt to receive the application past the deadline, but Vanderbilt acknowledged the mistake, extended the deadline for the affected applicants and ultimately admitted him. George took the experience in stride, true to his positive nature.
From his first week on campus, opportunities abounded. During orientation, he worked the door and even took the stage helping with crowd control during a performance at Memorial Gym by the Talking Heads. He also decided to try out for cheerleading — a spontaneous choice that quickly became a defining part of his Vanderbilt journey.
Earlier that summer, he had made the soccer team but realized his playing time would be limited. “The movie Rudy hadn’t come out yet, but I could see the writing on the wall,” he joked.
He earned a spot on the freshman cheerleading squad and advanced to varsity by spring, enjoying the chance to travel and forge lifelong friendships.
George’s classroom experiences were equally transformative. He began as a pre-med major but switched to electrical engineering and found community in study groups and supportive professors.
Especially meaningful were conversations with professors such as George Cook, John Wikswo and Francis Wells. A discussion with Professor Wells about the emerging field of forensic engineering stayed with him. At the time, the discipline — where specialists analyze technical evidence and serve as expert witnesses — was still developing and testimony was largely provided by professors.
“We’d come to class on a Friday and have a TA because Dr. Wells was in a field in Iowa investigating a plane crash,” White said. “I thought the work was interesting but not something I could do as a 22-year-old kid.” In 2006 White launched his own forensic engineering firm, Pacific Coast Process Solution, turning that early curiosity into an engaging and challenging business.
Vanderbilt has remained a constant in his professional life. He often hears attorneys say they chose to work with him because of his Vanderbilt background — a testament to the university’s strong reputation. It is also not uncommon to encounter Vanderbilt-trained lawyers in the courtroom, he said, recalling a time when he and counsel for the other party joyfully exchanged Vanderbilt stories during the break of a particularly intense deposition.
When George describes why he is giving back by designating Vanderbilt as a beneficiary of his will, his motivation is clear. “I had such an incredible experience at Vanderbilt, and I want to give someone else the opportunity to have that experience too.”
One day, that commitment will change a student’s life — a reminder that generosity and community give us all something to cheer for.
— Jennifer Schad
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