LaGRANGE — Interface Inc., the world’s leading manufacturer of modular carpet, has awarded the 2016 Joe Kyle Scholarship to a Troup High School student who wants to become an astronaut.

Thomas Charles Trotter has been selected by Interface’s education committee as this year’s recipient of the Kyle Scholarship. He is the son of Margie Heard, customer development designer, who is based at the company’s Graham Scott Technical Center in LaGrange.

Thomas will graduate with honors from Troup High School with a weighted GPA of 3.9 and a 5.143 GPA for this school year. He is a member of the National Honor Society and received the “Medallion” for his community services. He is also a member of the CharterBank Savings Club for academic honors, SkillsUSA and varsity soccer team since the eighth grade.

Thomas will be studying pre-engineering at Columbus State University and will then transfer to Georgia Tech to study aerospace engineering. He hopes to one day be employed by NASA and be on the first manned spaced mission to Mars. In addition, he hopes to discover possible life on other planets and ways for improving life on earth.

“I am so thankful for this opportunity from Interface,” Thomas said. “Just as Interface is changing the world with their mission, I hope to one day work for NASA, aiding in the development of new technology, explore planets and help make earth a better place to live.”

Named after Joe Kyle, a founding member of the early Interface operation in LaGrange, the $4,000 Kyle Scholarship – renewable up to three years – is given to the child of an Interface associate who satisfies criteria established by Interface’s education committee. Since its inception in 1998, the scholarship has been awarded to 25 deserving students.