PSssssssst! A Newsletter for the Alumni of the President’s Scholarship Program at Georgia Tech Progress and Service Founded 1981 Summer, 1998 Record Number of Scholars Choose Tech Recruiting efforts this year 35 PS Alumni help with Hope Taylor (ID '98) paid off with the highest num- Candidate Interviews Betty Tong* (ME '93) ber of President’s Scholars Greg Watson (AE '87) ever—88. Chosen from over Thirty-five President’s Scholar Rand Wise (PSY '88) 2,700 applicants, the students graduates interviewed candidates Grace Yu (CHE '97) are superlative by every mea- on campus and around the * Denotes Regional Committee Chair country this year, more than sure. For example, of the 88 doubling the number who as- Alumni Advise Visitors new PS’s, 61 were varsity ath- sisted last year (16). Thanks to the at PS Weekend letes in high school (27 of following President’s Scholar whom were varsity team cap- alumni for their efforts in helping Panelists Andrew Chung (BIOL '86, EE '86), tains), and 35 were valedictori- to bring in a record-breaking class: Ward Council ans or salutatorians. Certainly, (EE '87), Sharon Just (CE '89), Kelly Brumbelow (CE '94, INTA '94) this class will have a positive and Dana Papp (CHE '95) gave Jay Debnath (CHEM '92) effect on Tech given their past advice to both parents and Greg Foster (ME '95) records of accomplishment. candidates at PS Weekend in April Janet Nelson Goolsby (ISYE '92) this year. The parent and student This was the first year that Martin Hall (PHYS '92) reactions to the PS graduates the President’s Scholarship Chris Heggen (CE '97) were overwhelming. Steve Program has operated without John Hirvela (EE '88) Slawsky (ISYE '00), who coordi- an SAT cutoff and without a Eric House (CS '92) nated the panels, said, “The separate application—anyone Kim Williams House (ME '95) alumni who participated in the PS could apply to be considered for Missy Dean Hugenberg (ISYE '92) Weekend Alumni Panel were so the President’s Scholarship by Jimmy Kenyon (AE '96) well-received by the parents of completing the Georgia Tech Joe Layden* (CHE '87) the finalists that the panelists had to be escorted like movie stars application for undergraduate Charlene Stewart Leonard (CHE '96) from one session to the next!” admission, which now includes a Tommy Lewis* (ME '85) leadership/activity record and an Jay Lyles (CMPE '95) Women Very Successful essay. Surprisingly, 1998 saw a Mike Mangin (ME '95) 75% increase in the number of in PS Competition Robert Martin (EE '88) students with a 1400 or better This was a banner year for Jim Mason (ISYE '97) SAT score in the competition. women candidates enrolling in Randy McDow* (ISYE '95) Georgia Tech: 43 women chose to This year’s group of new Allison Burrows Moore (CHEM '92) President’s Scholars includes accept the President’s Scholar- Mark Munson (EE '90) ship. Given the legacy that the students from 22 states: Alabama, Craig Olson* (EE '93) Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, eight women Scholars from the Dana Papp (CHE '95) entering class of 1993 left Geor- Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Sunil Patel (BIOL '97) gia Tech, these 43 women are sure Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Anthony Priest (EE '88) to make a lasting mark on this New Hampshire, New Jersey, Lee Ragsdale (EE '95) campus. They include: six who North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Leah Robinson (ME '97) will enroll in the new Ivan Allen Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Jennifer Eden Russell (ME '95) College (separate from the new Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Chuck Scales* (CHEM '93) DuPree College of Management), Virginia, and Wisconsin. Chris Seay (ISYE '93) three in Architecture, two in Computing, twelve in the Sci- TEAM Buzz Provides Christina Robinson ences, and twenty in the College Atlanta with Volunteers wins Semmes Award of Engineering. Women com- prised 31% of the initial applicant Melissa Byrd (INTA '99) Christina Robinson (ISYE '99) pool, 38% of those chosen as served on the steering commit- won this year’s prestigious George semifinalists, 46% of the students tee as publicity chair of a new W. Semmes Scholarship, awarded offered the President’s Scholar- initiative, TEAM Buzz Community by the ANAK Society to a student ship, and 49% of the President’s Service Day, which occurred on who exhibits outstanding leader- Scholars entering class of 1998 . November 15, 1997, and united ship, scholarship, and a true love of Georgia Tech. Christina serves Signing Day Ceremony over 1,100 students, faculty, staff, and alumni in a day of commu- as the president of Residence Hall Welcomes New Scholars nity service and fellowship. Association, the faculty liaison for Omicron Delta Kappa, and a To celebrate the achievements Melissa will be involved with the member of Alpha Gamma Delta. of the new Scholars, the third steering committee for this annual Signing Day Ceremony was year’s TEAM Buzz, along with Sympathetic Vibrations held on May 1 in the Smithgall Caroline Freeman (MGT '00) and Student Services Building. Twenty- A Cappella Group Goes Stephen Parks (ME '99, EE '99). nd eight new Scholars attended the on Strong in 2 Year event with their parents and AIESEC Georgia Tech Performing recently at siblings, from as far away as Or- Hosts 85 Countries Ugapalooza, Sympathetic Vibra- lando, Florida, and Columbia, South Steve Slawsky (ISYE '00) tions, Georgia Tech’s all-male a Carolina. Coverage of the event cappella singing group, held its greeted five hundred college appeared in The Technique and own among Athens and UGA acts, students from eighty-five coun- The Whistle newspapers. Current performing “Tears in Heaven,” tries last summer for AIESEC’s President’s Scholars served as “Brown-eyed Girl” (with a solo by International Congress in Atlanta hosts and coordinated the cer- Joel Whitley, CHE '01), and “In the emony, with Randy McDow (ISYE as a member of the conference Still of the Night.” Scott Percy (CS '95) as the emcee. organizing committee. AIESEC is '01) sings first tenor and has done a global internship exchange Hiking Trip Planned several of the arrangements. The program. Michael Fleming group has also performed at the Again for New Class (INTA '96) served as vice presi- last two President’s Scholarship For the second year in a row, dent of external relations for the Weekends with tremendous the new Scholars will be invited organizing committee, and success. James Clawson (EE '01) to Helen, Georgia, to participate Melissa Pitotti (INTA '00) pre- founded the group in 1997, and in a retreat just before classes sides over the chapter of AIESEC looks forward to adding a start in the fall. Last year’s trip at Georgia Tech, which is cur- women’s a cappella group when provided an excellent opportu- rently ranked number one in the his sister, Phebe Clawson (INTA nity for the new group to get to nation. '02), starts Georgia Tech in the fall. know each other before the pressures of class began. Trip Divya Gupta Elected Mock Trial Team leaders for this year’s event Student Government Advances to Nationals include: Neil Arner (MATH '01), Joel Wooten (ISYE '00), Andy James Clawson (EE '01), David Vice President Ozment (CS '01), and Stephen Connors (ISYE '00), Elizabeth Following in a long line of Wicks (MSCI '01) participated on Deener (CHE '01). Karen Feigh President’s Scholars to serve the the Georgia Tech team which (AE '01), Susan Kopetz (CHE '99), student body, Divya Gupta (ME placed fourth in Mock Trial Marshall Leslie (EE '01), Shane '00) was elected vice president Regional Competition at Owens (UEC '01), Andy Ozment of the Undergraduate Student Kennesaw State and qualified to (CS '01), Chrissy Prues (CHE '01), Council in this year’s election. compete at the Gold Flight Christina Robinson (ISYE '99), Other President’s Scholars to National Tournament in Des Rajiv Saigal (EE '00), Andrew Stein hold the position include: Frank Moines, Iowa, at Drake University. (EE '01), Brian Tate (EE '01), and Harris (BIOL '89, MGT '89) and The Mock Trial Team was founded Joel Wooten (ISYE '00). Cliff Norris (Phys '91). by Bradley Weill (ISYE '96). Three New Endowments Ma Tech Survival Guide version, please send in your Support PS Program Recreated On-line contact information to the ad- dress in the lower right corner of Through The Campaign for Karen Feigh (AE '01) re- the back page so that you can be Georgia Tech, three donors have established the a web version of included in a new edition in created endowments to provide the T-Book, which strives to be an 1999. financial support for the PS on-line Tech student survival Program. These permanent gifts guide. Other PS members who Parsons Chosen as and commitments will add stabil- contributed include: Rebecca New ODK President ity and reduce the dependency on Cutri-Kohart (AE '01), Nikki Cross annual giving. The new endow- Aimee Parsons (CHE '99) (MATH '01), Michael Mohseni won election as the new presi- ments include: The N. Knowles (CHE '01), Eddie Murphy (CHE Davis President's Scholars Fund, dent of Omicron Delta Kappa '01), George Perantatos (CS '01), Leadership Honor Society. Aimee established by D. Fort Flowers of Scott Percy (CS '01), Erich Houston, Texas; the Jack C. Webb recently served as fund-raising Plondke (CMPE '01), and Ian President's Scholars Fund, estab- chair of the Women’s Leadership Powell (BIOL '00). Their work lished by Jack C. Webb of Conference at Tech, and she has can be viewed at Galveston, Texas; and the Donald S. also been very active in and Patricia F. Pirkle President's cyberbuzz.gatech.edu/Tbook. Panhellenic, the Environmental Scholarship Endowment Fund, Miller Templeton (PHYS '62), who Forum, and her sorority. She is the established by Mr. and Mrs. Donald is retiring in June, 1998, after 40 seventh PS to serve in the role of S. Pirkle who live in Flat Rock, years at Georgia Tech, was once president, following Michelle North Carolina. the editor of the T-Book and Morrison Jarrard (ISYE '89), currently advises the group. The amount committed for Joey Arrowood (EE '90), Betty Tong (ME '93), Julie Swann these three funds totals $330,000, DramaTech’s Tommy with income to begin to support (ISYE '96), Alex Snoeren (CS '96, students in the upcoming 1998-99 Provides Stage for PS’s MATH '96), and Kristen Thorvig academic year. DramaTech recently staged (STAC '98). The Who’s Tommy in the DT black Students Prepare for Honor Advisors Give box along with two nights in the Support for New Code Robert Ferst Center for the Arts. National Scholarships Building on an effort begun The lead (Tommy) and two other Georgia Tech students will be in 1993, Georgia Tech has devel- actors are President’s Scholars: Joel better prepared to compete for oped a living, academic Honor Whitley (CHE '01) is Tommy, and nationally prestigious scholar- Code which is maintained and Leta Woo (MATE '00) and Scott ships after attending a class supported by a council of student Percy (CS '01) are in the ensemble, taught by Billiee Pendleton-Parker, Honor Advisors. The council has singing and dancing through most Assistant Director of the Center begun a renewed effort to make of the show. Kevin Donnelly (CS for the Enhancement of Teaching the Code an integral part of the '99) was in charge of sound and Learning (CETL), and Randy campus. Several current Honor design. Former DramaTech McDow. Ten students enrolled in Advisors are President’s Scholars: president and PS alumnus Jimmy the class, including seven Neil Arner (MATH '01), Melissa Rose (ISYE '91) served as the President’s Scholars. The class Byrd (INTA '99), Koushik musical director for the 300 page will help prepare the students to Chatterjee (EE '99), James score and played keyboards as compete for the Rhodes, Truman, Clawson (EE '01), Michael Dickey part of the live rock band. Fulbright, and Goldwater Scholar- (CHE '99), Michael Mohseni (CHE ships. Georgia Tech has had three '01), Andy Ozment (CS '01), Molly First PS Alumni Truman Scholars (Ashley Palmer (CE '01), and Chris Young Directory Published Gigandet, INTA '94, Ayodele (HTS '00). This most recent Embry, EE '96, Monyette Childs, honor code was a joint effort of After a slight delay, the BIOL '96), but there has never the Engineering Council under President’s Scholars Alumni been a Rhodes Scholar from the direction of Dennis Barbour Directory was recently published. Georgia Tech. With the support of (EE '95) and the Student Govern- The directory contains the names the President’s Office and from ment Association, led by Greg and addresses of ~214 PS alumni. the efforts put into this class, the Foster (ME '95). If you were not included in this goal is not out of reach. PS Graduates Get Out, summer before starting graduate Kristen Thorvig (STAC) will work at CalTech in the fall in the be working in Glacier National Park, Make Plans for Future field of chemical engineering. Montana, for 3 months before joining Trisha Anderson (CHE) will Matt Kuhl (CHE) plans to skip the Pricewaterhouse Coopers team be a circuit design engineer with graduation ceremonies in favor of 3 of computer system consultants National Semiconductor Corporation weeks of European vacation followed based in Atlanta. in late March. by 2 months of domestic vacation Corley Walker (CHE) will be David Cochran (CHE) will be and then employment with Solvay completing an internship with attending M.I.T. beginning in the fall Polymers in Houston, Texas. Amoco Polymers in Alpharetta, to pursue a Ph.D. in Chemical Engi- Emily Loadholt (EE) is return- Georgia, this summer before begin- neering. His research will be funded ing to Georgia Tech in the fall as a ning her doctoral studies in chemical by the Whitaker Foundation Biomedi- graduate student in electrical engi- engineering at Carnegie Mellon in cal Engineering Graduate Fellowship. neering. This summer, she will be the fall. Brad Czerwonky (ME) plans to working as an intern at Lucent Derrick Whittle (CS) has cross the Pacific in his amphibious Technologies. accepted a position as Research (well, sort of) 1965 VW Bug “Helga” to Gabriel Pack (CMPE) will Scientist at Georgia Tech and plans to learn the sport of sumo wrestling in begin work with Sapient, a consult- continue graduate studies at Tech’s Japan and to teach English to Japanese ing firm in Atlanta, doing consulting College of Computing. people. This may be preceded by and the technical side of solution engineering ventures in Atlanta. implementation. Other graduates include: Elizabeth Ferdman (CHE) will Bradford Powell (BIOL) will John Chastain (BIOL) be working for International Paper in be marrying Sabrina Neill before Justin Collins (ME) Mobile, Alabama, as a project engineer starting at the University of North Dan Griffeth (PSY) in the technical department and will Carolina in the fall in their combined Daniel Hung (ISYE) be starting work at the end of June. MD/PhD program with a focus in Zellyn Hunter (CS) Kelli Gibbs (CHE) has received Medical Informatics. Michael Johnston (CS) a fellowship for a Ph.D. in Physical Greg Ruhl (CMPE) plans on co- Eric Marlett (INTA) Oceanography at the Rosentiel oping for Lockheed Martin in Danny McCarthy (ME) School of Marine and Atmospheric Marietta, Georgia, before returning to Science at the University of Miami. GT this fall to pursue a Master's in EE. Patrick Ransom (ME) Matt Sanders (ME) Jennifer Gladu (STAC) will Karen Schilf (ISYE) is attend- begin working on her Master’s in ing Vanderbilt School of Medicine Gerard Schmid (CHE) Public Policy in Fall of ’98, thereby next fall. Jay Sexton (EE) staving off the encroachment of the Michael Sheldon (MSE) is still Whitney Shephard (ARCH) real world for two more years. And finalizing plans, but will eventually be Manisha Shetty (CHE) she is very happy about this. out west working in the electronics Hope Taylor (ID) After six years at Ma Tech, industry. Charlotte Whiteman (CHE) Stephanie Goff (ME) will be Valerie Maier-Speredelozzi decompressing her brain in the (ME) plans to attend graduate school happiest place on Earth, working in in Mechanical Engineering at the the Epcot Entertainment division. University of Michigan, with a focus on Eventually, she’ll be trying to transfer the areas of Design & Manufacturing. into an engineering position with the Walt Disney Company, but not until John Strunk (CMPE) will be after a little break. :) working for Dynetics, Inc. in Hunts- ville, Alabama, for the summer. In the Joe Haemer (ME) will begin fall he will start his graduate work at pursuing his MSME in the fall at Carnegie Mellon (Master's and Ph.D.) Georgia Tech. Brian Tanner (INTA) will be President’s Scholarship Program Sarah Heilshorn (CHE) has attending law school at Emory Georgia Tech been announced as a National University. He has been awarded the Atlanta, GA 30332-0288 Science Foundation Fellow and a Woodruff Fellowship, the premier Hertz Foundation Finalist. After (404) 894-2691 law scholarship awarded by Emory, graduation she will be interning in (404 894-1466 (fax) and plans to pursue a career in Houston, Texas, with Exxon for the [email protected] criminal prosecution or litigation. www.enrollment.gatech.edu/psp