April 2009 Articles at a Glance
In this month's newsletter:
Coming Soon
Volunteers Still Needed!
37th Annual Dean Griffin Pi Mile 5k Road Race
Students Clean-Up with The Oprah Winfrey Show
Financial Planning for Summer Term
Featured Articles
Helping Your Student Cope With Stress
Incoming President Peterson Speaks about Issues, Concerns and Strengths
InVenture Prize Winners Announced
Planning for Graduate School
Go T.E.C.H. Teaches Healthy Lifestyles
Georgia Tech’s International Plan
Engineering a Global Economy at Georgia Tech-Lorraine
Student Perspectives
LeaderShape Visionary
From the Parents Program
Thank you to the over 100 family members who participated in Spring Back to Campus! We were delighted to meet you and hope you enjoyed the weekend’s events.
It is not too early to start planning for Family Weekend 2009. This year’s Family Weekend  will be on September 25 and 26, 2009. Events will include informative seminars, including a presentation on InVenture, the State of the Institute with Tech’s new president Dr. G.P. “Bud” Peterson, Georgia Tech Night at Six Flags, and the always popular tailgate on the Tech Tower lawn before the Jackets play the UNC Tar Heels.
Check out www.familyweekend.gatech.edu for more details as they become available. Online registration will begin in July. The Parents Program looks forward to hosting Georgia Tech families for a weekend of fun and entertainment.
Go Jackets!
Warmly,
Kim Sterritt
Director, Parents Program
Coming Soon
Volunteers Still Needed!
The Parents Program and the Office of Undergraduate Admission are seeking volunteers for the Women’s Reception on April 19 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Bill Moore Student Success Center, adjacent to Bobby Dodd Stadium. Volunteers will be asked to help staff the table and talk with prospective parents about your experiences as a Tech Parent. Please contact Kim Sterritt at ksterritt@gatech.edu to volunteer.
In addition, the Office of Undergraduate Admission and area Georgia Tech Alumni Clubs will partner to host receptions that celebrate both students who have been admitted to Georgia Tech for the upcoming academic year and their family members. Receptions will be held in the following locations throughout April:
- April 8 Austin, TX
- April 9 Lexington, KY
- April 9 Norfolk, VA
- April 15 Pensacola, FL
- April 16 Warner Robins / Macon, GA
- April 16 Augusta, GA
- April 16 Washington, D.C.
- April 21 Raleigh NC
- April 23 Miami, FL
If you are interested in attending the reception in your area, welcoming the newest members of the Georgia Tech community, and passing on some of your expertise as the parent of a Georgia Tech student, please e-mail Kim at ksterritt@gatech.edu with your name and the location in which you are interested.
Thank you in advance for being such great ambassadors of Georgia Tech!
37th Annual Dean Griffin Pi Mile 5k Road Race
Sponsored by the Georgia Tech Alumni Association, the annual Dean Geor ge C. Griffin Pi Mile 5K Road Race is one of the longest continually running races in Atlanta. It is named after former Dean of Students, George C. Griffin, in honor of his tenure as a track and cross country coach. The event takes place Saturday April 18, 2009. Online registration ends April 15, 2009. Runners will receive a t-shirt, free race photo, and enjoy a post-race party on Tech Tower Lawn with entertainment, food, drinks and an awards ceremony! Plus $5 of each entry fee supports Roll Call. For more information visit http://gtalumni.org/pages/pimile.
Students Clean-Up with The Oprah Winfrey Show
When The Oprah Winfrey Show put out the call to Atlanta colleges for the messiest dorm room, students at the Georgia Institute of Technology did not disappoint. After s ubmitting videos to the The Oprah Winfrey Show highlighting their highly unorganized clutter, Ashley Bush and Kali Watson's dorm room in Hefner Residence Hall (picture shown), and Kevin Smith's room in the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house were selected worthy recipients of a makeover by organization expert Peter Walsh. HGTV designers David Bromstad and Taniya Nayak pitched in to help create beautiful new spaces, along with Georgia Tech alumnus and carpenter Chip Wade.
These amazing transformations aired Wednesday, March 18, on The Oprah Winfrey Show. To see photos from the Oprah Winfrey Show’s visit to the Tech campus, please click here.
Financial Planning for Summer Term
Attending school in the summer makes great financial sense for students looking to graduate while their tuition is still “guaranteed.” Under the current “Guaranteed Tuition Plan,” tuition is locked-in and will not increase for four calendar years from the start of the first semester as a freshman at Georgia Tech. We highly recommend that a student seeks academic advisement to determine whether courses offered in the summer will apply toward a student’s degree and help the student graduate before the “guarantee” expires.
In addition, students participating in study abroad programs during the summer should contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid if they are aid recipients. This will ensure that appropriate arrangements are made for the disbursement of funds.
Financial aid is available for students enrolled for summer. For any questions pertaining to summer term financial aid, visit www.finaid.gatech.edu/summer.
Featured Articles
Helping Your Student Cope With Stress
Mahlet Endale, Ph.D.
Staff Psychologist, Counseling Center
Springtime is here and, as your student has probably told you, it is a very busy and often stressful time of year. Students are consumed with classes, projects and preparations for finals. While this is part of the college experience, students often need help coping with the stress. As parents, you can play an important role in helping your student through these stressful experiences. Here are some steps parents can take to help their student navigate the stressors of college life. Read entire article...
Incoming President Peterson Speaks about Issues, Concerns and Strengths
Recently, the Board of Regents confirmed University of Colorado at Boulder Chancellor G.P. “Bud” Peterson as Tech’s next president effective April 1. The Whistle had an opportunity to speak with the incoming president, ask about his experience, energy and his expectations. Part I of this interview follows. Part II will be featured in the May edition of ParentNews. Read entire article...
InVenture Prize Winners Announced
Computer science major Roger Pincombe took first prize in the individual category at the March 30th finals of the InVenture Prize. Pincombe, a third-year undergraduate, won $5,000 cash, free patent filings by the Georgia Tech Office of Technology Licensing (valued at $20,000), and a paid summer internship to work on his invention. Pincombe’s DialPrice is a price-checking service that makes it possible to comparison shop without leaving the store ai sle.
Team winners (who also received cash awards, free patent filings, and paid summer internships) for the 2009 InVenture Prize are Joseph Abrahamson, a third-year biomedical engineering major; William Boyd, a third-year physics and computer science double major; Sanjay Challa, a third-year biomedical engineering major; Kento Masuyama, a third-year aerospace engineering major; and Andrew Punnoose, a third-year aerospace engineering major. The team’s invention, a Chlorocyte Bioreactor, is a “photobioreactor system to grow and harvest algae that are fed by the emissions from fossil-fuel burning power plants." According to the team, "We want to build a world where energy and the environment go hand in hand."
Created and organized by Georgia Tech faculty, the objective of The InVenture Prize @ Georgia Tech is to create incentives, resources, and a structure for undergraduate student innovation and entrepreneurship in a fun, high-profile event. Students can work independently or in teams to develop and present inventions, which will be judged by an expert panel. The competition exposes students to all angles of the entrepreneurial process – from market evaluation to capitalization efforts. Click here for more information on InVenture.
Planning for Graduate School
Dana Hartley, Ph.D.
Director Undergraduate Studies
If your student is considering graduate school to pursue a master’s degree (MS) or doctoral degree (Ph.D.), the following guidelines can help your student navigate through the selection and application process. Read entire article...
Go T.E.C.H. Teaches Healthy Lifestyles
Clayton Benedict
Student Marketing Assistant, CRC
Due to the increase of health problems across the nation, Georgia Tech has instituted a new, collaborative initiative known as Go T.E.C.H. (Teams Encouraging Campus Health). As chronic health issues have become more prevalent in younger generations, it is imperative that students begin to educate themselves on how to lead healthier lifestyles. Go T.E.C.H. is looking to help students, faculty, and staff manage an array of concerns ranging from weight management to stress reduction techniques. Read entire article...
Georgia Tech’s International Plan
Karen Pierce
International Plan and Curriculum Integration Coordinator
Perhaps you have been hearing the buzz about Georgia Tech’s International Plan. The International Plan (IP) is an academic program that allows participating undergraduates to incorporate an international perspective into their education while at Tech. It is a degree designator which students earn by fulfilling certain academic requirements that have been integrated into their major's curriculum. The requirements include spending a total of six months abroad (studying, working, or researching), developing proficiency in a language other than English, and taking globally-oriented coursework as part of the student’s usual coursework. This integrated approach helps develop a student's global competence as it relates to his/her discipline at the university. Read entire article...
Engineering a Global Economy at Georgia Tech-Lorraine
Dr. Yves Berthelot, Professor, Mechanical Engineering
President, Georgia Tech-Lorraine
In today’s global economy, market forces drive us to prepare our students for international experiences, developing a greater cross-cultural understanding and a global perspective. Georgia Tech-Lorraine (GTL), Georgia Tech’s first international campus, is a highly innovative institution offering year-round programs and diverse course offerings at both the undergraduate and graduate level. At GTL, students from around the world get the opportunity to study in the heart of Europe and take courses taught in English by Georgia Tech faculty. Georgia Tech-Lorraine offers a balance of engineering, computer science, French language, and social science courses from the Georgia Tech course catalog, so students can seamlessly continue working toward their degree. Students also have an opportunity to take advantage of internships, become immersed in the local culture, and interact with faculty beyond the classroom; all of which leads to a unique and personalized experience. Read entire article...
Student Perspectives
LeaderShape Visionary
Rachael Pocklington
Communications, Parents Program
Last February, I had the good fortune to attend a reception honoring students involved in Georgia Tech’s LeaderShape initiative. Guests were invited to critique the students’ proposed visions and associated goals and objectives. A few things struck me. One, students are so lucky to have the opportunity to actively participate in a college program which promotes teamwork, vision and leadership skills. This will definitely help them not only at Tech but after they graduate. Two, these students benefit from using their college experiences, both in and out of class, to develop their visions and literally practice their ideas. This is a win-win for Tech and the students. Third, the magnitude and potential impact of the visions presented. These visions have the potential to change the world as we know it today.
Melissa Watkins, a fourth-year electrical engineering student at Tech, is leading the way with her LeaderShape vision of “Empowering women in math and science within the United States.” Recently, I had the opportunity to discuss this vision with Melissa. Read entire article...
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Important Dates
Apr. 8-21 Early Registration Fall Term 2009
Apr. 18 Pi Mile Road Race
Apr. 24 Last Day of Classes
Apr. 27 - May 1 Final Exams
May 2 Commencement
May 11 Summer Term 2009 Begins
At the Ferst Center
Apr. 18 Cherryholmes with Carolina Chocolate Drops
Apr. 24 Joe Sample Trio featuring Randy CrawfordFor more show info, visit the Ferst Center Web site.
South Asian Life SeminarThe first annual South Asian Life Seminar for incoming South Asian Georgia Tech freshmen will be held on May 16, 2009. This is a great opportunity for incoming freshmen to become acquainted with life at Georgia Tech. For more information, click here.
Tech In The News
Groundbreaking Research Begins for Pancreatic and Lung Cancers
The Georgia Institute of Technology and Saint Joseph’s Hospital have joined together to begin the first regional research program to study the genetics and cell biology of pancreatic cancer. Tissue and serum samples from patients with cancer are being scrutinized to identify the differences in genetic and cellular features between normal and tumor cells. Findings from this research will be used for the ultimate purpose of developing tests for early diagnosis and identifying specific, targeted therapies to treat pancreatic cancer. More info...
Despite Tough Economy, Georgia Tech Students Remain in Demand
Among the disciplines that employers are most interested in are chemical engineering, industrial and systems engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and computer science. “Employers continue to look to Georgia Tech because of the quality of our students and reputation of the Institute,” said Ralph Mobley, director of Career Services. “During economically tough times, our students set themselves apart by the academic rigor here at Tech and the ability for many of them to obtain real-world experience before they graduate through our co-op and internship programs.” More info...
Ga. Tech’s Record Research Serves as Catalyst for Economy
For the first time ever, the Georgia Institute of Technology’s research activity has exceeded the $500 million mark, reaching a record $524.9 million in fiscal year 2008. This represents a 10 percent increase over 2007 and an increase of 99 percent over the past decade, helping the Institute consistently rank among the top ten in research programs among universities without medical schools. More info...
Older Adults Control Emotions More Easily than Young Adults
With age comes the ability to better regulate emotions to avoid disrupting performance on memory-intensive tasks, according to a study published in the March issue of the journal Psychology and Aging. The research study found that regulating emotions – such as reducing negative emotions or inhibiting unwanted thoughts – is a resource-demanding process that disrupts the ability of young adults to simultaneously or subsequently perform tasks. More info...
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