Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine, Vol. 100, No. 4, Winter 2024

“Scheller

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I THIS ONE’S FOR THE FANS

I HAVE A CONFESSION to make.

When my boys were little, we would don colors that weren’t white and gold and cheer for teams who weren’t the Yellow Jackets.

Let me explain. At the beginning of the football season, I would look at the away schedule for that “other school”—you know the one—and we would pick a game that lined up with Tech’s bye week. We would sometimes drive hundreds of miles to another school’s stadium, wearing the home team’s colors, and cheer our hearts out.

Of course, we were cheering against the dawgs. That’s how deep the phrase “To Hell With georgia!” runs in my family. At least once a year, my boys (and later my daughter) and I would take our trip to another school’s stadium just so we could cheer against the bulldogs. And although my sons are now grown up and our family tradition no longer happens, I cherish the memories made during those road trips and they still loudly cheer, THWg!

we remember the lessons that the Institute taught us, the classmates and professors who pushed us to be the best, and the rich traditions that remind us that we are part of a strong community that’s with us for a lifetime.

One of my favorite Tech items is a piece of the goalpost from the Florida Citrus Bowl game when Tech defeated Nebraska and won the national championship. ere’s a group of us ’91 grads who continue to pass around a piece of the precious goalpost (pictured here).

GEORGIA TECH ALUMNI MAGAZINE

VOL. 100 | NO. 4

PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER

Dene Sheheane, Mgt 91

VP STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

Lindsay Vaughn

EDITOR

Jennifer Herseim

ART DIRECTOR

Steve Hedberg

COPY EDITOR

Barbara McIntosh Webb

STUDENT ASSISTANTS

Riddhi Bhattacharya, Alisha Tan

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Chair

Tommy Herrington, IM 82

Past Chair/Vice Chair of Finance

Betsy Bulat, IAML 04

Chair Elect, Vice Chair/Roll Call

Rita Breen, Psy 90, MS IE 92

Vice Chair of Engagement

Jimmy Mitchell, CE 05

Member at Large

Anu Parvatiyar, BME 08

Member at Large

ere are numerous reasons to be a fan of Georgia Tech. e Institute is one of the top 10 public universities in the country and continues to soar in national rankings (page 13). e strong network of alumni continues to grow as well—for the first time reaching more than 200,000 (page 70). Beyond the impressive stats, though,

Let this issue of the Alumni Magazine inspire you to add more “Georgia Tech” to your life. You’ll meet super fans like the Goldfellas (page 38) who have graced our stands with their yellow painted bodies for every home football game since 1998. is issue will introduce you to Tech fans who take their fandom to a whole new level, whether at home, at work, or at a tailgate. What the Jackets in this issue all know is that when you wear your school spirit on your sleeve (or in one alum’s case, tattooed on a leg), it won’t be long before you meet a fellow Ramblin’ Wreck ready to ask with a wink, “What’s the Good Word?” Go Jackets!

DENE SHEHEANE, MGT 91 PRESIDENT GEORGIA TECH ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Amy Phuong, IA 05, MBA 14

Member at Large

James “Jim” Sanders, IE 88

Member at Large

Sam Westbrook, IE 99

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Latanza Adjei, IE 98; Thomas Antonino, BA 15, MSA 22; Sybrina Atwaters, EE 94, MS HSTS 09, PhD HSTS 14; Donald Beamer, Econ 05; Matt Bishop, CmpE 06; Michael Bogachek, IE 00; Alexia Borden, IE 01; Jasmine Burton, ID 14; Jacky Cheng, IE 17; Kimberly (Kilpatrick) Civins, Mgt 92; Catherine Cooper, IE 90; Aurélien Cottet, MS AE 03; Cynthia Culbreath, IE 93, MS IE 95; Adam Fuller, Mgt 93; Siddharth Gore, ME 17, MS ME 20; Craig Hyde, CmpE 05; Joy Jordan, ChE 92; Brandon Kearse, ME 09, MS CE 10; Olivia Langevine, IAML 13; Randolph McDow, IE 95, MS PP 03; Meredith Moot, Mgt 08; Susan (Sutherland) Piña, IE 93; Kyle Porter, Mgt 04; Jacquelyn Renée Schneider, BC 06, MBA 18; Greg Sitkiewicz, IE 00; Courtney Robinson Smith, Mgt 00; Kamau Smith, IE 99, MBA 09; Miya Smith, IE 03; Russell Smith, Cls 98; John R. Spriggle, ME 02; Peter Stewart, CE 97; Casey Swails, Mgt 07; Maurice Trebuchon, IE 86; Paul Trotti, ME 00; D’Andre Waller, ME 17; Kourtney Wright, CS 15, MS CS 23

GEORGIA TECH ALUMNI MAGAZINE (ISSN: 1061-9747) is published quarterly by the Georgia Tech Alumni Association, 190 North Ave. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30313. Periodical postage paid in Atlanta and additional mailing offices. © 2024

(404)

My three kids with Buzz for the Oct. 8, 2011, game.

Painted yellow and black, the Goldfellas have been a fixture of Tech fandom since October 1998. 38

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

These Yellow Jackets take Tech spirit to a whole new level—are you as devoted? 46

SUPER FANS

DEPARTMENTS

HOMECOMING VICTORY

Fans rushed the field in Bobby Dodd Stadium moments after the Yellow Jackets upset the Miami Hurricanes on Nov. 9.

CAMPUS

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

NOTHING MISSING WHERE IT COUNTS

I ENJOYED MR. CLARY’S interesting report on the history of our alma mater’s degree terminology (Fall 2024, Vol. 100, No. 3 “Tech Engineers: Is this word missing from your degree?”). However, I have never felt anything was missing from my diploma. In fact, my thoughts have been just the opposite. I was proud the Institute presented me with recognition I had completed education and training to do something, not just function as a theorist, and that I had the capability to make something work.

The sidebar on early wives’ recognition was also intriguing. And while my wife, Sheila, earned a degree from Georgia State in her own right, I think Ma Tech should have also conferred on her a “Husband Engineering” certificate for her diligent efforts to ensure I graduated! —James McKenzie, EE 79.

ONE OF THE

45,806

I READ WITH INTEREST Jennifer Herseim’s article “Tech Engineers: Is this word missing from your degree?” I am one of the 45,806 bachelor degree recipients whose diploma does not include the word “Science.” I had always wondered about this absence and this article cleared it up. It’s interesting to note that the inside of my class ring is inscribed with my name and “BSME.”—John E. Mayes, ME 72

REVIVING A SPECIAL RECOGNITION

After a mention of the “Mistress of Patience” diplomas in the fall 2024 issue, several readers inquired about resurrecting the diplomas, which were issued in the 1940s and early 1950s to recognize the sacrifices made by spouses of Tech students. You can download an unofficial “Mister” or “Mistress of Patience” diploma for your loved one at gtalumni.org/downloadables

THANKS TO A GA TECH EDUCATION

I READ WITH GREAT INTEREST the article disclosing why my Bachelor of Electrical Engineering did not contain the word “Science.” All this time, I thought that I was the only one. About three weeks before graduation, a counselor called me in to explain that since I had not taken a foreign language, I would only be awarded a BEE. No “S.” Well, in my 40 years no one ever asked me where was my “S.” It did not seem to matter. Just my graduation from Ga Tech moved me to the head of the line many times. Truth be known, if it was not for “A’s” in ROTC, I would not have graduated with a GPA of 2.104! My first three jobs, after two years’ active duty, were through the Alumni Placement Service Bulletin. Class of ‘63/’64, five years on the four-year plan. Worked 20 hours a week for Scientific Atlanta. My tuition in Fall of ‘59 was $87.00 per quarter as best I remember. The EE curriculum was rotating machines and power transmission, introduction to transistors from a paperback textbook, and we built an analog computer circuit. Thanks to a Ga Tech education, I had two great careers as an engineer and a reserve soldier even without my BSEE. We have a great Alumni Magazine. —Howard Race, EE 64, of Baton Rouge, La.

THE 1975 STREAKERS

Editor’s Note: We asked you to tell us about “history mysteries” for our fall 2024 issue and Kathleen Copeland, Bio 79, asked, who streaked across the grassy lawn near the Area 3 dorms in 1975? Bruce Noggle wrote in to tell us about a similar incident that happened:

ON AN UNUSUALLY WARM

Winter Quarter evening, I was a spectator to the streaking across the grassy lawn near the Area 3 dorms in 1975. Being the creative architecture student, and only seeing streakers running through the streets, I had to come up with something different.  Something unique. So, the streaker basketball game was created at the basketball court on the corner of 5th Street and Techwood Drive, the TKE House. It was only 3-on-3, but that was plenty of bodies to be guarding a naked fraternity brother. It gave a new meaning to blocking someone out with full body contact. There were no T-shirts covering our faces, so it was obvious who we were. All things were going well until we looked up and the entire Alpha Xi Delta sorority was watching the spectacle. Realizing that we knew all of them, some of whom we dated, and that they knew all of us, brought the first streaker basketball game to a screaming and sudden halt. Fortunately, it was never brought up by them to us again. That was the end of our streaking career, never to be naked in public again. —Bruce Noggle, Arch 75, M Arch 77

CAPTION CONTEST

WE ASKED

See the winning caption and a few honorable mentions below:

BEST CAPTION

We’re on a mission from Dodd — Bill Garcia, IM 84

RUNNERSUP

Who played Buzz’s mixtape in Tech Tower?! Benjamin Chang, EE 15, MS ECE 16

Gonna tell my kids this was the Wreck Sarah Chestnut, EIA 15 Tech Tower Takeout and Delivery Sergio Siller, EE 70

AROUND CAMPUS

FALL INTO TECH

Autumn painted our leafy campus in golden hued colors. This pathway leading to the Klaus Advanced Computing Building offered a vibrant view of the changing seasons.

THE COLLEGE OF LIFETIME LEARNING IS GEORGIA TECH’S SEVENTH COLLEGE.

BY AYANA ISLES

AS ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S fastest-growing higher education institutions and one of the largest in the state, Georgia Tech is taking steps to expand access to lifetime educational opportunities.

A GEORGIA TECH LAUNCHES NEW COLLEGE

is September, the Institute announced the launch of its new College of Lifetime Learning, a cornerstone initiative in its commitment to double the number of degrees granted and non-degree learners reached by 2030. e announcement was made at the annual Institute Address by Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera, MS Psy 93, PhD Psy 95, who emphasized the Institute’s dedication to transformative education.

The College of Lifetime Learning is the result of a multiyear effort to

respond to evolving industry demands and the global economy. As technology advances and workforce requirements change, continuous learning becomes increasingly important for job security and exibility. The college will offer programs that elevate the academic study of learning and transform the future of education, from K-12 to post-retirement, ensuring that education is accessible at every stage of life.

“Georgia Tech is committed to expanding access to high-quality education and ensuring that all learners, regardless of their background or the stage of their career, have the opportunity to succeed and get ahead,” Cabrera says. “With our new college, we will provide a pathway for learners of every stripe to acquire the skills and tools they need to respond to the changing demands of the workplace and advance their careers.”

Nelson Baker, CE 80, is the inaugural interim dean of the College of Lifetime Learning. Prior to the role, Baker served as the dean of Georgia Tech Professional Education (GTPE). The college will include GTPE, the Center for 21st Century Universities (C21U), and the Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics

and Computing (CEISMC). “As our society and the economy evolve at an unprecedented pace, learning must be a lifelong endeavor,” says Baker. “The programs offered by the new college will focus not only on traditional degree paths but also on lifelong learning opportunities that cater to different stages of careers and lives, increasing competitiveness for employers across the state of Georgia.”

EXPANDING ACCESS

Since 2019, Georgia Tech has seen significant growth:

A 44% increase in degreeseeking students, from 35,630 to 51,431.

More than double number of participants in non-degree-seeking programs, from 28,609 to 71,048.

The College of Lifetime Learning is set to propel this growth even further, aiming to serve 114,000 learners by 2030.

GEORGIA TECH RISES IN U.S. NEWS RANKINGS

THE SECRET IS OUT

STUDENTS FROM THE NORTH ARE FLOCKING TO SOUTHERN UNIVERSITIES.

BY JENNIFER HERSEIM

FACULTY

S“SORRY, HARVARD. Southern Schools Are Where It’s At.” at was the title of a Wall Street Journal article published this fall with a lead image of the one-and-only Ramblin’ Wreck leading the Yellow Jackets onto the eld.

The WSJ confirmed what we already knew— Georgia Tech is at the top of the list for many high school seniors. The report shows Northern students are flocking to Southern schools.

TERRY MAPLE RECEIVES AZA’S HIGHEST HONOR

These students are heading to Georgia Tech as well as Clemson, South Carolina, Alabama and other universities in the South, the Journal reported.

Indeed, applications have skyrocketed in recent years—nearly 60,000 students applied to join Georgia Tech’s 2024 rst-year class.

The WSJ named several reasons for the flow of students from the North, including the school spirit of Southern schools, lower tuition rates, warmer weather, better job prospects, and a greater sense of community.

“The number of Northerners going to Southern public schools went up 84% over the past two decades, and jumped 30% from 2018 to 2022,” according to a WSJ analysis of Department of Education data.

THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS POSTHUMOUSLY RECOGNIZED TERRY MAPLE THIS OCTOBER AT THEIR NATIONAL CONFERENCE.

TERRY MAPLE, who was a professor emeritus in Georgia Tech’s School of Psychology, was honored on October 17 with the R. Marlin Perkins Award for Professional Education, the highest honor given by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

Twenty-six of Maple’s former students submitted the application in his honor. Maple, who died in December 2023, was credited with transforming Zoo Atlanta into one of the best zoos in the country. He took over as director of the zoo in 1984 and maintained a part-time position with the Institute. Many Georgia Tech graduate psychology students were mentored by Maple and they went on to lead zoos

and aquariums across the country.

“Terry had an innate ability to inspire,” Stephanie Allard, MS Psy 04, PhD Psy 11, said in a press release announcing the award. Allard is a former mentee of Maple and senior vice president and chief animal welfare officer at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Md. “You could walk out of a meeting with him with a million different ideas, and even if you weren’t quite sure how you’d get it all done, he always made you believe that you could. When I look across our profession, the impact he had was undeniable.”

JENNIFER HERSEIM

GREEN GOODBYES THRIFT SHOP EXPANDS TO TECH SQUARE

WITH A NEW SPACE INSIDE BARNES & NOBLE, GREEN GOODBYES BECOMES A YEARROUND, FREE RESOURCE FOR STUDENTS TO RESTOCK THEIR LIVING SPACES.

BY STEVEN GAGLIANO

SSINCE 2021, the Green Goodbyes program has given a second life to household items that students may not want to take with them when moving out of their dorm rooms or apartments. Donations have been collected at move-out since the program’s inception, but the opening of a new store in Tech Square allows for yearround operation.

Located on the second floor of Barnes & Noble at Georgia Tech, the Green Goodbyes thrift store offers all current Georgia Tech students the opportunity to shop for gently used items such as small appliances, pots and pans, dishware, and clothing, all free of charge.

Until now, Campus Services housed donations in storage containers and hosted a one-day event at the beginning of each semester to allow students

to select items. By relocating to the new store, Campus Services aims to simplify the distribution process and bene t more students throughout the semester.

“ ese items have so much life le , and through this program, we can help meet the needs of our students.

INTERESTED IN DONATING?

Items can be dropped off inside the store during business hours. If you have a large donation, please contact Abby Dutton (adutton3@gatech.edu). Financial donations to support the program are also accepted. Green Goodbyes does not accept food donations. Non-perishable foods can be donated to Klemis Kitchen, Georgia Tech’s on-campus food bank.

Whether it’s international students, who can’t travel with these items, or students who may not be able to a ord to buy everything brand new, this store is going to ll a need,” says Julie Birchfield, director of Community Engagement.

Along with helping students nancially, Birch eld stressed the program’s role in promoting campus sustainability. “If not for the program, many of these items would’ve been le behind and thrown out during the move-out process. is is an excellent way to extend the useful life of household goods and clothing instead of them piling up in land lls,” she says.

TECH STUDENTS PARTNER TO CREATE A MOBILE LAUNDRY BUS

GEORGIA TECH INDUSTRIAL DESIGN STUDENTS HELPED DESIGN A MOBILE LAUNDRY BUS FOR AN ATLANTA NONPROFIT.

WITH THE HELP OF Tech students, a local nonprofit is restoring dignity and hope to Atlanta’s homeless population with its innovative Mobile Laundry Bus—designed and built in collaboration with industrial design students.

Founded by Nicky Crawford, Flowing with Blessings Inc. provides essential services such as showers and clean clothing to people experiencing homelessness, a first step toward getting individuals back on their feet. Having provided showers for homeless people for several years, Flowing with Blessings wanted to find a way to allow their clients to leave with clean clothes. Crawford bought a school bus

FACULTY ACCOLADES

to convert into a mobile laundry service and came to Georgia Tech for help figuring out how to do it.

Under the guidance of Steve Chininis, MS Arch 96, Professor of Practice in the School of Industrial Design, industrial design students Zaria Hardnett, David Hounyo, Lily Liang, Claudia Ross, and Anushka Vaidya undertook the Mobile Laundry Bus project as part of a Summer Studio industrial design course for juniors and seniors.

Using their design and engineering skills, the team was involved in every step of the process, from brainstorming and sketching concepts to developing 3D models and ensuring

MARK PRAUSNITZ, the Regents’ Professor and J. Erskine Love Jr. Chair in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, was elected to the National Academy of Medicine. His work has created new kinds of drug delivery techniques, including through microneedles.

the final design was practical and user-centered.

Since the solution had to be mobile, and there was no guarantee of clean water at some locations, the students had to determine how to add large tanks of clean water. They thought through how the workflow for the helpers could work and then designed the layout of the washers and dryers for an effective operation.

The partnership between Flowing with Blessings Inc. and Georgia Tech showcases the power of community collaboration in addressing real-world problems.

“It allowed students to make an immediate and direct impact in our community! They were instantly engaged because they were working with an amazing client who was helping real people,” Chininis says. EVAN ATKINSON

VICTORIA CHANG, Georgia Tech’s Bourne Chair in Poetry in the School of Literature, Media, and Communication, has been named the winner of the prestigious U.K. poetry award The Forward Prize for best poetry collection. Chang won for her new volume, With My Back to the World.

GEORGIA TECH HAS SUCCESSFULLY SEQUENCED THE YELLOW JACKET GENOMEAND ANSWERED A QUESTION ABOUT OUR FAVORITE YELLOW JACKET, BUZZ.

AT ITS CORE , the most recognizable yellow jacket at Georgia Tech is made of fabric and foam, but Professor Mike Goodisman and a team of researchers revealed a far more complex cellular structure by successfully sequencing the genome of two local species of yellow jacket wasps—Vespula squamosa (the southern yellow jacket) and Vespula maculifrons (the eastern yellow jacket).

Having the genome sequences of yellow jacket wasps expands biologists’ understanding of the behaviors and evolution of

BY STEVEN GAGLIANO

A CRACKING THE CODE ON TECH’S MOST RECOGNIZABLE INSECT

social insects, including the intricacies of the caste system made up of queens, males, and workers.

“ e genome is fundamental for a lot of questions that we ask,” Goodisman says.   e research, published in Annals of the Entomological Society of America, identi es rates of gene evolution among the di erent species, which Goodisman says could offer explanations for the various roles each wasp plays in their colonies as well as their ability to adapt and thrive in di erent environments.

Southern and eastern yellow jacket queens produce all caste members in the colony, and while mated

queens from both species hibernate in the winter following the decline of their colonies, V. squamosa (southern) will stay in hibernation slightly longer. Southern queens then actively seek out established eastern yellow jacket nests, kill the resident queen, and take over her colony. Goodisman and his research team hope the genome provides insight into the southern queens’ parasitic behavior.

The typical colony will survive six to eight months, but in certain climates, colonies can outlast the winter months to become “supercolonies.” These larger colonies take on multiple queens as they grow to the size of a couch or a car. Goodisman’s team will use the genome to look for clues as to how these supercolonies thrive for multiple years and how natural selection operates in the two species.   roughout the study, Goodisman relied on the Georgia Tech community’s shared interest in the social insect to gather yellow jacket wasps’ nests from the homes of faculty, sta , and alumni, in addition to samples from around the region. DNA was extracted from individual wasp samples and then sent to the University of Georgia for DNA sequencing. e resulting genomes, which are about 200 million base pairs in length, were then jointly analyzed by scientists at Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia.

“When you get the data back, you get these long sequences of the building blocks of DNA. Part of the game is putting that together like a puzzle, and then we analyze the sequence to gure out what it means,” he says.

ALUMNI, FACULTY, AND STAFF GATHERED YELLOW JACKET WASPS’ NESTS FROM THEIR HOMES FOR THE STUDY.

With the genome sequenced, the team can then compare the local species to each other and all species of yellow jacket wasps worldwide. Unlike honeybees, yellow jacket wasps are not considered signi cant pollinators; but because their diet consists of insects and carrion, Goodisman explains that understanding their place in the ecosystems they inhabit is equally important.

He is enthused to be on a campus that shares his interest in the group of social insects known as Hymenoptera. Now, when discussing his research with members of the Georgia Tech community, he nds himself answering one question more than any other. His response is always the same: “Because of the stinger, Buzz is anatomically female.”

And while he can’t de nitively say which species of yellow jacket the mascot would be, Goodisman says Buzz’s feisty nature would lean toward the more aggressive and charismatic southern yellow jacket, V. squamosa.

6,000

ALTITUDE THAT “SPIRIT” THE ROBOT DOG TRAINED ITSELF TO WALK ON MOONBASED ENVIRONMENTS. THIS STUDY IS PART OF THE LASSIE (LEGGED AUTONOMOUS SURFACE SCIENCE IN ANALOG ENVIRONMENTS) PROJECT, WHICH INCLUDES TECH RESEARCHERS.

13th

GEORGIA TECH’S RANK OUT OF MORE THAN 700 INSTITUTIONS IN WALLETHUB’S LIST OF THE TOPPERFORMING, LOWESTCOST SCHOOLS FOR UNDERGRADUATES.

ESTIMATED FUEL SAVINGS PER VEHICLE WITH THE NEWLY INTRODUCED GEORGIA TECH POLICE DEPARTMENT ALL ELECTRIC SUVS.

“COUCHELLA,” THE ANNUAL ONCAMPUS MUSIC FESTIVAL HOSTED BY THE GEORGIA TECH MUSICIAN’S NETWORK, CELEBRATED 10 YEARS.

Professor Mike Goodisman

AATRIAL FIBRILLATION,

IMPROVING THE ODDS FOR PATIENTS WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

GEORGIA TECH RESEARCHER IS DEVELOPING A NEW MRISAFE SURGICAL ROBOT.

BY JERRY GRILLO

or AF, is the unpredictable musician throwing the symphony of the heart out of whack, causing the upper chambers to beat haphazardly, out of sync with the steady rhythm of the lower chambers.

And unfortunately, AF is all too common, a ecting one in 100 people. It can be brief or persistent. It can wear you out, leaving you dizzy and out of breath, causing chest pains and palpitations. By itself, AF usually isn’t life-threatening, but it reduces the heart’s e ciency and can lead to blood clots and strokes—which de nitely are life-threatening.

“ ere are some helpful treatments for AF, but they are suboptimal,” says Yue Chen, assistant professor of biomedical engineering in the Coulter Department, where he runs the Biomedical Mechatronics Lab. “For too many patients, the treatment is incomplete.”

Treatments like radiofrequency ablation (RFA), for example, have proven e ective. A catheter delivers radiofrequency energy to create scar tissue inside the heart. Scar tissue can’t conduct electricity, so it blocks AF’s abnormal signals, restoring normal rhythm to the heart. But 30% to 50% of patients have a recurrence of symptoms.

It’s partly because controlling the surgical tools inside the heart’s complex environment isn’t easy. e idea is to create a continuous line of lesions without any gaps, to completely block the faulty electric signals.

“Sometimes, there are gaps,” says Chen, who aims to close them, and he’s using a National Science Foundation CAREER Award to nd a solution. Chen and his collaborators are developing a continuum robotic system that can e ciently perform procedures like RFA while the patient is

inside a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner.

“This CAREER Award means a lot to me and my lab,” says Chen, one of three faculty members, with Ming-fai Fong and Ahmet Coskun, to win the honor this year.

SMART SNAKE

Continuum robots are long and slender and made of exible materials that allow them to bend and twist and move with a great deal of dexterity, like a snake. Chen’s team’s system is unique because unlike traditional robotic systems, this one is designed to work inside an MRI machine, o ering doctors more precision than ever.

Chen’s team created a new type of flexible robot made from polymers, including a plastic, 3D-printed transmission mechanism. The motors that give the robot mobility are made of 3D-printed resin and are powered by pressurized air. Since no electricity is used, there is no interference with the MRI’s magnetic elds.

CONTROLLING THE OUTCOME

A key challenge in RFA is manipulating the catheter in the heart, which is not unlike driving a car through a twisting, unfamiliar road. Chen’s robotic system is basically a smart GPS that ensures the car stays on the right path at the right speed. Additionally, the research team has developed sensors that will monitor the contact force between the catheter and the heart tissue. is is a multi-institutional e ort. In addition to Chen’s students—Yifan Wang, Anthony L. Gunderman, and Milad Azizkhani—his collaborators include Ehud Schmidt and Aravindan Kolandaivelu from Johns Hopkins University, and Junichi Tokuda from Harvard University.

Antarctica Discovery • 1/18 - 1/29

Egypt & the Eternal Nile • 3/7 - 3/21

Pristine wilderness abundant with wildlife. Ancient lands with stories to behold. Exotic culture. Enticing culinary wonders. This is why you travel. Why your adventurous spirit yearns for the next bold excursion. Why you want to experience history, not just read about it. Embrace the journey and book a trip with Georgia Tech Alumni Travel. We handle the details so you can enjoy the expedition. Or taste the wine. Or climb the mountain.

Landing Beaches to Liberation • 10/25 - 11/3

ON THE FIELD

POWERFUL IN PINK

The Georgia Tech Volleyball team made two strong statements in their October 25 match against NC State, achieving their ninth sweep of the season with a quick 3-0 win and donning pink uniforms to raise awareness for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

DEEPER INTO OVERTIME

ELIGIBILITY RULES ALLOW EIGHT GEORGIA

TECH

FOOTBALL PLAYERS AN EXTRA YEAR TO PLAYAND THAT ALSO MEANS FURTHER TIME TO GO DEEPER INTO EDUCATION.

BY ERIC BUTTERMAN

GGEORGIA TECH WAS LIKE A GHOST TOWN. When running or hitting the weights after football practice, the players felt like it was just them on campus.

The first summer of 2020 was an unusual time for the Yellow Jackets football team, but it also offered an unexpected opportunity: one more year of football. Because of that unusual extra year of eligibility, Georgia Tech’s football team this season included eight student-athletes who had already graduated from Tech.

Covid-19 added an unusual extra year of eligibility for everyone who played during that time. “Basically, it didn’t matter whether you competed in all games or didn’t compete in any, you knew you received another year of eligibility from the NCAA rule,” explains Brandon Pottebaum, assistant athletic director of academics for Georgia Tech.

Getting to play football past graduation wasn’t unheard of before Covid-19. There are two common ways a player can continue to play a er graduating: First is to “redshirt,” giving up the rest of your playing time for a season early on or even before you play at all, to get another season of eligibility later. One reason a player might choose this option is a lack of playing time. A second way that a player can gain an extra year is a medical redshirt for being unable to play due to a medical issue. But

For Jordan Williams, BA 24, an o ensive tackle who was First Team All State his junior and senior years at Gainesville High School in Georgia, the rule took some of the concern of his first year of school and playing o the table.

Jordan Williams

“I learned about it rst through news reports and then it became very clear that this extra year would happen,” says Williams, who received his business administration degree in May and is now pursuing a second bachelor’s degree in economics. “I’ve lost games to injuries, and to be able to have one more year with the O-line means a lot. I would love to be rst-team ACC... I’m taking in every moment of college football before the next step.”

SHARING KNOWLEDGE

Being football players who have graduated doesn’t just benefit those players, it also benefits the others who learn from them.

“It’s the leadership they provide to the younger players,” Assistant Athletic Director of Academics Pottebaum says. “They have seen a lot and have been through good times and hard times and have shown what it takes in terms of putting in the work. Their perseverance, finishing something like a prestigious Tech degree, it shows the younger guys what can be accomplished. Being older, they can guide and look after those players. They can bring them back down to earth and be good role models.”

For Williams, he says that his time at Georgia Tech has been about having goals and taking the steps to achieve them. As we talk midway through the fall season, the Yellow Jackets have a tough schedule ahead, including games against the University of Notre Dame, the University of Miami, and the University of Georgia. “You always want to go up against the best. It’s all about preparation and being focused,” Williams says. “I’ve found it’s the same way with school.”

ALUMNI ON THE ROSTER

In addition to Jordan Williams, the 2024 Georgia Tech Football team included seven other alumni:

LAMILES BROOKS, BA 24, a three-year starter, received his degree in May 2024. As a safety, he pursues receivers, but he is using his extra year of eligibility to not only enjoy football but pursue a second bachelor’s degree in economics.

Being a long snapper is appropriate for three-year starter HENRY FREER, CHBE 23, who is taking a longer route when it comes to pursuing his education. Already coming into college with more than 30 hours under his academic belt, Freer graduated with a chemical and biomolecular engineering degree in May 2023 and enrolled directly in the PhD program. Freer is the first known football student-athlete to ever be enrolled in a PhD program while still playing Georgia Tech football. Freer redshirted his first year and gained another year from the Covid year, Pottebaum says.

KEVIN HARRIS II, BA 23, defensive end, brought a champion’s mentality, transferring from the University of Alabama in 2020. Graduating with a business administration degree in December 2023, this starter is pursuing his second bachelor’s degree in economics.

JASON MOORE, BA 23, defensive tackle, who graduated with a business administration degree in December 2023, actually began his college football days at Georgia Tech as a walk-on, then left for Temple University after graduating, but decided to return to the Yellow Jackets in further pursuit of football and education. He is now working on a master’s degree in analytics.

WILL SCISSUM, CE 23, offensive lineman, received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in December 2023 and now is pursuing a master’s degree in the same subject. “He did the supply chain dual BS/MS program, and that’s pretty tough to pull off and still play football,” Pottebaum says. “This is a very sharp guy.”

DAVID SHANAHAN, BA 24, is believed to be the first Ireland native to receive a full scholarship to play American college football. This four-year starter as punter didn’t punt on the opportunity to grow his education, graduating with a degree in business finance in the summer of 2023, and he now is enrolled in the master’s of analytics program. He even returned to Ireland with Tech to pull off a shocking win over Florida State to open the 2024 season, a team then ranked 10th in the AP Poll.

Belgium-native SYLVAIN YONDJOUEN, BA 22, a defensive end, is pursuing a master’s degree in international security after receiving his business administration degree in the fall of 2022.

TECH ALUMNI HONORED WITH PRESTIGIOUS NCAA AWARDS

TWO OF THE SIX SILVER ANNIVERSARY HONOREES RECOGNIZED BY THE NCAA ARE GEORGIA TECH ALUMNI.

BY JENNIFER HERSEIM

THE SILVER ANNIVERSARY AWARD celebrates the impressive achievements and contributions of former student-athletes on the 25th anniversary of the end of their college athletic careers. Two of the six 2025 honorees selected by the NCAA are Georgia Tech alumni. Learn about both Yellow Jackets:

MATT KUCHAR, MGT 00

Kuchar’s prolific golf career includes nine PGA Tour victories, two international titles, an Olympic bronze medal, and seven appearances representing the U.S. National Team. In 2012, he won The Players Championship, the PGA Tour’s flagship tournament.

Kuchar was a four-year letterwinner for Georgia Tech, starting in 1996. One year later, he won the U.S. Amateur, becoming only the second Yellow Jacket at the time to do so. (Legendary golfer Bobby Jones was the first.)

Kuchar’s work ethic off the green was just as stellar. He was a two-time ACC Academic Honor Roll honoree in 1997 and 2000, and he was awarded player of the year three times by his team during his collegiate career.

Kuchar has also used his platform to give back to his community and his alma mater. For more than 15 years, Kuchar has been involved with Camp Twin Lakes, which provides fully adaptive camp experiences to children and families affected by serious illnesses, disabilities, and other life challenges. He has hosted the camp’s annual golf tournament for many years. He and his wife, Sybi Kuchar, Mgt 99, are both proud Yellow Jackets and have endowed a women’s tennis scholarship at Georgia Tech since 2013, and Kuchar has been a Golden Jacket since 2014.

DANIELLE DONEHEW, IE 01

Donehew, the executive director of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), has dedicated her life to growing women’s and girls’ basketball. Since being named WBCA’s executive director in 2014, she has strengthened relationships with the NCAA and Kay Yow Cancer Fund and created the WBCA Code of Ethics. In 2023, she was recognized with the Trailblazer Award by the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

Donehew was a four-year letterwinner with Tech’s Women’s Basketball team from 1996 to 2000. A leader on and off the court, she served as team captain her senior season and helped the team to a WNIT post-season appearance that year. She broke school records in women’s basketball with eight three-pointers in a game twice and seven three-pointers in a game four times. (Both records still stand but have since been tied.) In 2013, she was recognized as an ACC Legend for her significant contributions to Tech during her collegiate career. A proud alumna, Donehew has endowed a women’s basketball scholarship since 2015. In addition to her work with WBCA, Donehew serves as a member of 12 boards and committees, including the NCAA’s Women’s Basketball Oversight Committee. She also serves on several nonprofit boards, including the Kay Yow Cancer Fund board. Donehew was also the co-founder of the Pat Summitt Foundation and has served as the president since 2011.

TECH GOLF CONCLUDES SEASON AT EAST LAKE CUP

THE YELLOW JACKETS MADE IT TO THE FINAL, BEFORE FALLING TO AUBURN.

THE EAST LAKE CUP brings together the 2024 NCAA Championship semifinal teams for a three-day stroke and match play competition.

Benjamin Reuter and Albert Hansson scored individual match victories, and No. 14 Georgia Tech took defending NCAA champion Auburn down to the final match before falling, 3-2, in the championship match at East Lake Golf Club.

The Jackets will return to action in February at the Amer Ari Intercollegiate in Hawaii.

CROSS COUNTRY TAKES SECOND, THIRD AT HOME

THE GEORGIA TECH CROSS COUNTRY INVITATIONAL FEATURED 26 SCHOOLS.

GEORGIA TECH WOMEN’S cross country took second place and the men finished third in the Georgia Tech Cross Country Invitational held at Bouckaert Farm in Fairburn, Ga. In the men’s 8K, Tech totaled 68 points, just four points behind South Alabama, who took second. A total of 16 teams across Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and South Carolina competed in the men’s 8K. On the women’s side, the Yellow Jackets totaled 66 points, good for second place out of 23 total teams.

PIGSKIN POET

ALUMNUS C. CARY ANDERSON WRITES POETRY ABOUT GEORGIA TECH FOOTBALL.

THE YELLOW JACKETS’ VICTORY in 2019 against Miami in overtime might have le Yellow Jackets stunned, but not C. Cary Anderson. A 1972 Industrial Management graduate, Anderson captures the feelings of being a Georgia Tech fan through sports poetry. His book of poems, Undefeated—Poems of Victory, will be published this December. His poem “Kicking the Ibis” describes the Jackets’ upset against the Miami Hurricanes.

Time marched on as did the Swarm. e running game began to shine, As Jordan Mason busted loose, And gashed the Hurricane line.

— Excerpt from “Kicking the Ibis”

The Fans

By C. Cary Anderson, IM 72

They sit up there in the stands, They sing a faithful song. Only one goal and nothing less. “Victory” screams the throng.

They’ll always let you know Exactly how they feel. You’re gonna get their feedback. You’re gonna hear their squeal.

They’re the Monday morning quarterbacks With 20/20 hindsight. They sure got all the answers To change things and make it right.

It’s a true love-hate relationship— It’s always been that way. This partnership has no end: The marriage is here to stay.

So get used to living with it— It’s a blessing and curse. Both parties need each other For better or for worse!

Pin Hsu’s journey from psychology to analytics exemplifies the power of continuous learning in today’s dynamic business landscape. Earning his Online Master of Science in Analytics (OMS Analytics) from Georgia Tech enabled him to combine his diverse background with cutting-edge analytical skills. This ultimately led to his position as Associate Director for Global Demand Planning with Kimberly-Clark.

QWhy did you decide to pursue a master’s in analytics, given you already had a B.S. in Psychology, an M.S. in Management, and an MBA?

•Top-5 nationally ranked program

•100% online and self-paced

I’ve always been guided by a fundamental question: why do people do things a certain way, and how can we help them do it better? After college, I applied my psychology background to business operations. That experience led me to pursue an MBA to understand decision-making from a financial perspective. However, I realized there was still a gap –I needed to understand what the data told us, especially when it conflicts with current beliefs and opinions. The OMS Analytics program was crucial in expanding my toolkit to address this issue with greater proficiency.

As someone with a non-technical background, how did you find the OMS Analytics program?

A

It was undoubtedly challenging; however, my diverse background gave me a unique perspective. Being among a brilliant cohort and learning from their expertise was exhilarating. My experience demonstrates the program’s accessibility and the opportunities it can unlock.

A Q A

•Complete in 24-36 months

•Same faculty and curriculum as on-campus program

•3 specialized tracks:

-Analytical Tools

-Business Analytics

-Computational Data Analytics

•Total tuition under $11,000

•No GRE/GMAT required

How has earning your M.S. in Analytics impacted your career?

The impact has been profound. The degree significantly boosted my confidence and knowledge base, making me a well-rounded participant in business discussions. I can now seamlessly blend high-level business acumen with granular technical knowledge, which is crucial in validating solutions. These skills allow me to contribute more effectively to developing tangible solutions and have transformed me into a more versatile and valuable professional, capable of bridging gaps between business strategy and data-driven decision-making.

omsanalytics.gatech.edu

Read more about Pin Hsu’s journey at pe.gatech.edu/blog/PinHsu

MAJOR LEAGUE FUN

This former Georgia Tech Baseball player stars on the pitcher’s mound with the Savannah Bananas. The league’s in-game antics and viral videos have created their own fandom with tickets to games selling out within minutes of becoming available.

IT’S BANANAS: ANDY ARCHER IS LIVING A DREAM

WITH THE SAVANNAH BANANAS, THE FORMER GEORGIA TECH PITCHER IS PLAYINGAND PROMOTINGTHE GAME HE LOVES.

BY DANIEL P. SMITH

BANANA BALL EXPLAINED

SSTANDING ON A BASEBALL MOUND,

AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” blasting to a packed stadium, pitcher Andy Archer—6 feet, 5 inches, and 230 pounds— breaks into choreographed movement. As he mimics the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders’ dance to the rock anthem, the crowd erupts.

This isn’t exactly what Archer, BA 21, had in mind.

Yes, Archer hoped to one day stand on the mound of a professional baseball stadium and stare into the catcher’s mitt with thousands of anxious eyes peering upon him. As a kid growing up in Duluth, Georgia, playing baseball was all he ever wanted.

To be certain, Andy Archer is living that dream, but in a way he never imagined as a kid.

He’s a pitcher with the Savannah Bananas, the quirky independent baseball team seizing the nation’s attention with “Banana Ball”—its unapologetic marriage of America’s grand pastime with unconventional rules, on-field antics, and, yes, a dance or two.

And Archer is here for all of it. Every shenanigan. Every gag. Every pitch. Every moment with a young fan. Every ight and bus ride and hotel room.

“There’s no one else in the world who does what we do,” Archer says. “And it’s awesome.”

ENTERING BANANALAND

In mid-2023, just as Banana Ball began exploding in national popularity, Archer learned about the Bananas from his parents. Watching one online clip a er another, he became fascinated by a group many were calling the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball.

“I just saw a bunch of guys having the time of their lives,” he says.

Archer paid his little sister’s roommate $100 to compile a highlight tape featuring his top plays and interviews. He sent it into the Bananas’ front o ce; a team sta member soon a er called with a tryout o er.

He impressed enough during his November 2023 audition that the Bananas signed him to a four-month temporary contract beginning in January.

By early spring, Archer’s on-field play coupled with his fun-loving personality earned him a full-year contract with the club. In 2024, Archer and the Bananas played before more than 1 million fans in 82 games across 21 states, including six MLB stadiums. The season wrapped up in October with Bananaland at Sea, a sold-out cruise to the Bahamas with the Bananas.

His Instagram feed verifies that claim (@archdaddeh24). His “ understruck” dance has been viewed more than 1.5 million times. He

“IT’S BEEN THE CRAZIEST, MOST UNBELIEVABLE, FUN, AND UN PREDICTABLE YEAR OF MY LIFE,”

Banana Ball is a fast-paced version of traditional baseball that’s focused on the fan experience. Games often involve choreographed dances, elaborate scoring celebrations, and in-game antics, such as a hitter and pitcher standing on 10-foot-tall stilts. The sport has 11 unique rules:

RULE 1: Win the inning, get the point.

RULE 2: Two-hour time limit.

RULE 3: No stepping out of the batter’s box.

Rule 4: No bunting. If a hitter bunts, they’re ejected.

Rule 5: Batters can steal first.

Rule 6: No walks allowed. If a pitcher throws ball four, the hitter sprints to try to advance as many bases as they want while every defensive player on the field must touch the ball before it becomes live.

Rule 7: No mound visits allowed.

Rule 8: If a fan catches a foul ball, it’s an out.

Rule 9: Showdown tie-breaker. If a game is tied at the end of the two-hour limit, the teams compete in a special showdown tie-breaker.

Rule 10: The banana ball challenge rule. Each team is allowed to challenge one ruling. To challenge, the coach must throw their challenge prop on the field before the next pitch.

Rule 11: The golden batter rule. Once per game, a team may send any hitter in the lineup to bat in any spot.

Not familiar with Banana Ball?

Scan the QR code to watch.

captured notoriety for recording a three-out inning in 61 seconds. He shared behind-the-scenes clips of his Bananas teammates as well as earnest instructional videos for young ballplayers, delivering tips on daily throwing drills and tossing a more e ective four-seam fastball.

ARCHER’S EVOLUTION

Archer seemed destined to attend Georgia Tech. Both of his parents (Glenn, Mgt 91, and Jill, Mgt 93) as well as his grandfathers (Jim Archer, CerE 64, MS CerE 67, and H. Milton Stewart, IE 61, HON PhD 21) graduated from Tech. e School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, in fact, bears Stewart’s name.

Tech baseball Coach Danny Hall, whose sons played high school ball with Archer, monitored Archer’s athletic evolution. Hall, now in his 31st year at Tech, saw Archer’s height as a plus and thought the young hurler had compelling potential if he added muscle to his slight frame. As a recruited walk-on, Archer captured a spot on Tech’s 2017 roster as a developmental prospect with a positive attitude and industrious approach.

“ e rest of the credit goes to him,” Hall says of Archer. “Andy worked day in and day out to earn opportunities.”

A er pitching nine total innings as a freshman, Archer leveraged nutrition and weight training to add a healthy 30 pounds. As a sophomore, he began hitting the low 90s with his fastball and established himself as one of Hall’s most reliable bullpen arms.

Following disjointed 2019 and 2020 campaigns due to “Tommy John” surgery and the Covid-19 pandemic, Archer authored a memorable fifth and final season at Tech as a starting

pitcher. His Yellow Jacket career concluded with a 121-pitch complete game shutout against Indiana State in a win-or-go-home NCAA Regional contest in Nashville.

BECOMING A BANANA

Though Archer had hopes of getting selected in the 2021 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft, 20 rounds came and went. Lacking a professional opportunity, Archer enrolled at the University of Hawaii to use his final year of baseball eligibility and earn a master’s degree in nance.

After the season, he stayed in Hawaii. He worked in nancial planning at a hotel. He surfed every day. Baseball faded into the background.

While in Hawaii, Archer also became involved in youth ministry. He remembers challenging one young man to consider how he might best utilize his God-given gifts. Archer realized he needed to ask himself the same question.

“And I felt terrible, like I was falling short,” he says. That’s when Archer found the Savannah Bananas and began training to join them. A er a full workday, Archer hiked in the Hawaiian mountains to build cardio and fired baseballs at a park fence to increase his arm strength and fortify his mechanics. At his Bananas tryout, he showcased both his physical talents and his gregarious personality, which came as little surprise to his former coach.

“Andy loves playing ball and is a kid at heart,” Hall says. “I’m sure that’s exactly what the Bananas saw, too.”

Now, Archer’s bringing that to a national phenomenon that continues to energize fans around the country.

“The Bananas’ culture is all about celebrating the game and trying new things,” Archer says. “No two shows are the same, and everyone is committed to putting on the best brand of Banana Ball possible.”

And for Archer, that’s the real dream come true.

I WINGS OF HOPE

IN THE DAYS FOLLOWING HURRICANE

Helene’s devastation of North Carolina, Gary Weissel, AE 93, watched as communities were cut off and supplies were running low. People were missing, and he wanted to help.

That’s when he logged into the AERObridge mission portal and saw a call for pilots to run disaster relief missions into North Carolina. AERObridge’s mission is to assist in times of catastrophic emergency by coordinating general and business aviation pilots and aircra to provide immediate response to disasters.

He signed up and was in his Cessna eight hours later, flying from Ball Ground, Georgia, to Statesville, North Carolina, to pick up supplies. “It was an amazing opportunity to mesh something I’m absolutely passionate about—flying and helping people in need,” Weissel says.

Once airborne, he climbed 9,000 feet to rise above heavy cloud coverage. e skies eventually cleared and Weissel began to see Helene’s impact. Lakes were extremely brown. Rivers were very wide. Interstates running south out of Asheville were packed with people trying to flee and trucks trying to make it into the disaster area.  Airways and control towers in the disaster area were so busy that pilots

ALUMNUS TRANSPORTED A LOAD OF SUPPLIES IN HIS GEORGIA TECHTHEMED PLANE TO AREAS IMPACTED BY HURRICANE HELENE.

BY KELSEY GULLEDGE

and air traffic controllers were using a special frequency to communicate.

Weissel gave several pilot reports over the disaster area reporting cloud cover and visibility to assist other pilots and air tra c control in directing helicopter rescues. “When I landed in Statesville there were 30 to 40 people unloading, gathering, and weighing supplies, along with coordinating with the pilots and loading the planes. ey were running like clockwork.”

Volunteers loaded his plane with 360 pounds of water, food, diapers, wipes, toilet paper, and more. After fueling up, he took o for Rutherford County Airport, 53 miles east of Asheville.

The mission served as a friendly reminder of the importance of engineering skills in real-life applications and how to use your talents to help others. “I’ve only completed one trip, but I’m looking to complete more missions,” says Weissel.

FROM ENGINEER TO PILOT

After graduating, Weissel went on to work at Delta and other aviation companies. Today, he works as the managing officer of Tronos Aviation Consulting and serves as the chair of the Aerospace Engineering School’s advisory council.

To put it simply, flying is Weissel’s life. He’s loved aviation his whole life but became a pilot only 10 years ago. He credits his time at Tech and being an aerospace engineer with helping his studies and having a competitive edge.

“Having a general understanding of mathematics, calculus, physics, systems, and how they work as an aerospace engineer gave me a great understanding of planes, their weight and balance, the design and forces that act on the plane,” he says. “I quickly got comfortable in the pilot seat because it wasn’t a big mystery to me because of my years at Tech.”

FROM THE BOOKSHELVES

ENJOY THESE RECENTLY PUBLISHED TITLES FROM GEORGIA TECH ALUMNI.

I SHOULD’VE GOTTEN A MANICURE

JULIE RUTKOWSKI, IM 82

I Should Have Gotten a Manicure is the humorous new memoir of Tech graduate and Norcross native Julie (Carlyle) Rutkowski. Filled with stories past and present of things she “should have done,” this lighthearted, nostalgic book will bring back memories for Baby Boomers and anyone who misses the old days. Her cherished time at Georgia Tech provides a rich source of material for her reflections.

BEAT THE MARKET WITH CRYPTOCURRENCIES

WAYNE

MIDDLESTEADT, ABIO 86

This is the third book in Middlesteadt’s “Beat the Market” series, offering data-driven strategies to identify profitable buy and sell signals for Bitcoin, Ether, and other cryptocurrencies. It covers how to avoid the pitfalls of crypto winters using statistical analysis, historical patterns, and technical tools. The book also explores the potential of cryptocurrency spot and leveraged ETFs to increase income. With clear, step-by-step instructions, the author suggests a practical understanding of crypto’s strengths and weaknesses and a solid plan for maximizing returns while minimizing risks.

JACK JOHNSON, ME 59

My Education is the autobiography of an ordinary boy from the Deep South who grew up during the Great Depression and World War II. The story follows his journey from humble beginnings to enrolling at Georgia Tech, where he became a mechanical engineer. His career led him to work on pivotal government programs that not only contributed to the dawn of the Space Age but also helped safeguard America during the most critical moments of the Cold War. This memoir offers a glimpse into a life shaped by perseverance, innovation, and dedication to the nation.

FICTION

FAT WALLET

VINCENT TOMAINE, CE 05

A reckless idea, cold-blooded betrayal, grief, and a burning desire for revenge bring this unlikely team of anti-heroes together on the gritty streets of New York City, setting the stage for an epic journey. This book serves as the origin story of the “Frank and POW” series, where two distinct paths intertwine, forging a partnership stronger than the sum of its parts. Together, they embark on a mission that will change their lives forever and shake the foundations of the criminal underworld.

MEDICINE

TELL THEM YOURSELF: IT’S NOT YOUR DAY TO DIE FRANK BUTLER, IM 71

As a retired Navy SEAL turned physician, Frank Butler provides an account of the transformation of prehospital trauma care for the United States military. Starting with the problem of why soldiers are dying on the battlefield, Butler and his co-authors present historical and contemporary data to show how a significant percentage of combat deaths were preventable. They explain the phases of battlefield medical care and what should be done during each of those phases.

HOW IT ALL

BEGAN

RUNNING WITH GEORGIA TECH’S SUPERFAN GROUP, THE GOLDFELLAS, TAKES LOTS OF ZEAL, STRONG LUNGS, AND GALLONS OF YELLOW PAINT.

Photos by Ben Rollins

Ofootball games (since October 17, 1998). is hard-yelling, pumped-up, wiggedout posse may be the hardest of Georgia Tech’s hard-core fans. What’s more, it seems that few if any college or pro football teams have such an eye-popping entourage, and if so, it’s likely that none have been around as long as the Goldfellas.

The Martin Scorsese mobster movie Goodfellas inspired their name. “We always called each other goodfellas,” says a character. “Like you’d say to somebody: ‘You’re gonna like this guy. He’s all right. He’s a

discarded—the name Gold Club, an homage to the Atlanta strip club.

e way Bills remembers it, Baldwin came to him in mid-October 1998 with a question—“What do you think about me getting this group of freshmen I know and all of us painting ourselves yellow and going to the game?” at match-up happened to be the famed last-second 41-38 homecoming victory against seventh-ranked UVA.

“I was, like, ‘I’m down with that,’” replied the computer science major, and they and all the golden guys hollered their ever-lovin’ heads off in the end zone

IT

JUST TAKES A RINGLEADER—OR A COUPLE—TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.” —ROBERTBILLS,CS00

for a national audience.

student section. ( ey added wigs and pom-poms the next game.)

A er trailing the entire UVA game, Tech stole the lead late in the fourth quarter with a 54-yard touchdown toss to wide receiver Dez White. With 26 seconds remaining, UVA’s eld goal attempt failed. Delirious fans stormed the eld and tore down the goalposts. Tech went 9-2 that season. A er being crowned co-ACC champs with Florida State, the Yellow Jackets bested Notre Dame 35-28 in the Gator Bowl.

Naturally, the newly formed Goldfellas dove into the goalpost action. After grabbing a big section, they paraded with it to the president’s house. e next week, the athletic department asked them to pose behind the fence on the eld. ESPN’s GameDay captured their antics

“It just takes a ringleader—or a couple—to make things happen,” says Bills, who is now president of NAL Research, a D.C.-area satellite communications company. When asked if Tech whipped UVA thanks to the Goldfellas, Bills deadpans, “Absolutely, of course.”

e next year’s home contest against Georgia proved to be a religious experience. Late in the game, the Bulldogs made up a 17-point de cit to tie Tech 48-48. But when Georgia fumbled at Tech’s two-yard line with 13 seconds le , the Yellow Jackets took possession and won 51-48 in overtime. “A miracle,” said the TV announcer. Again, down came the goalposts.

“I brought my piece of goalpost to church the next day. I could barely whisper I was so hoarse,” recalls Baldwin, who now works in cybersecurity sales for Verizon in Atlanta. Why did he bring his holy gridiron relic to church? “I just had to brag about what I was doing the night before,” he says.

The Goldfellas maintain a “book of faces” of past and present members’ signature looks.

Game day preparation starts two-and-a-half hours before kickoff outside the Howey Physics Building.

BEING A GOLDFELLA WAS SUCH A HYPE WAY TO ENJOY A FOOTBALL GAME.”

—MAXHOLLISTER,BME21

HAIL THE YELLOW JACKET KING

All Goldfellas, male or female, are equal, but the student with the highest GPA is first among equals. Today all Goldfellas know their leader as “O -Brand Buzz.”

Special responsibilities fall to the buzziest of them all. Other male Goldfellas must go topless. ey slather themselves with yellow body paint from Party City and daub on four black armbands. Not Off-Brand Buzz. He has a special costume. He gets to don a black tank top, strap on a pair of child’s fairy wings, and wear insectoid-looking dark glasses.

A three-year Goldfellas veteran, Max Hollister, BME 21, wore the wings of leadership. His duties included buying paint and wrangling his fellow madcap zanies into line for home games. (Max’s twin brother Sebastian, CS 21, was a Goldfella, too.)

A native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Hollister admits it was a “tough adjustment” trading his love for the University of Michigan Wolverines for his adopted school. “Being a Goldfella was such a hype way to enjoy a football game,” recalls Hollister, a clinical development engineer

at Intuitive Surgical, a robotic-surgery company based in Sunnyvale, California.

As ringleader, his responsibilities included keeping a three-ring binder look-book of the faces of all Goldfellas past and present. Goldfellas have a rule—like the

Once ready, the Goldfellas make their way down Freshman Hill, then sprint to the South Endzone.

The ringleader wears a black uniform, insectoid-looking glasses, and fairy wings.

members of the rock band KISS—they each must have unique black facial markings. Newbies scour the book’s archives for ferocious and fun design ideas.

Hollister had another important duty. He was a spell-checker. For each game Goldfellas write a message

in big black letters on their torsos. is human tweet is tailored to mock that day’s opponent and amuse Tech fans.

“We had some pretty way-out ones. We had enough people one Saturday to spell out the words West Point Rejects,” recalls the biomedical engineering graduate. He pauses a beat and delivers the punch line—“Citadel fans did not appreciate that.”

This year, one message was Fluke Devils. e Duke visitors were 5-0, and the Goldfellas thought their spotless record was unearned. Fittingly, Tech handed the Blue Devils their rst defeat.

One timeless Goldfellas message is always a fanfavorite—THWg—To Hell With georgia!

ALWAYS A “SPECTACLE”

Grant Marshall, a third-year civil engineering major, got stung by the Goldfellas bug at Traditions Night as a rstyear. A member since the rst game that year, he carries on the group’s 26-year tradition and serves as its latest O -Brand Buzz.

For every Saturday home game, he totes the paint stored in his dorm room to the meet-up spot, the Howey Physics Building. He makes sure everyone has donned lemon-colored wigs. He checks that all Goldfellas have bright canary pom-poms. Most of all, he con rms that

every guy and gal is yellow-bellied (color-wise, that is). For this rowdy crew, all yellow shades are acceptable— except mellow yellow.

Only a er all preparations are complete do these happy few, this band of brothers and sisters, march through campus to do battle.

Along the way they sing “Ramblin’ Wreck from Georgia Tech,” “Up With the White and Gold,” and “To Hell With Georgia.” (Other songs have included “Clemson is a Redneck School.”)

e Goldfellas stop to bask in fans’ a ection. “Little

The Goldfellas have been part of every home game since 1998.

kids always come up and want their photos taken with us,” says Marshall. Tailgaters o er them burgers, barbecue, and beverages to sustain them for the long hours of hunger-inducing cheering that lie ahead.

“Our trip to the stadium is a spectacle,” says the engineering major. “We love to get everyone cheering and screaming and singing the ght songs.”

Recalls Goldfellas founder Bills, “We had a good time and did ridiculous things—good college fun. Maybe we did some light-hearted mischief, but we were trying to do the right thing most of the time.”

GET READY WITH ME

Need inspiration on how to dress like a Yellow Jacket?

See how President Cabrera does it and email the editor with suggestions or to volunteer your own “GRWM” video.

“GRWM” A Goldfella Get ready for game day with a Goldfella on our Instagram @gtalumni.

As for all that yellow paint, there’s one thing all Goldfellas agree on. It’s a chore to scrub o .

“God help you if you’re like me and have a hairy chest,” says Bills.

George Spencer is a frequent contributor. His grandfather Louis “Automobile” Clark played fullback for John Heisman and was team captain in 1905.

With a reputation

for excellence, a history rich in quirky traditions, and an unparalleled sense of community, it’s easy to see why Georgia Tech is swarming with fans. For the truly devoted, their fandom knows no bounds. Meet these unmatched supporters who showcase school spirit in the most unexpected and creative ways.

BY SCOTT STEINBERG, MGT 99

“To Hell with Georgia!”

ing cry for many Tech fans, but it’s also the model on which Laura Kitashima Giglio’s family based her children’s names. ough Laura, EE 10, MS ECE 11, and her husband Danny, EE 09, MBA 17, were huge fans of their alma mater, and she was actively involved in Greek life, student organizations, activities, and sports of many stripes (“attending Tech was the best decision I’ve ever made,” Laura beams), don’t be fooled. ere’s an even more interesting story behind what’s now become a family tradition, and a reason why her love a air with the institution only continued to grow following graduation.

initials the second time around. Our second son’s name is Theodore Hans Westin Giglio. We call him Teddy. And again, those names have personal signi cance. So now we have two THWgs in the family. ey have been thoroughly brainwashed to like Georgia Tech and the kids (ages 2½ and 5) sing PG versions of the Ramblin’ Wreck song. We’ve joked maybe it will help them get into Georgia Tech in the future, since it’s getting harder to get in. en again, we also joke they could write a college application to UGA about how they’ve had to overcome adversity with their names to even apply, but hopefully that won’t happen.

“My husband actually has a much bigger GT legacy: Both his parents, an aunt, two uncles, two cousins, and a brother have all gone to Georgia Tech. I was an outof-state student, but I can’t imagine how di erent my life would have been if I hadn’t attended. For example: My husband and I met our freshman year, rst semester in 8 a.m. calculus—just like his parents, Bonnie, IM 77, and Je , EE 77, coincidentally did [years ago]. Anyhow, the story goes that his family believes that as parents, we only make boys—there’s been a long line of Giglios that are all males. And so, I was joking at the time that if I have to be a boy mom, at least we have a G for our last name so it can go along with the school song.

“Fast-forward a few years to when we got married and were having our rst child in 2018, and it was a boy. We kind of looked at each other like, ‘Are we really gonna do it?’ We decided that we were all in and we made the initials of our rst son omas Hilton Wesley Giglio spell out THWg. Each part of his name is related to family or something signi cant to our relationship. en three years later when we were having another boy, we decided to do it all over again. We were like, well, either they’ll both love it or hate it, but at least they’re in it together!

“It was a lot harder to think of names with those

“Our oldest, Tommy, is super into sports, and we thought it was important that the first Georgia Tech football game he went to be the Clean Old-Fashioned Hate game in 2019. He’s a fan to the point where if you say Bulldogs, he’ll say ‘yuck!’ From an early age, both our sons could identify Buzz and the GT logo.

“It’s crazy to think how di erent my life would have been if I had gone anywhere else for college, because I’m a bigger Georgia Tech fan than even Danny is now. I work at the Chick-fil-A Support Center, and everyone on my team knows about my love for Tech. In fact, people are always giving me something that’s Georgia Tech–related.

“If we do decide to have another child, there’s going to be a lot of pressure to come up with another THWg name. Of course, people always ask us, ‘What will you do if they really want to go to Georgia?’ Our response is, ‘Well, they can go, but we’ll just write them out of the will. It’s ne.’”

19171919 GA TECH BELT BUCKLE (Allison Hickman, Mgt 89)

We asked staff at the Georgia Tech Alumni Association to share their favorite Tech collector’s items.

Joe, Cls 91, and Heather Belcher

John Rafferty, EE 02

the walls are painted in Old Gold and the doormat says THWg. At least that’s true for these proud Yellow Jackets with impressive collections of Georgia Tech memorabilia at home.

Joe, Cls 91, and Heather Belcher’s basement is an enviable trove of Tech treasures, including Orville Vereen’s 1952 National Championship ring and George Humphrey’s 1954 game-worn helmet.

John Rafferty’s den of Tech goods includes Blue Prints from 1909 to 2013 and a watch from the 1990 Citrus Bowl. Rafferty, EE 02, also proudly displays his Outstanding Young Alumni medallion from the 2013 Gold & White Honors Gala and a vintage band uniform that he couldn’t resist buying a er being named an honorary member of the Kappa Kappa Psi band fraternity.

Inside the Tech- lled home of Larry Wylie, Mgt 73, is a framed shirt from the 1990 Championship game, where he was part of a one-time flash card section organized by Dorsey Watson. “We were not very good at it,” Wylie says, “but Dorsey was a great Tech fan and bought the whole section for us.”

Tech is a theme throughout the home of Diane, Psy 83, and Marc Sachs, CE 81, in Huntsville, Alabama, but the crowning jewel is their “Wreck Room,” which includes a handpainted scene from Bobby Dodd Stadium. —Jennifer Herseim

Home is where

Larry Wylie, Mgt 73

Marc, CE 81, and Diane Sachs, Psy 83

GEORGIA TECH MOP FOR “CLEANING UP AFTER BAD DAWGS” (Evan Johnson, CS 11)

are known for raiding, pillaging, and otherwise causing trouble. But Jonathan Chastain, better known as the GT Viking, is better described as a kind and loving person who’s always looking out for others. As he is the head of the Georgia Tech Football fan Facebook page, which he helped build to over 14,000 fans and regularly uses to give away free tickets to those in need, countless Yellow Jackets would agree. Trucker, assistant scoutmaster, father of three… it’s just one of many important roles he plays in so many people’s lives. ough Chastain didn’t attend Georgia Tech, he has dedicated his free time (what little he has) to upli ing the community. He explains why Georgia Tech football fans mean so much to him.

“Back in the early ’80s, my dad was a big fan of the Yellow Jackets and took me to my rst football game at Bobby Dodd Stadium, and I was hooked. In high school when Tech won the national championship that was a

great feeling. A er I got out of the Army and got my job

always loved the camaraderie, the kindness, and the feeling of community you got from going to games. I never went to college, but I loved raising my kids in that environment.

“One year, DragonCon was going on the same week we had our opening game. I’m a nerd at heart, and the game was on a Thursday night—which was also the night that me and my friends would wear Viking helmets and go hang out at the Con. I knew that I had to go to the game rst, so I just wore the helmet there, and had so many people compliment me on it. At the same time, I was already in charge of the Georgia Tech football fan page on Facebook, and I’d already been active online for a while, so I just ran with it.

“About a year or two after that, I saw people holding their tickets up at games—and I went to talk to

Most Vikings

someone, and they’re like, “Sometimes we just can’t go to games, and if someone wants to buy them, they will. And if they don’t, we’ll just give them away.” And I thought it was cool and realized that there’s a need there. Shortly thereafter, I kept seeing people asking online if people wanted their tickets as well. So I decided to use the Facebook page to help others. Each game, I’d ask if anyone had tickets that they wanted to donate, and I tried to find a veteran or a teacher or first responder or single parent to give them to. When we had the Western Carolina game, I helped distribute over 200 tickets to fans that couldn’t go otherwise.

“It’s important to pay it forward. My mom raised me to always do right by others. I try to upli and positively impact folks where possible and try my best every single game to go out there and get fans pumped. And other fans have done the same for me. When my son was hit by a car after a Georgia Tech game, and I couldn’t work, somebody started a GoFundMe to help, and they raised over $10,000 to pay for his medical expenses. God puts us in situations. We never know where we’re going to end up. And helping others has

always been special to me, because you know what you give to others will be given back to you in return.

“As you can see, being the GT Viking has made a huge difference in my life. I’ve met a lot of people over the years as a result…the mayor of Atlanta, various coaches and athletic directors, the president of the school. It’s funny, when I go places now, people recognize me…even when we go down to Tybee Island and Orlando. No matter where we go, fans seem to be there. I’ve got tattoos, body piercings, and a handlebar mustache, which can intimidate people sometimes. But you shouldn’t be afraid to come up and say hello if you see me: I’m a nice guy once you get to know me, and everybody’s equal in my heart.”

1996 GEORGIA TECH BARBIE (Janet Kinard, TE 97, MS ME 99)

The core of the Stingulance tailgating crew includes (L-R) Kyle McCuen, BA 12, David McCuen, Drew Miller, Neil Pittman, Stuart Miller, Mitchell Jones, Patrick McEwen, and Neal McEwen, IE 71.

lance

sports, retired pharmacist Drew Miller started taking his son to games from a young age and routinely redesigned his work schedule around attending home events for years. A die-hard tailgater—who considers catering and entertaining in parking lots his lifelong hobby—Miller also bought and kitted out an ambulance (the “Stingulance”) to sport signature Tech themes and mascots. Miller explains what it take to build a party on wheels.

A die-hard

“I’m not a Tech graduate, but I’ve kept up with the team forever. Back in middle school, my dad’s best friend was an architect who attended, and we used to go to at least one game a year with him and see the parades. So by the time I was in high school, it was just in my blood.

“I love to tailgate and love the challenge of coming up with homemade cooking surprises… it’s almost a competition that I’ve got going with my friends. About 10

years ago, I was sitting at a tra c light when I noticed a smaller ambulance across from me. And I thought, ‘Look at all that storage on there.’ I gured you could put everything that you need for a good tailgate in there, it would be fun to drive, and it would t in a regular parking spot. So I started looking for one. It took me about five years to find an old, used one with about 52,000 miles on it over in Roanoke, Alabama. The seller also helped me nd a couple Georgia Tech graduates over in Newnan, Georgia, that do the majority of the wraps for all the ambulances in the southeast United States. And they loved the idea of giving it a GT theme.

“We did some really cool stuff overall. There’s a

A lifelong fan

honeycomb design on the outside with Buzz. I’ve got astroturf inside instead of carpet. All my seats are Wilson football leather. Everything’s done in gold and navy blue. I’ve even got a kegerator in there, as well as great storage space plus tables, tents, ags, chairs, and even a cornhole set. Everything is self-contained—all I gotta do is pick up and go. Although I did have the siren taken o because I didn’t want to get in trouble.

“True story: e day I picked it up and drove it back over, there was an 8- or 9-year-old kid standing at his mailbox who had a Georgia Bulldog T-shirt on, and he ipped me o when I rode by. I knew that it had to be good if it made him mad. Anyhow, we’ve had it for about six years now. It’s fun to drive, real recognizable, and gets a lot of waves on the highway.

“We take pride in our tailgating experience, too. For example, instead of pigs in a blanket you might have

COMMEMORATIVE

1990 NATIONAL

FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS

COCACOLA BOTTLE (Len Contardo)

Conecuh sausage, or we might have homemade pimento cheese and boiled peanuts. And we try to coordinate the menu as a group. We poll our friends every year to build out our playlist of music, too. We try to be out the door three hours before games so we can get our table, bar, and tunes set up. And we keep our doors wide open: I love it when people come up and take a picture with their kids or whatever.

“ at said, at my age, I’m about ready for someone else to take over driving duties, in case anyone’s shopping for a new ride and listening or reading this. I’ve had several electricians and a food truck want to buy the Stingulance, but it’s a Georgia Tech tailgate vehicle, and I want it to pass on to another fan. Keep in mind—I don’t plan to stop going to games. But the way Atlanta tra c can be? I’m seriously ready to let someone else play driver!”

wasn’t always a huge fan of collegiate sports. But a er ve years at Tech, he found himself swept up in the constant energy and excitement of games, and some of his best friends today are from Tech. He couldn’t resist becoming a regular season ticket holder… or pairing his passion for the Institute with his interest in body art in a fun and creative way. As he’s currently the proud owner of one stunning tattoo featuring many of Tech’s most prominent landmarks, logos, and mascots, we wondered: What’s the story behind the ink?

“Georgia Tech has been a very in uential and productive part of my life. And I’ve been a season ticket holder pretty much every year since I graduated, except for one, and try to go to as many games as possible.

“As for how I decided to get inked, I have a few other tattoos and did some googling in the past and hadn’t really seen any Georgia Tech ones. So I thought it’d be an interesting concept to have a larger piece added. It’s on the lower right outside of my leg and covers the calf and features a lot of the insignias and mascots. ere’s Tech Tower, the Ramblin’ Wreck, Buzz, and a GT logo at the

bottom. ere’s also the steam that goes o a er every touchdown. And I also have a smaller, additional GT tattoo on my le leg.

“It took about six hours to complete the piece, including design and inking. I’ve gotten a lot of compliments saying that it looks really artistic. It’s a realistic image. Of course, my parents aren’t big fans of ink in general, but my dad appreciated it for what it was, because he’s an engineer, and he’s glad I went to Georgia Tech. My friends of course liked it. ey thought it was a great idea, and one said it was very tting.

“If you’re thinking about getting tattooed, I’d advise you to make sure you’re committed and willing as well, because it’ll be yours for life. All you need to do is research and nd an artist that suits your style. It’s a conversation piece that other fans recognize and remark on, for sure. Mind you, I don’t have any plans to expand on it at the moment. But I de nitely think it was worth the pain [laughs].”

Patrick Chua, IE 12,

gia Tech community, rst as a play-by-play announcer for basketball and football, and later as a host of Tech’s game-day shows. Ciraldo was a beloved fixture in the community for decades before his death in 1997. When Ciraldo took his seat behind the mic for basketball games, the band would o en yell in unison, “Hello, Al.” Not even Buzz got such a greeting.

Behind the scenes, Ciraldo championed the Institute, speaking with industry leaders and prospective student-athletes about the bene ts of Tech. He was inducted into the Georgia Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame in 2015. Yellow Jacket fans still remember his legendary voice and rich descriptions of game play, peppered with his signature phrases. Most of all, they remember the man who brought the energy and excitement of game day to countless Yellow Jackets listening at home.

We recently spoke with Ciraldo’s son, Al Ciraldo Jr., IM 82, about his father’s legacy and passion for Tech.

“It all started when he was 15 years old: He won a sports trivia contest in his hometown in Akron, Ohio. e winner got to do three innings of play-by-play announcing for the Akron Yankees. Well, the out elder for the Yankees was a young graduate of Georgia Tech named John Hyder. They struck up a friendship and later John became the head basketball coach at Tech. In the ’50s, my dad moved to Atlanta and John invited him to announce the basketball games for Georgia Tech.”

“ e fans gave him a lot of energy. He studied broadcast journalism and followed those like Red Barber, long-time Brooklyn Dodgers announcer. He believed you have to give the listener empathy and make them feel like they’re in the stadium. So, he used different phrases, ‘Overtaxed capacity crowd,’ ‘toe meets leather,’ ‘the clock ticks,’ to bring excitement to the game. Those were phrases he learned growing up on the playgrounds of Akron. Radio was like television back then—you had to paint the picture to help you imagine the scene as a listener.

“His daytime job was an account executive for WGST, the station that carried Tech’s games. He would sell advertisements and talk with captains of industry, selling them on the features and benefits of Georgia Tech. He was one of Tech’s cheerleaders in the business world. He would also call prospective players for recruiting—this was back before NCAA restricted recruiting to just coaches. He’d spend hours on the phone with students, extolling the bene ts of Georgia Tech, and of course, with fans, who just wanted to talk about Tech. In 1985, when the games were switched between broadcasting stations, there was some doubt about whether he’d be able to stay on. A group of students stole the T and sent in a ransom note to make sure he stayed. A erward, the T showed up on our front porch with a note from the ‘Lilburn gang.’ He called the GT Police to return it.” —Jennifer

Herseim

Al Ciraldo

was a xture at home games (and a handful of aways), where they could routinely be found wearing their hearts (and school spirit) on their shiny, metallic sleeves. But why the ostentatious getups and outsized attitude? You may be surprised to nd out—and for anyone contemplating donning a similar costume, surprised to learn what some of the fringe benefits from playing dress-up can be.

“I’ve been a huge Georgia Tech fan pretty much my entire life. My grandfather went in the ’60s or ’70s, and he brought me up that way, so actually getting to go to games in person was a dream for me. One of the stories he told me was how he and his friends would dress up in suits for games and wear their RAT caps their freshman year. I always liked the idea of having a costume to wear at a game so you’re not just wearing your everyday casual clothes.

“One day, myself, my roommate, and my brother, who all knew about these traditions, were kind of browsing

around, and we saw these gold suits online. We thought it would be awesome to combine our school spirit and the fun element with the costume-y, more formal element of wearing suits to games and getting dressed up for sporting events. And we did it for every home game for four years and took the suits to five or six away games as well. Doing so definitely gets you a lot of attention. It’s weird at first, because usually at games, you kind of blend in with the crowd. But as soon as you put on these costumes, you become more recognizable.

(L-R) Sabin Placanica, AE 23, Read Walters, CE 21, and Mason Placanica, AE 22, MS AE 24.

Mason and Sabin Placanica with their mother, Janise Placanica.

“We would have people come up to us a er games and be like, “Hey, I remember seeing you years ago!” You’d have young little kids like toddlers and early elementary-aged children come up and ask for pictures on the side of the road. In e ect, it brings a level of low-scale fame that you don’t expect. But it’s great to be able to bring that school spirit wherever you go, especially to away games. We took those suits to Duke, Florida State…even a UGA game once. It’s a good way to show your

spirit, even when you’re not on your home turf or things aren’t going your team’s way at the moment.

“If you decide you want to dress up, you’ll have to accept the level of attention that comes with it. But it’s a lot of fun. I think it makes the game more enjoyable for everyone around you. So if you have any crazy, outlandish idea that promotes the fun and spirit of the sport, I say go for it! It’s a fantastic way to meet new friends. You really get to know the people around you, because you are kind of a public gure. We made lots of good friends in the Goldfellas, the band, and even at away games (especially among other teams’ most outlandish fans).

“Given the photos that I’ve got, the friends that I’ve made, and the spirit that we’ve shared, it was more than worth the $17 on Amazon that it cost to do so. In fact, I would do it all again in a heartbeat.”

HANDPAINTED GEORGIA TECH NESTING DOLLS (Janet Kinard, TE 97, MS ME 99)

ALUMNI HOUSE

MUSIC AND MOVES

The Georgia Tech Band and the Goldrush dance team set the stage on fire with an electrifying performance at Buzz Bash, the Alumni Association’s all-alumni party, on Nov. 8.

Watermark installation and Crosland Chroma at the Library

Cat sighting: Tech tower lawn

with input from alumni. Like all good things at Tech, it’s in the eye of the

rooftop hangout: clough rooftop garden

ALUMNI HOUSE

LET US WRECKSPLAIN

“Why don’t they blow the campus whistle after Tech touchdowns anymore?” ROB OSATTIN, CLS 75

The sound of the whistle still blows after Tech touchdowns. Today, it’s played over the stadium’s speakers so that it’s even louder than the campus whistle.

Did you know that in 1981, Tech silenced the whistle after noise complaints from residents?

Got a campus-related question you’re dying to ask? Submit it at gtalumni.org/ Wrecksplain and we’ll find the answer.

Students and whistle supporters were in an uproar and stole the whistle to make the Institute reverse the decision. Today, you can still hear the whistle blow for class changes!

HOMECOMING HIGHLIGHT: RAMBLIN’ WRECK PARADE

FIXED BODIES, CLASSIC CARS, and contraptions defying de nition rambled from McCamish Pavilion down Fowler Street for the annual Ramblin’ Wreck Parade on November 9. e one-of-a-kind event hosted by the Ramblin’ Reck Club is held the morning of the Homecoming football game. In recent years, the parade has grown to include student performances in addition to the vehicle competition. Students and alumni entered classic cars painted in Tech’s colors, ingenious xed bodies, and a eet of imaginative contraptions. As is tradition, the o cial Ramblin’ Wreck led the parade. Wreck driver Matthew Kistner recently became the rst Wreck driver to put 3,000 miles on the car in one year.

THE BUZZ ON BUZZ BASH

THIS HOMECOMING, Yellow Jackets returned to campus to celebrate Georgia Tech, reconnect with friends, and make new memories. Buzz Bash, held November 8 at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center, was the premiere all-alumni party, which featured pep rally performances by the Georgia Tech Band and Goldrush dance team, food, beverages, photo ops, and a warm welcome from Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera, MS Psy 93, PhD Psy 95. A er Buzz Bash, the Black Alumni Organization carried on the party, celebrating 45 years of OMED: Educational Services and the Nu Beta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. e a er party was also an opportunity to meet GTBAO’s scholarship recipients and nominees for the Leaders & Legends Awards.

THE RETURN OF DROWNPROOFING

FOR ONE DAY ONLY, DROWNPROOFING WAS BACK AT GEORGIA TECH.

BY JENNIFER HERSEIM

FFREDDIE LANOUE’S famous drownproo ng method was part of Georgia Tech’s catalog until 1986. e course taught generations of students to stay calm and survive any imaginable emergency on the water. Taking the course became a rite of passage for those Yellow Jackets required to take it and they o en share stories about the rigorous requirements—many of which sound unbelievable today.

During Homecoming Weekend, Yellow Jackets had the opportunity to hear from alumni who took the course and see a live demonstration of the drownproofing method. Dick Bergmark, IM 75, who was a swimming letterwinner at Tech from 1972 to 1975, simulated drownproofing techniques in the pool at the McAuley

Aquatic Center while Bill Todd, IM 71, and Bill Hardin, AE 70, MS ME 73, spoke about the history of the course at Tech.

The presentation was held in the McAuley Aquatic Center, which was named in honor of former Tech swimming Coach Herbert “Herb” McAuley, EE 47, who taught Bergmark and generations of other Jackets drownproo ng following Lanoue.

Todd and Hardin answered questions from attendees and offered to debunk myths about the course (spoiler—most of what you’ve heard is true!).

One of the techniques Bergmark demonstrated was how to conserve oxygen while swimming underwater the distance of the pool. The technique was to simulate how to survive an emergency such as a ship being torpedoed and sailors having to swim underneath an oil slick. Bergmark

flopped into the pool backwards to imitate an accidental fall, then he glided smoothly underwater to the other side.

Hardin told the crowd, “You got full credit two ways. One is by swimming 25 yards up and back on one breath. If you made it to one end, made the turn, and started back and passed out, you got full credit.” Hardin’s job as an assistant swim instructor was to grab those who had passed out.

Bergmark also demonstrated the basic drownproofing technique that used a person’s natural buoyancy to conserve energy and oxygen. He bobbed up and down in the water. One requirement of the original course included demonstrating the drownproofing method while your feet and hands were bound.

Todd, who received a C in drownproofing and “ran with it,” said that beyond preventing drowning, the course taught students how to face and overcome failure.

“It changes you from fearing the water to respecting the water, and in doing so builds up your selfcon dence,” Todd said.

The presentation was part of a tour of the Campus Recreation Center this Homecoming.

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Scheller’s Evening and Executive MBA programs are designed to meet the needs of Georgia Tech alumni who are ready to advance their careers without stepping away from their jobs. The Evening MBA program is a self-paced, evening option that allows you to complete up to half your degree online. The Executive MBA program is an accelerated weekend option with classes on Friday evenings and Saturdays for 17 months.

Balance work and life responsibilities while earning a degree that helps you progress in your career, switch industries, and make connections to a global alumni network.

Applications are now being accepted for the Fall 2025 semester start.

GEORGIA TECH ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL REPORT

Note:

ALUMNI BY COLLEGE

In fiscal year 2024 (ending June 30, 2024), the count of living alumni exceeded 200,000. Check out these stats on your fellow Ramblin’ Wrecks. FISCAL YEAR 2024

LIVING ALUMNI BY DECADES & GENDER

MULTIPLE

DEGREE

EARNERS BY COLLEGE

About one in eight living alumni holds multiple degrees from Georgia Tech.

*Percentage of Women

RAMBLIN’ WRECKS IN 50 STATES AND 157 COUNTRIES

TOP 5 COUNTRIES

(outside of the U.S.)

FEW, BUT MIGHTY

27 countries are represented by one Yellow Jacket*

Albania

Andorra

Angola

Antigua and Barbuda

Benin

Bermuda

Bonaire

Democratic Republic of Congo

Djibouti

Dominica

Guinea

Guyana

Isle of Man

Kyrgyzstan

ALUMNI BIRTHDAYS

Most popular birthdays for all alumni and for each college.

Liberia

Libya

Macedonia

Malawi

New

Caledonia

Papua New Guinea

Rwanda

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Senegal

Sudan

Vanuatu

Zambia

*According to last-known address.

LETTER FROM THE CHAIR

DEAR YELLOW JACKETS,

It’s an exciting time to be a Yellow Jacket as we surpass 200,000 alumni!

For fiscal year 2025, the focus is to reach more alumni and engage with each other in the community. For this reason, I’m excited to share that fiscal year 2025 will be our “Year of Collaboration.” From hosting local gettogethers, serving as mentors, and supporting students through unrestricted gi s to Roll Call, more alumni are stepping up to lead the way. And more Yellow Jackets than ever are traveling together with our Alumni Travel trips and gathering at athletic

games, local events, professional development webinars, and Alumni Association programs.

We would love to see you this year! e Alumni Association is here for you for a lifetime, whether you’re a new graduate or a seasoned alum.

Stay connected at GTalumni.org and consider ways to give back as an alumni contributor to one of our programs—visit GTalumni.org/getinvolved.

Go Jackets!

TOMMY HERRINGTON, IM 82

GEORGIA TECH ALUMNI ASSOCIATION CHAIR FY 2025

The Alumni Association is here for you for a lifetime.”

VISION

The vision of the Alumni Association is to build an enduring community with all alumni standing in proud support of Georgia Tech and each other.

MISSION

The mission of the Alumni Association is to champion and serve our alumni and the Institute through programming and engagement that fosters lifelong relationships and philanthropic support.

VALUES

The Alumni Association’s culture, aligned with the Institute, is built on our core values of Community, Excellence, Innovation, Collaboration, Integrity, and Respect.

EXPENDITURES

ASSOCIATION FINANCES FISCAL YEAR 2024

ASSETS

20242023

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS

20242023

A NEW WAY TO NETWORK

GEORGIA TECH ALUMNI NETWORKS FIND WAYS TO BUILD COMMUNITY THROUGH PICKLEBALL, GOLF, AND LEADERSHIP.

BY JENNIFER HERSEIM

WWITH MORE THAN 200,000 alumni located around the world, there’s usually a Georgia Tech community anywhere you ramble. And there are plenty of ways to engage with Yellow Jackets through Regional Alumni Networks in your area.

The Chattanooga Alumni Network recently hosted their 25th annual Golf Tournament at McLemore on November 12. Alumni and friends of Tech played golf to raise money for the Network’s scholarship fund. This year’s event raised $19,500.

As pickleball has grown in popularity so too have the number of pickleball players at the Atlanta Intown Network’s events. A er hosting their rst pickleball event in January this year, the network hosted a second event this November that sold out with 40 people attending. e event included a clinic and live matches.

good luck!

In addition to their regular gamewatching and happy hour events, the San Francisco Bay Area Network hosted a happy hour with the Georgia Tech Volleyball team on November 7. e team was in town for West Coast games, and alumni network leaders arranged the event for local alumni to meet the team and wish them

On October 2, the Savannah Area Network hosted an event with Richard Kessler, IE 68, MS IE 70, at Plant Riverside. Kessler spoke about his vision that transformed the Georgia Power plant into a thriving riverfront arts and entertainment district. Over 100 alumni and friends of Tech attended the talk and a cocktail reception at one of the district’s roo op bars.

In November, Atlanta North Metro Network carried on their tradition of hosting “Santa Buzz,” a fun opportunity for alumni and other fans of Tech’s favorite Yellow Jacket to have their pictures taken with Buzz in holiday gear for their holiday cards.

Richard Kessler, IE 68, MS IE 70, shares his vision for the Riverside Plant District in Savannah, Ga.

The Chattanooga Network hosted their 25th annual Golf Tournament.

Atlanta Intown Network’s second pickleball event sold out with 40 attendees.

6,437 Students Are Funded by You

One-third of the Georgia Tech experience is funded by donors like you. That’s 33% of the graduates from each school. 33% of the campus footprint. 33% of time spent in the classroom. 33% of the impact on the world. Last year, there were 19,509 undergraduate students enrolled at Georgia Tech. Without your support, it would have been 33% fewer. Your gift starts the school year strong, expands access through scholarships, creates world leaders. The Student Experience. Scholarships. The Future of Tech. Funded by you.

RAMBLIN’ ROLL

CLASS NOTES & ALUMNI UPDATES

FROM THEN TO NOW

More than 10 years ago, Georgia Tech cheerleader Laura Powell, PP 13, met future Yellow Jacket Maisie Worley at a Georgia Tech cheer camp. Fast-forward a decade, and Worley, who is studying biomedical engineering, was recently inducted into Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society, while Powell was named to the Georgia Tech Alumni 2023 “40 Under 40” class. Powell and Worley aren’t the only Yellow Jackets in their families. Powell’s parents are Alan, ME 85, and Christina Camp Powell, IM 85, and Worley’s father is Gregg Worley, ChE 86

at ChE

Powell and 10-year-old Maisie Worley at cheer camp in 2014.

Laura Powell, PP 13, named to the 2023 Class of 40 Under 40.

Maisie Worley inducted into Tau Beta Pi honor society.

CLASS NOTES

RAHEEM BEYAH, MS EE 99, PHD ECE 03, was honored as one of 12 distinguished alumni on Oct. 17 at the convocation for North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Beyah, the dean of Georgia Tech’s College of Engineering and the Southern Company Chair, received his bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina A&T State University in 1998.

BROOK BRANDONWEEMS, MS PP 08, M CRP 08, received the 2024 Employee of the Year from her employer, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Atlantic. She serves as a facilities management & sustainment program manager for Command and is also a PhD student in the Public Administration and Policy program at Old Dominion University’s School of Public Service.

MELISSA CARTER, CE 95, MS ENVE 98, celebrated the breakthrough of the tunnel boring machine in February for the 2-mile Pawtucket deep rock tunnel. Set to be operational by 2027, the tunnel will have the capacity to capture 52.5 million gallons of sewage overflow per storm, reducing discharges into Narragansett Bay, R.I., and improving local water quality.

MCINTOSH NAMED NEW F35 PROGRAM LEADER

CHAUNCEY M c INTOSH, EE 99, has been named by Lockheed Martin as vice president and general manager of the F-35 Lightning II Program. The F-35 is a fifthgeneration supersonic stealth strike fighter with advanced sensors and radar. McIntosh most recently served as the vice president and deputy of the F-35

program. In his new role, effective Dec. 1, he is responsible for reinforcing and continually growing the capability and reliability of the F-35; showcasing significant program progress; and ensuring the F-35 program meets the speed, agility, quality, and affordability requirements of international and U.S. customers.

GATENS NAMED ACTING DIRECTOR OF NASA’S COMMERCIAL SPACEFLIGHT DIVISION

ROBYN GATENS, CHE 85, director of the International Space Station, has also stepped in as acting director of NASA’s Commercial Spaceflight Division. Gatens, who began her career at NASA in 1985 at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, has led the development and management of life support and habitation systems for human spaceflight missions. She is a recipient of NASA’s Outstanding Leadership and Exceptional

Achievement Medals. A proud Yellow Jacket, Gatens has served as a trustee on the Georgia Tech Alumni Association Board of Trustees.

RAMBLIN’ WRECKS IN SOUTH CAROLINA TAKE HOME BOCCE CHAMPIONSHIP

THOMAS CLARKE, MS CE 81, deputy executive director of the Clinton National Airport, is retiring after 15 years at the Little Rock, Ark., airport. He oversaw the airport’s largest construction initiative to date.

MATT SILVESTON, CE 94, and Ben Fanning MS MOT 02, led team “The Wrecking Ballz” to victory, winning the Chucktown Bocce Championship Oct. 4 in Charleston, S.C. The two alumni “wrecked” multiple talented teams to win the playoffs.

CARTER CELEBRATES 100TH BIRTHDAY

FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER, CLS 46, HON PHD 79, became the first U.S. president to live to 100 years old. Carter celebrated his milestone birthday in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, on October 1.

Carter attended Georgia Tech before receiving his appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1943. After serving as Georgia’s governor, he

ran for president and was elected the nation’s 39th president.

Carter returned to Georgia Tech in 1979 to receive an honorary degree. After leaving the Oval Office in 1981, he and his wife, Rosalynn, founded the Carter Center.

He and his wife were the first couple to receive the Ivan Allen Jr. Prize for Social Courage, in 2017.

TECH ALUMNAE SHINE AT LOCAL WOMEN’S EVENT

HEATHER REICH, MGT 06, private advisor and first vice president of Rockefeller Global Family Office, and Robin Bienfait, MS MOT 01 , owner of Atlanta Tech Park, partnered with Tiffany Circle of the American Red Cross to host a women’s event August 20 focused on wealth, leadership, and philanthropy. During one of the day’s main events, Reich moderated a panel discussion that included Melody Lee, IA 03, MS IA 04, chief marketing officer for Mercedes-Benz.

B.C. “BILLY” KILLOUGH, IE 74, has been named in Best Lawyers and Charleston Business Magazine for his work as an intellectual and business attorney with Kim, Lahey & Killough Law Firm. He was recognized for his contributions to intellectual property and innovation in the field.

ROB KISCHUK,  CMPE 00, leads the company Bellwood, which was recently ranked No. 2,022 on the 2024 Inc. 5000 annual list of the fastest-growing companies in America.

STEPHEN KUMP, MGT 09, ECON 10, and ASHBY FOLTZ, MGT 11, and their team have sold their startup, Vennfi, which powers the charitable giving platform CharityVest. The company was acquired by Foundation Source.

LT. MITCHELL MATHIS, AE 14, graduated from the U.S. Navy’s Top Gun Fighter Weapons School. Mathis is the son of Mike Mathis, ME 86, and Shirley Mathis.

ROBERT MOSER, CE 07, MS CE 09, PHD CE 11, was selected as the new director of the Information Technology Laboratory by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). As director, Moser will lead a team in the areas of information technology, high-performance computing, data analytics, software engineering, and scientific visualization, and will oversee the Department of

CLASS NOTES

Defense High Performance Computing Modernization Program, serving as ERDC’s CIO.

DHAVAL PATEL, MS ECE 09, EE 08, has built an experienced team to found Lotus. Lotus has developed an innovative wearable ring that controls objects at home through pointing, to assist individuals with limited mobility.

YELLOW JACKETS IN THE NEWS

EACH YEAR, Georgia Trend and the Atlanta Business Chronicle release their “40 Under 40” lists, recognizing successful individuals under the age of 40 who are making a difference in their industries and communities. Join us in celebrating the following Yellow Jackets who made the lists:

GEORGIA TREND ’S “40 UNDER 40”

JASON PERRY, MGT 01, has been named regional managing principal for the Southeast at Grant Thornton Advisors LLC. In this role, Perry will oversee their offices in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

CARL PETERSON, IE 21, MSA 22, and BRIAN MODEL, CS 22, launched Thunder Compute, a startup accepted into Y Combinator’s prestigious Summer 2024 batch, securing $500,000 in funding. The idea for Thunder Compute emerged during their senior year when they noticed the challenges researchers faced with GPU access in Model’s Systems for AI lab. Thunder Compute aims to enhance the developer experience in AI and robotics.

JEREMY SILVERSTEIN, MGT 01, was sworn in as a captain in the United States Navy Reserves on Oct. 19 in a small ceremony in San Diego, Calif. Silverstein is a NROTC graduate.

MARCIE WILLIAMS, PHD BME 09, joins Lee University’s Department of Mathematical Sciences as an assistant professor of engineering.

THE ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE’ S “40 UNDER 40”

BENJAMIN ANDREWS, MGT 09, is statewide program manager for the ATDC at Georgia Tech.

RALPH RAYMOND, ARCH 11, M ARCH 14, is senior associate and project architect at HOK.

JACQUELYN SCHNEIDER, BC 06, MBA 18, is an advisor within Georgia Tech’s Strategic Consulting group.

BRIANA STENARD, PHD MGT 15, is an associate professor at Mercer University.

KENDRICK TREADWELL, EE 10, is a senior program manager at Google.

THE ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE ’S “MOST ADMIRED CEO s”

TIM GARY, BC 96, is CEO of Galerie Living.

GLENN GOAD, MBA 07, is CEO of EarthLink.

WAB KADABA, ME 92, is chairelect for Kilpatrick Townsend.

JASON PERRY, MGT 01, is Atlanta market managing partner at Grant Thornton.

BRENT SMITH, IE 99, ispresident, CEO, and director of Piedmont Office Realty Trust.

GEORGE RAY, MGT 09, PP 09, is partner at Nelson Mullins in Atlanta. Ray focuses on government relations, business litigation, state and local administrative law, and regulatory proceedings. He is a former trustee of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association.

JACQUELYN SCHNEIDER, BC 06, MBA 18, is an advisor within the Georgia Tech Strategic Consulting group. She serves as a member of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association’s Board of Trustees and received the Alumni Association’s Outstanding Young Alumni recognition at the Gold & White Honors Gala in 2022.

ANQI ZOU, MS CSE 13, is head of Fair & Responsible Banking Analytics for Truist. She leads a team dedicated to identifying and reducing biases and promoting fair banking practices.

TOP 200 COMPANIES IN INC. 5000’S 2024 LIST OF THE FASTESTGROWING COMPANIES

#81 MintLeads.io, Tanner Blumer, IE 15, founder #98 Built By Grid, Drew White, Cls 08, president #175 Fusus, Chris Lindenau, MBA 11, founder & CEO

WRECKS AT WORK

RESTORING POWER AFTER HISTORIC STORMS

WEDDINGS

RYAN HATCHER, EE 11, senior reliability engineer with Georgia Power Company, is seen working on his ninth day of storm duty, managing power restoration around northeast and east Georgia with crews from all over the country.

WRECKS AT WORK

The Alumni Association is celebrating the amazing work of our alumni. Send us your on-the-job selfies featuring cool views at gtalumni.org/wrecksatwork.

1. NATALIE (BOUT WELL) DUNNING, IAML 22, and ROBERT DUNNING, ME 23, MS ME 24, were married on May 11 in Buford, Ga. The two alumni met as first-years in the Yellow Jacket Marching Band. Twenty-five Tech students and alumni attended their wedding.

2. EMILY YESSICK, CE 06, and Timothy Nash were married in a private beachside ceremony in Key Largo, Fla., on August 11. The couple resides in Naples, Fla.

BIRTHS

1. CONNOR KING, ME 12, is excited to cheer on the Yellow Jackets with golden retriever, Bailey, and the newest member of his family, Piper, who was born September 1.

2. At just 4 months old, Emmett is already a big Yellow Jacket fan! His mother, VETT PETTY, STC 13, MS PP 15, passed on her school spirit, and Emmett loves cheering for Tech—even

though his dad, Aaron Petty, is a University of Kentucky graduate!

3. ZACHARY SCHWARZ, EE 17, and TAYLOR (FITZGERALD) SCHWARZ, IE 17, welcomed their son, Simon Oliver Schwarz, in May. Zack and Taylor met their freshman year at Tech and are now raising their future Yellow Jacket in Milwaukee, Wisc.

4. EMILY CHAMBERS WELCH, IAML 07, and WILL WELCH, IAML 07, IE 07, Econ 15, welcomed daughters Caroline Anne Welch and Hannah Jane Welch on April 30. They are the daughters, granddaughters, great-granddaughters, cousins, nieces, and great-nieces of Yellow Jackets.

Hannah Jane

Caroline Anne

OUT & ABOUT

GEORGIA TECH’S SMALLEST FANS

KAMI FINKEL HANNON, BA 14, and ROBBIE

HANNON, IE 13, met on campus 13 years ago and now bring future Yellow Jacket Holly to Georgia Tech for football games.

Father BOBBY BASKETTE, ME 13, MBA 17, is proud to see his daughter, Piper, growing up to be a Yellow Jacket!

JORDAN AVERY, IE 15, and GABBY

AVERY, IE 17, flew future 5th-generation Yellow Jacket Cohen to Dublin, Ireland, to cheer our Yellow Jackets to victory!

YELLOW JACKET SCOUTMASTERS

On June 29, Scoutmaster ALFRED THESMAR, MGT 91, and Scoutmaster emeritus DAVID ROSS, ABIO 99,  each with a son and eight others summited Mt. Baldy (12,441 feet) located in the Philmont Scout Ranch near Cimarron, N.M. Two days later, the crew made Little Costilla Peak (12,589 ft.) in the Carson National Forest, but in less than ideal conditions. In all, the trek covered over 95 miles in the backcountry in 10 days. The two leaders enjoy giving back to their community by helping young people develop self-reliance and leadership skills. In this photo from Mt. Baldy, overlooking Eagle Nest Lake, Thesmar is sporting his vintage GT cap from his last trek at Philmont, when he was a student in 1989.

POSTED UP AT THE PEAK

JEREMY COLTON, ME 21, MS ME 22, ascended the summit of Mailbox Peak Trail in Washington State in August, proudly wearing his GTME T-shirt. He works for Amazon Robotics in Seattle and enjoys the great outdoors of the Pacific Northwest and ultimate frisbee.

TECH SWEETHEARTS

JANE HEYWARD, IE 82, and KEITH HEYWARD, EE 83, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on November 11. Given that Georgia Tech is where they met and started dating, they opted to celebrate their milestone anniversary with a trip back to campus for Homecoming weekend! Jane worked in the industrial engineering field for 38 years before retiring in 2020. After Tech, Keith earned his PhD in Physics from North Carolina State University. He continues to teach physics at NC State. They live in Raleigh, N.C., and always make time to visit their favorite places in Maine, South Carolina, and of course, Atlanta. They have two children (who love them so much that they submitted this celebratory acknowledgement on their behalf).

IN MEMORIAM

WE REMEMBER & HONOR THE FOLLOWING

1940 s

Gordon M. “Gordy” Coleman, IE 46, of Leawood, Kan., on Aug. 12.

Stanley H. Gray, ChE 49, of Rockingham, Va., on Aug. 11.

Arthur E. “Art” Joens, MS IE 48, of Sioux City, Iowa, on Sept. 13.

James T. Mills, Cls 48, of Savannah, Ga., on July 14.

Bertram S. “Bert” Warshaw, CE 49, of Newnan, Ga., on July 28.

1950 s

Hamilton C. Arnall Jr., IM 55, of Newnan, Ga., on Aug. 11.

Paul K. Beatenbough, ME 50, of Lyndonville, N.Y., on July 9.

Roy K. “Ken” Beavers Sr., IM 58, of Covington, Ga., on June 12.

Hugh M. Bivens, EE 57, MS EE 58, of Moriarty, N.M., on June 11.

Alfred F. “Bob” Blair Jr., Arch 55, of Thibodaux, La., on July 28.

Orren L. Brannen, IE 52, of North Myrtle Beach, S.C., on July 3.

Malcolm “Mal” Brown, ME 56, of Warren, Mich., on Aug. 28.

Frank S. Chew, IE 59, of Portland, Ore., on Sept. 16.

Robert E. Conover, ME 57, of Colorado Springs, Colo., on July 6.

BILLY SHAW: LEGENDARY TECH FOOTBALLER

BILLY SHAW, CLS 62, OF TOCCOA, GA., ON OCT. 4 . Shaw was a two-way star for Georgia Tech football from 1957 to 1960, playing both offensive and defensive tackle, and earning All-America and Southeastern Conference Most Valuable Lineman honors as a senior in 1960. He was also a two-time all-SEC honoree (first-team as a senior, third-team as a junior), a member of the SEC’s all-freshman team in 1957 and was selected to play in the 1961 Senior Bowl. The Vicksburg, Miss., native was inducted into the Georgia Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 1979.

He achieved even greater stardom as a pro football player and became only the second Georgia Tech alum inducted into the Pro1999 Football Hall of Fame. He remains one of only three

EDITOR’S NOTE

Yellow Jackets enshrined in Canton, joined by Joe Guyon (1966) and Calvin Johnson (2021).

Shaw was drafted out of Tech in 1961 by both the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League (second round) and the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (14th round). He chose to sign with Buffalo and went on to play nine seasons (1961–1969) as an offensive guard, helping the Bills to AFL titles in 1964 and 1965. He played in eight AFL All-Star games and was named to the AFL All-Time Team, pro football’s all-decade team of the 1960s, and the Bills’ 50th Anniversary Team. Shaw was the first Pro Football Hall of Fame member to play his entire career in the AFL.

In his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction speech, he said, “I’m going to be prejudiced, (I attended) the greatest university in the United States, Georgia Tech. They taught me values that I didn’t know existed.”

Shaw is also a member of the  Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame (inducted in 1996) and the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame (1994). He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Patsy, and their three daughters, Cindy, Cathy, and Cheryl.

For the In Memoriam section of the Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine, we will include an abbreviated version of each obituary in print. Full obituaries can be found at gtalumni.org/InMemoriam. To report a death, please email updates@gtf.gatech.edu

Harris J. Giannella, IE 59, of Tampa, Fla., on July 20.

Laurence C. Harris, IM 59, of Atlanta, on July 14.

James M. Johnson, IE 58, of Columbus, Ga., on July 13.

John R. Maddox, IM 55, of Atlanta, on Aug. 14.

Russell B. “Russ” McDonough Jr., IE 56, of Little Rock, Ark., on July 28.

William A. Ogram, EE 56, of Hayden, Ind., on July 22.

George L. Rice, IE 54, of Atlanta, on July 13.

Clyde L. Roberts Jr., IE 57, of Venice, Fla., on July 6.

Louis J. Sillay Jr., Arch 56, of Alpharetta, Ga., on July 21.

Robert E. “Bob” Spears Jr., EE 50, of Greenville, S.C., on July 18.

Alex H. Stephens III, CerE 51, of Cumming, Ga., on Oct. 13, 2023.

Henry E. Todd, AE 58, of Lakeland, Fla., on June 26.

Robert C. “Bob” Traylor, ME 58, of San Diego, Calif., on May 24.

Benjamin E. Wallace, IM 55, of North Fort Myers, Fla., on Sept. 6.

Donald H. “Don” Wilson Jr., IE 56, of Roswell, Ga., on June 24.

1960 s

William C. “Bill” Bottoms Jr., AE 68, of Lakewood, Colo., on July 20.

Ernest F. Bragg Jr., IE 64, of Macon, Ga., on July 7.

Charles M. Chastain Sr., ME 61, of Roswell, Ga., on July 22.

James B. Colquitt, IM 63, of Spring, Texas, on July 9.

Richard L. “Dick” Cravey, Cls 66, of Canton, Ga., on June 25.

CADE ALFORD STAPLETON JR.: BANKER, WORLD TRAVELER

CADE ALFORD STAPLETON JR., IM 65, OF FAIRHOPE, ALA., ON JULY 25. Born and raised in Decatur, Ga., Cade Alford Stapleton, Jr., graduated from Decatur High School in 1961 and pursued higher education at Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech became one of Stapleton’s lifelong passions. He often reminisced about his college days, filled with memorable experiences including working in the campus post office and cheering at football games. Majoring in Industrial Management, he balanced his academic pursuits with his commitment to serving his country as a member of the U.S. Army National Guard, where he worked as a military police officer during the Vietnam War era.

After his military service, Stapleton embarked on a banking career at

the Citizens and Southern National Bank in downtown Atlanta. Under the mentorship of bank president Mills B. Lane, a global world traveler, he developed a deep understanding of estate banking and a passion for global travel—a passion that would remain with him throughout his life.

Stapleton’s career led him to

Louisiana, where he worked at Guaranty Bank in Alexandria and later served as Louisiana’s First Assistant State Treasurer. After his public service, he transitioned into entrepreneurship, founding Voice Express, one of Louisiana’s earliest companies dedicated to enhancing business communications by connecting voicemail, fax, and ultimately email services.

Stapleton loved to travel with his wife, Babs, to Europe and enjoyed learning about the German culture. They took German and Italian classes at LSU to better experience their adventures abroad and enjoyed hosting their German foreign exchange student, Yvonne. Stapleton is survived by his wife, Babs, daughters Susan Hope (Jerry) and Betsie Norton (Josh), and son, Drew Stapleton (Kate).

Thomas M. “Tom” Davies, ME 65, of Simpsonville, S.C., on Aug. 1.

Gale R. “Ike” Ernsberger, AE 60, of Huntsville, Ala., on April 24.

George W. Faulkner Jr., IE 67, of Maryville, Tenn., on July 26.

Marion W. “Woody” Glenn Jr., IM 62, of Dalton, Ga., on June 7.

Maxwell E. Greene, IM 61, of Chesapeake, Va., on July 26.

Charles A. Greiner III, Cls 65, of Atlanta, on June 25.

Dennis W. Hand Jr., EE 64, of Calhoun, Ga., on July 28.

Clifford O. “Cliff” Hays Jr., CE 64, MS CE 67, of Gainesville, Fla., on July 30.

Coleman P. Judy Jr., IM 68, of Roswell, Ga., on Sept. 1.

Charles M. Keyserling, EE 65, of Canton, Ga., on July 10.

John W. Koger, ChE 63, MS Met 65, of Fort Worth, Texas, on Sept. 15.

Thomas D. McClure, EE 64, of San Antonio, Texas, on July 14.

Michael R. Meivers, MS AE 69, of Duluth, Ga., on July 30.

Scott A. Mikkelsen, ME 67, of Acworth, Ga., on Aug. 7.

William K. Partridge, EE 60, of Alpharetta, Ga., on Aug. 9.

Jack A. Pellicci, MS ME 68, of Norristown, Pa., on July 4.

Zenon Redkevitch, PhD ChE 64, of Springfield, Ill., on July 19.

James T. “Tom” Sinyard, ME 60, of Scottsdale, Ariz., on March 3.

Robert J. Smith Jr., IM 67, of Chester, S.C., on July 1.

Levy J. Spivey, ChE 61, of McDonough, Ga., on July 17.

LOUIS TERRELL SOVEY, JR.: TEXTILE EXECUTIVE

LOUIS TERRELL SOVEY, JR., IE 52, OF SPARTANBURG, S.C., ON SEPTEMBER 3. Louis Terrell Sovey, Jr., was born in Gainesville, Ga., and graduated from Hartwell High School in Hartwell, Ga., where he proudly earned the rank of Eagle Scout. He attended Georgia Tech on a Naval scholarship, was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, and earned a bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering. Sovey married his college sweetheart, Anne Michael Smith, on June 5, 1952, and they moved to Bayonne, N.J., where he attended the Navy’s Supply Officers School. During his time in the Navy,

which included service in the Mediterranean on a destroyer during the Korean War, they were stationed in Newport, R.I., and Boston, Mass. Upon discharge from the Navy, the family lived in Toledo, Ohio; Ashton, R.I.; and, Ridgewood, N.J., while he worked for Owens Corning Fiberglas. In 1959, they moved to Spartanburg, S.C., and he joined Deering Milliken Service Corporation. Following 18 years at Deering Milliken, Sovey was appointed president of M. Lowenstein Corporation and led a successful company turnaround.

In 1980, he established his own consulting firm, Management Advisory Services, where he founded Goldtex, Inc., and Precision Cutting Services, Inc. He later became chairman and CEO of Texfi Industries while also consulting for various non-textile companies during and after his tenure with those organizations.In addition to his professional achievements, Sovey was chairman of the Spartanburg Day School, director of the Spartanburg Boys Home, chairman of the Spartanburg Regional Foundation Board, member of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association Board of Trustees, and member of the Georgia Tech ISyE Advisory Board.

Robert L. “Bob” Stoy Jr., AE 64, MS AE 65, PhD AE 66, of Aliso Viejo, Calif., on Jan 18.

Gerald W. “Jerry” Swart, ME 62, of Little River, S.C., on Aug. 2.

Major H. Thompson Jr., ME 62, of Alpharetta, Ga., on July 9.

Barckley W. “Bart” Toole, ChE 66, of Covington, Ga., on July 10.

KENNETH “KEN” BRANNON BONIFAY: CIVIC LEADER & VARSITY ATHLETE

KENNETH “KEN” BRANNON BONIFAY, SR., IE 68, of Greensboro, Ga., on Oct. 15. Bonifay was a star athlete and All-State in football, basketball, and baseball player at Lanier High School. At Georgia Tech, he was a two-sport varsity athlete in baseball and football.

For 37 years, Bonifay worked at Eastman Chemical Company in Kingsport, Tenn., ending as vice president of International Human Resources. He was a member of the First Broad Street United Methodist Church, serving on the Staff Parish Committee and a member of the Greater Kingsport Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Kingsport, and The Society for Resource Management. He served on the Board of Directors for Mountain States Health Alliance Hospital, Eastman Credit Union, and Blue Ridge Conference on Leadership, receiving the Robert E. Eskew Legacy Award in 2016. He was president of the Kingsport Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow. In 2011, Bonifay was inducted into the Macon Sports Hall of Fame.

After retiring, Bonifay moved to Greensboro, where he lived for 17 years. He was a member of the First Methodist Church Greensboro Lake Oconee. His hobbies revolved around fitness and community service. He

ran over 10 marathons and was an avid golfer.

An active Georgia Tech alumnus, Bonifay gave back with both his time and treasure. He created the Bonifay Baseball Fund Endowment Scholarship for deserving high school baseball players.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Lyda Bonifay; daughter, Elizabeth Bonifay (Jon) McRee of Cornelius, N.C.; son, Kenneth Brannon (Lori) Bonifay, Jr. of Suwanee, Ga.; brothers, Robert Brannon (Lynn) Bonifay, Jr. of Sandersville, Ga., and Cameron Hubert (Leigh) Bonifay of Greensboro, Ga.; and six grandchildren.

George B. Tremmel III, IM 65, of Raleigh, N.C., on Aug. 8.

Henry J. “Joel” Trussell, Math 67, of Durham, N.C., on April 9.

Jimmy R. Wilson, IM 63, of Clarkston, Ga., on Aug. 7.

1970 s

John R. Black, Math 74, of Bluffton, S.C., on Sept. 12.

John J. Blee, MS MET 79, of Atlanta, on July 28.

James S. Blesse, MS IE 72, of Fort Monroe, Va., on July 11.

Dyches V. Boddiford, Phys 71, MS ICS 72, of Marietta, Ga., on Aug. 2.

David L. Fragala, BC 76, of Wetumpka, Ala., on July 30.

Steve B. Klein, EES 74, of Pelham, Ala., on June 30.

John A. Mann, CE 74, of Cordele, Ga., on July 20.

Wayne T. McCandless, AE 78, of Seabrook, Texas, on July 29.

Paul M. McDaniel, IM 74, of Swainsboro, Ga., on July 3.

Junius I. Pridgen, MS EE 71, of Williamsburg, Va., on Aug. 7.

Gary A. Reid, ME 77, of Austin, Texas, on July 29.

Carl J. Sworobowicz, MS EE 76, of Acton, Mass., on Aug. 3.

Thomas E. Thompson, IE 72, MS OR 73, of Camp Dennison, Ohio, on June 4.

1980

s

Charles W. “Wes” Burton Jr., Mgt 89, of Birmingham, Ala., on Feb. 22.

Tarlochan S. Ghuman, ME 81, of Savannah, Ga., on July 3.

Paul F. Hebert, IE 83, MS IE 84, of Tifton, Ga., on July 11.

Johnny L. Johnson, ME 82, of Columbia, S.C., on Aug. 7.

Michael R. McQuade, MS EE 75, PhD EE 80, of Banner Elk, N.C., on July 24.

Francisco Mosquera, MS Mgt 86, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on June 4.

Rebecca M. “Becca” Norris, MS HS 83, of Edina, Minn., on June 17.

Donald W. Shoemaker, EE 82, of Raleigh, N.C., on July 4.

Ernie R. “Robert” Silva, MS Mgt 86, of La Verne, Calif., on July 30.

Robert H. “Bob” Ward, MS CE 82, of Lawrenceville, Ga., on April 15.

William R. “Bill” Zimmerman, MS EE 85, of Waynesville, N.C., on June 27.

1990 s

Lawrence A. “Larry” Carastro, EE 95, MS EE 97, PhD ECE 02, of Miami, Fla., on March 31.

Wei Chen, MS ME 98, PhD ME 99, of Milton, Mass., on Aug. 21.

David C. Crossman, EE 96, of Woodstock, Ga., on June 4.

Ben A. Shackleford, MS HT 95, PhD HSTS 04, of Atlanta, on Sept. 5.

AND MENTOR

SHANNON MICHELLE DODD, CE 94, OF LAWRENCEVILLE, GA., ON MAY 23.

Shannon Michelle Dodd passed away on May 23, due to complications from pancreatic and gall bladder cancer. Born April 9, 1970, in Ringgold, Ga., she married Shawn Badinger in Atlanta in 1991. Dodd graduated from LakeviewFort Oglethorpe High School in Catoosa County, Ga., and received a degree in Civil Engineering from Georgia Tech.

She was employed at Gresham Smith in Midtown Atlanta as deputy program manager in the GDOT Traffic and Safety Operations Programs, where she enjoyed mentoring younger employees and watching them succeed. Dodd attended Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church

for many years and served in a variety of roles, including elder, usher, Sunday School teacher, and VBS director. She loved spending time with friends and family, cooking, traveling, watching movies and BBC mysteries, and

reading mystery novels. She also liked napping while pretending to watch Shawn and the kids play video games.

She is survived by her husband and their two children, Benjamin Shane Badinger and Eleanor Ann Badinger. In addition, Dodd is survived by her mother, Ronnie Elaine Gray (Jerry); half-brother Kevin Ryan Gray (Emily); aunts Jennie Lynn Anderson and Cathie Gayle Cox; sister-in-law Shannon Badinger Korta (Andy) and her children Caleb, Cadyn, Greyson, and Brogan; brothers-in-law Philip James Badinger, Jr., and Brian Alexander Badinger and his child Kyr; many cousins and other relations; and her mother-in-law Margaret Mary Badinger.

SHANNON MICHELLE DODD: CIVIL ENGINEER

2000 s

Clinton R. Ages, MS MOT 05, of Atlanta, on Sept. 5.

Benjamin C. “Ben” Eiford, Econ 01, of Richmond Hill, Ga., on July 27.

Marilyn L. Minus, TFE 02, PhD PTFE 08, of Berkley, Mass., on Aug. 6.

Brett W. Sturgis, CS 04, of Sandy Springs, Ga., on July 12.

2010 s

Ravi Sastry Ganti Mahapatruni, PhD CS 14, of Santa Clara, Calif., on Feb. 15.

Rush A. Leigh, BME 19, of Atlanta, on July 13.

SUE GLENN STATON, OF ATLANTA, ON SEPT. 20. A graduate of Columbus High School and Huntington College, Staton moved to Atlanta to teach at Sagamore Hills Elementary. In 1964, she married the love of her life, John Staton, IM 60, after meeting on a blind date. A devoted partner, Staton supported John throughout his career at King & Spalding, warmly welcoming new families into their community. She also supported John’s love and devotion to Georgia Tech. One of her biggest joys was being named a Georgia Tech Honorary Alumna.

An incredible gardener, Staton

had a deep passion for plants and flowers, creating beautiful planters and sharing her extensive knowledge with others. She was a longtime member of the Northwood Garden Club. Staton also volunteered at Egleston Children’s Hospital. She enjoyed her involvement with A Million Matters group and her Georgia Tech group, the Bees. She was a lover of information and read everything she could get her hands on. She had a wealth of knowledge about any and all subjects. She made countless memories with her grandchildren through trips to Jalisco’s, BaskinRobbins, cheering at sporting events, and attending every special occasion. Staton was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, John C. Staton, Jr. She is survived by her sister, Carolyn Cowles; her two children, John C. Staton, III (Maggie) and Wendy Staton Burge (Bill); and her six cherished grandchildren, John C. Staton, IV, Hailey Staton, Caki Staton, Sadie Burge, Hunter Burge, and Holt Burge. She also leaves behind three nephews.

Zachary M. “Zack” Owen, AE 17, of Southern Shores, N.C., on Aug. 4.

Akash R. Patil, BME 16, of Baltimore, Md., on Aug. 4.

2020 s

Matthew J. Mackowski, MSA 23, of Pittsburgh, Pa., on Aug. 2.

FRIENDS

Stephen D. Antolovich, of Moscow, Ind., on July 25.

John F. Cassidy Jr., of Cullowhee, N.C., on Oct. 25, 2021.

Randall S. Couch, of Lilburn, Ga., on July 5.

Jeanette Graham, of Dallas, Ga., on March 17.

James A. May, of Jonesboro, Ga., on July 11.

John D. Muzzy, of Atlanta, on July 20.

Roosevelt Nelson, of Greenville, S.C., on Feb. 1, 2023.

Arnold E. “Arn” Rubinoff, of Atlanta, on Aug. 12.

Norman J. Sobel, of Franklin, Tenn., on Feb. 23.

Sean Robert Glennon Stargel, of Atlanta, on Sept. 28.

SUE GLENN STATON: HONORARY ALUMNA

WILLIAM “BILL” B. CUTTS II: TRIPLE JACKET & TECH LEADER

WILLIAM “BILL” BROYLES CUTTS II, PHYS 85, MS APHYS 88, MS EE 90, OF AVONDALE ESTATES, GA., ON OCT. 14. Cutts was a widely respected leader with influential roles in technology and strategic partnerships throughout his career. While earning his Tech degrees, he spent several years with his fraternity Lambda Chi Alpha making lifelong friends. He loved football games, which he attended with his fraternity brothers every fall. A proud Yellow Jacket, Cutts even started George P. Burdell’s account on LinkedIn in 2005 and served as its sole contributor until his death.

Cutts had a wide catalog of musical knowledge that he loved to share with

his friends, family, and anyone who passed his yellow Jeep. He enjoyed all genres of music from opera to funk to progressive rock.

Cutts’ career began as a senior scientist at Cross Systems, followed by his time at Motorola, where he served as a systems engineer and later a role as their regional sales manager. He continued similar positions at Microware, Wind River, and Lineo, in addition to being a sales specialist at Sun Microsystems. He eventually returned to Tech, to work at the Georgia Tech Research Institute as their director of

Strategic Partners, later moving to the Office of Corporate Engagement, where he worked as a senior director.

One of the only things Cutts loved more than Tech was his family, as they were his greatest joy. After a 9-year courtship, he and his wife, Lou, were married on Sept. 26, 1998. He was a devoted father to his two daughters Kathleen “Katie” and Corinne “Coco,” whom he loved and cherished. Cutts is survived by his wife, Lou Callaway; daughters Katie and Coco Cutts; and his parents, Pat and Bill Cutts.

JOHN H. WEITNAUER JR: DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS

JOHN H. WEITNAUER JR., IE 49, OF ATLANTA, ON OCT. 13. Weitnauer’s education was interrupted by his service in the Army Air Force from 1944 to 1946, but after the war he returned to Georgia Tech to finish his degree. In 1948, he met Margaret “Peggy” Penn, and they were married on Dec. 30, 1950. They raised their four children, Kit, Penn, David, and Meg, in Decatur, Georgia.

Georgia Tech was always a special place for Weitnauer. He made many friends while a student and as a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, and later through his deep involvement as an alumnus. He gave back to Tech over many years—he served on the Presidential Search Committee for G. Wayne Clough and on the Advisory Board of the School of Industrial Engineering, and he was the vice chair of the Georgia Tech Centennial Campaign. He received the Joseph Mayo Pettit Distinguished

Service Award and was inducted into Tech’s Engineering Hall of Fame. He was active in the Georgia Tech Foundation, including serving as a trustee and as president from 1993 to 1995.

In 2021, he funded a chair at the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering. Before that he had established the John H. Weitnauer Jr. Technology Transfer Chair and the GRA Eminent Scholar position in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Weitnauer began his career at Rich’s in 1956. In 1973, he was made president of Richway and executive vice president of Rich’s. In 1980, when Richway became a separate division of Federated Department Stores, he became Richway’s chairman and CEO. He retired from Richway in 1986. In 1998, he became the chairman, CEO, and president of John Harland Company, and in 1999

served as its chairman.

From 1980 to 1986, he was a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and also served as its deputy chairman and chairman from 1983 to 1986. He served as a director of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority from 1977 to 1980. His extensive community service included leadership positions with the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, the Kiwanis Club of Atlanta, the Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter of the American Red Cross, and the Salvation Army.

After Peggy’s death, Weitnauer met June Hunter, whom he married in 2000. June passed away in 2016. He is survived by his son, Kit (Cath); his daughter, Penn (Jim); his son, David (Nancy); his daughter, Meg (Bill); his 10 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and his two stepchildren, June’s son, Steve, and her daughter, Chris.

CLEAN, OLD-FASHIONED HATE

THE GREAT INTRASTATE FOOTBALL RIVALRY BETWEEN GEORGIA TECH AND “THAT OTHER SCHOOL” IS ALSO THE SEED THAT SPROUTED SEVERAL FAVORITE FAN TRADITIONS.

BY JENNIFER HERSEIM

WHAT’S THE GOOD WORD?

The response is engrained in every Yellow Jacket’s psyche.

Putting football rivalries aside, “What’s the Good Word?” is also a test of identity. A quick call and response that separates the unknowing masses from Georgia Tech fans. And the answer is a code that unlocks instant camaraderie and sends a clear message to the asker: You and I are the same. We’re Yellow Jackets.

TO HELL WITH GEORGIA

Many cherished Tech traditions spring from the long-held rivalry between Tech and the University of Georgia, which began the very first time these two teams played each other in 1893. Today, the teams meet every November to carry on that rivalry, which author Bill Cromartie coined “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate.”

THE ORIGIN—HATE FROM THE START

The Georgia School of Technology— as Tech was known then—drew first blood with a 28-6 victory the first time they played the University of Georgia. Since neither team had official mascots then, the papers called them the “The Athens” vs. “The Techs.” Before the first whistle on Nov. 4, 1893, each side had accused the other of bringing in ringers for the game. The claims of unfairness persisted throughout the game. Tech took an early lead with an 18-0 score in the first half. During the second half, the mood on the other side plummeted even further, and the University of Georgia fans began throwing rocks and mud to protest the umpire’s calls. The rivalry was forged from the start and has continued strong for over a century.

RAMBLIN’ WRECKS

The 1893 game might have also been the start of the nickname “Ramblin’ Wrecks.” One theory behind the name is that it started following the game when Tech’s football team headed back to Atlanta on a train that collided with a freight train. None of the passengers were seriously injured in the collision, but some consider this the reason for the Ramblin’ Wrecks from Georgia Tech.

TO HELL WITH GEORGIA!

The feud between Tech and UGA escalated in 1908, leading to the game that year being canceled. That year, an early version of the fight song appeared for the first time in print in Tech’s yearbook, the Blue Print. The song was “sung only under the bleachers” and written under the title “What Causes Whitlock to Blush,” which was a reference to Tech’s football manager.

“To Hell With Georgia” was a line in the first arrangement of the fight song written in 1910 by Mike Greenblatt, Tech’s first official band leader, and then re-arranged in 1914 by Frank Roman. The lyric goes, “If I had a son, sir, I tell you what he’d do. He would yell to hell with Georgia like his daddy used to do.”

While all Yellow Jackets know the phrase “To Hell With Georgia,” some choose to add further insult by lowercasing only the “g” in Georgia—THWg!

The 1893 Tech football team walloped the “The Athens” the first time the two teams played.

An outbuilding in 1894 shows the early rivalry on full display.

131-YEAR RIVALRY

Although the 1908 game was canceled, relations between Tech and Georgia were rumored to have improved the following year. On Oct. 28, 1909, The Atlanta Constitution declared any “hard feelings” between the two schools “a thing of the past,” owing to the fact that the Tech band agreed to play for the Georgia football team during their game against Alabama at Ponce de Leon Park in Atlanta. Little did the paper know that the peace would be short-lived and the rivalry would carry on for more than a century. Less than a month after the article was published, Tech’s football team faced Georgia, with Tech prevailing 12-6.

Shh! A Yellow Jacket and a Dawg walk into a bar… We aren’t asking, but if a few pranksters know a clean, old-fashioned joke involving “that other school,” consider dropping us a note: Alumni Magazine

190 North Ave. NW Atlanta, GA 30313

NO RED ZONE

“Up With the White and Gold” is Georgia Tech’s second fight song, and it also takes a dig at the University of Georgia with lyrics, such as “Drop a battle axe on georgia’s head.” The song celebrates Tech’s school colors, gold and white, while stomping on the University of Georgia’s red and black. The first two lines —“Up with the white and gold! Down with the red and black!”—also reinforce a fashion rule that’s become tradition for Tech fans: No red clothing.

BIRTH OF A PRANKSTER

Tech’s most famous student was born out of the intrastate rivalry. When Ed Smith, CerE 1927, received two cards to register at Tech, he decided to play a prank and enroll a fictional student named George P. Burdell. Smith initially wanted to use the name of his high school principal, George P. Butler, who at the time was a strong UGA fan and served as captain of the UGA team that played Tech in 1893. At the last minute, Smith got cold feet and changed Butler to Burdell, the maiden name of his friend’s mother. George P. Burdell immediately took up the good cause, becoming the mischievous mind behind several shenanigans and pranks played against UGA over the years.

CLEAN, NEW-FASHIONED COLLABORATION

While Tech and UGA remain archrivals, the two schools know when to put grievances aside to work for the good of all Georgians.

Severe storms like Hurricane Helene reveal the need for accurate, detailed weather data.

Installed recently at Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC), an X-band weather radar purchased two years ago by Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia (UGA) is now providing data for a section of north Georgia where information on severe storms such as tornadoes can be limited by terrain. The radar will also be used for research into weather and severe storms and by students at the three institutions for learning about everything from physics and engineering to weather, rainfall, and the effects of changing climate on the migration patterns of birds and insects. The instrument will be one of just a handful of weather radars operated by universities in the United States.

For Tech, the radar will support the work of the Severe Storms Research Center (SSRC), a state-funded initiative that serves as a focal point for severe storms research in the state. The radar will also support research and education, including courses on weather radar systems and studies of lightning being done in Tech’s School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

“The new radar will help fill some low-level gaps in weather radar coverage in north Georgia and give

higher-resolution data for the Georgia Gwinnett campus, University of Georgia campus, Georgia Tech campus, and areas in between,” says John Trostel, director of the SSRC. “This is an area where both UGA and Georgia Tech have interests because it goes from urban to suburban, then back to urban. We might see some very interesting weather phenomena going on in those transition areas.”

The radar will provide a new data source for hyperlocal weather data for the Athens community as well as residents of eastern and northeastern Georgia. The system will also provide a real-time component for the mesoscale meteorology course taught at UGA.

The National Weather Service will use the radar to obtain information about low-altitude weather activity that can’t be seen as well from other sources, such as the NEXRAD radar based in Peachtree City and the Terminal Doppler Weather Radar at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Trostel adds.

“We can see things at higher resolution, and we have complete control over how we manipulate the radar beam to look at things,” Trostel says. “The radar is much less expensive to purchase and operate than other weather radars, which makes it a budget-friendly tool for university research.” JOHN TOON

RAMONA JONES: PIONEERING A PATH FOR BLACK WOMEN AT TECH

JONES GRADUATED IN 1975 THROUGH THE DUAL DEGREE PROGRAM BETWEEN SPELMAN COLLEGE AND GEORGIA TECH.

EEVEN BEFORE SHE WAS one of the first African American women to graduate from Georgia Tech, Ramona Jones, EE 75, knew the significance of having the courage to do something first. Growing up in Atlanta, she was surrounded by trailblazers. Hamilton Holmes, one of the rst African Americans to attend the University of Georgia, went to her church. And Ralph Long and Ford Greene, who were among the rst African Americans to enroll at Georgia Tech, were friends with Jones’ older brother. While their achievements later inspired her to participate in Tech’s dual degree program with Spelman College, it was her family that nurtured her love for science and math. Jones’ mother bought her Golden Nature Guides, a collection of books about everything from animals and insects to rocks, and her brother handed down his biology and chemistry

BY KELLEY FREUND

sets, which became her prized possessions.

When it came time for Jones to attend college in the fall of 1970, Spelman was a natural fit. Her aunt and older sister were Spelman graduates, and Jones was well aware of the school’s academic excellence. She considered following in the footsteps of her maternal grandfather and becoming a doctor, but during orientation week, she learned more about the dual degree program.

“ e focus was to diversify the eld of engineering by removing some of the barriers that African American women had faced in the past and provide them with opportunities in the field,” Jones says. “I was advised that I would be playing a role in helping to change the face of engineering while increasing the number of women of color in the engineering workforce.”

She accepted the challenge, joining the second class in the program’s history and studying physics at Spelman

and electrical engineering at Georgia Tech. But the journey was not easy. Even before Jones began classes at Tech, she had to juggle being a young wife who was pregnant with her rst child. She recalls trying to finish a paper for a Spelman class when it was time to go to the hospital.

“I was doing the bibliography, and my mother was there telling me it was time, but I kept saying, ‘I have to nish this.’ I got to the last two pages, and then it was time to go.”

When Jones began her classes at

Jones with Tech Professor Emeritus Augustine Esogbue.

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Tech, there were no other African American women in her classes.

“A part of being the rst to do something is that it can be a lonely thing,” she says. “This was a new experience for me, as well as the school; it was unknown territory. There were a few professors who gave you the feeling they didn’t think you should be there. But on the whole, the majority of the teachers were supportive, and I received a lot of encouragement from my advisors at both Spelman and Georgia Tech, which helped keep me motivated and focused.”

Jones spent several years working

with the SECME (Southeastern Consortium for Minorities in Engineering) program at Tech to introduce engineering as a career option to minority students. A er giving birth to her second child, Jones went on to work in the telecommunications sector. She says her Tech education provided a strong foundation.

“Engineering teaches and trains you how to analyze and problemsolve,” Jones says. “And Georgia Tech provided me with a strong background in technology. Even as technology evolved, I still had that foundation to help me understand it as it developed,

and I was able to apply it to customers’ needs and come up with solutions.”

One of the things that intrigued Jones most about the dual degree program was doing something first, and that historic rst inspired her own family: Her younger brother followed in her footsteps, completing a dual degree program between Morehouse College and Georgia Tech.

“I think by participating in this program, I got the best of both worlds: the rich tradition and academic excellence of an HBCU and the strong technical education of Georgia Tech,” Jones says.

WHAT’S THE GOOD (CROSS)WORD?

BY LINDSAY VAUGHN

2. Hip pocket fund founder

3. Fourteen alumni share this out-of-this-world profession

4. Four walls and living

6. A drink and a dance

9. Home to the tallest freestanding spiral staircase in North America

12. Identity revealed at graduation

13. Gold medal street name (spelled differently)

16. A refreshment relic with the name of a younger decedent

18. Before the dawn of calculators

20. “Man’s best friend” to all Yellow Jackets

23. Zeppelin has the stairway to heaven; GT has the walkway to ______

25. Now mute, 80-foot-tall Italianinspired structure

26. During a whirlwind season, they gained the nickname the Golden _________

28. Buzz and Tech ______

29. This building has a point but no lead

30. The Bobby who beat the Cornhuskers

32. The answer to all studying woes

Check Instagram @gtalumni for the answers and tell us what stumped you.

Proudly brandishing the T on the cover of Look

The sound of game day

The good word

17. Erroneous word inclusion that draws universal Yellow Jacket ire

19. The last name of a “friend” of William Edgar “Ed” Smith 21. A long-lost twin to a campus icon 22. Not-so-secret society 24. 1996 quadrennial claim to fame

26. What once was a ______ school is now a global leader 27. Aquatic test of survival

A ratio and a route

Blacklisted hue

Preferred whiskey color

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