Student Honors and Achievements

2025 Student Honors Celebration: Recognizing Excellence in ISyE

dgivens8 — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:55:41 +0000

2025 Student Honors Celebration: Recognizing Excellence in ISyE dgivens8 Mon, 07/28/2025 - 10:55

The H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISyE) is proud to recognize and celebrate exceptional students who were honored at the annual Student Honors Celebration, held on Thursday, April 24.

This event served as a meaningful recognition of students who demonstrated outstanding academic performance, leadership, and service throughout the year.

Alpha Pi Mu Academic Excellence Award

Christopher Liding
Christopher Liding was awarded the Alpha Pi Mu Academic Excellence Award in recognition of his exemplary academic record, research excellence, and active engagement in scholarly activities. His name will be added to the Alpha Pi Mu perpetual plaque displayed in the ISyE main office.

Evelyn Pennington Outstanding Service Award

Aron Cheng
Aron Cheng received the Evelyn Pennington Outstanding Service Award for his exceptional contributions to the ISyE community. His commitment to service and support of student initiatives, while maintaining academic excellence, exemplifies the values of this honor.

IISE Excellence in Leadership Award

Lucia Touma
Lucia Touma was recognized with the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) Excellence in Leadership Award for her impactful leadership within ISyE student organizations. Her efforts have significantly enhanced student engagement and strengthened the sense of community within the program.

📸 View photos on Flickr.

The School congratulates all honorees for their dedication, leadership, and contributions to the ISyE community. To view the full list of honorees, click this link.

Summary sentence

As the academic year nears its end, a season of celebration begins. Three ISyE students were recognized for excellence this year at the annual Student Honors Celebration.

Summary

As the academic year nears its end, a season of celebration begins. Several students were recognized for excellence this year at the annual Student Honors Celebration.

Dateline

Thu, 05/15/2025 - 12:00

Contact

Kristen Bailey, Institute Communications

Categories

Student Honors and Achievements

Mercury ID

682636

Source updated

Tue, 06/03/2025 - 13:53

Georgia Tech Celebrates 2025 Ph.D. Graduates in Cybersecurity and Privacy

dgivens8 — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:47:40 +0000

Georgia Tech Celebrates 2025 Ph.D. Graduates in Cybersecurity and Privacy dgivens8 Mon, 07/28/2025 - 10:47

The School of Cybersecurity and Privacy at Georgia Tech is proud to recognize the accomplishments of five doctoral students who finished their doctoral programs in Spring 2025. These scholars have advanced critical research in software security, cryptography, and privacy, collectively publishing 34 papers, most of which appear in top-tier venues.

Ammar Askar developed new tools for software security in multi-language systems, including a concolic execution engine powered by large language models. He highlighted DEFCON 2021, which he attended with the Systems Software and Security Lab (SSLab), as a favorite memory.

Zhengxian He persevered through the pandemic to lead a major project with an industry partner, achieving strong research outcomes. He will be joining Amazon and fondly remembers watching sunsets from the CODA building.

Stanislav Peceny focused on secure multiparty computation (MPC), designing high-performance cryptographic protocols that improve efficiency by up to 1000x. He’s known for his creativity in both research and life, naming avocado trees after famous mathematicians and enjoying research discussions on the CODA rooftop.

Qinge Xie impressed faculty with her adaptability across multiple domains. Her advisor praised her independence and technical range, noting her ability to pivot seamlessly between complex research challenges.

Yibin Yang contributed to the advancement of zero-knowledge proofs and MPC, building toolchains that are faster and more usable than existing systems. His work earned a Distinguished Paper Award at ACM CCS 2023, and he also served as an RSAC Security Scholar. Yang enjoyed teaching and engaging with younger students, especially through events like Math Kangaroo.

Faculty mentors included Regents’ Entrepreneur Mustaque Ahamad, Professors Taesoo Kim and Vladimir Kolesnikov, and Assistant Professor Frank Li, who played vital roles in guiding the graduates’ research journeys.

Learn more about the graduates and their mentors on the 2025 Ph.D. graduate microsite.

Subtitle

Summary sentence

Summary

Five Ph.D. students from Georgia Tech’s School of Cybersecurity and Privacy graduated in Spring 2025, contributing significant research in software security, cryptography, and privacy with 34 published papers. Highlights include Ammar Askar’s concolic execution tools, Zhengxian He’s industry collaboration, Stanislav Peceny’s advances in multiparty computation, Qinge Xie’s adaptability across domains, and Yibin Yang’s award-winning work on zero-knowledge proofs. Faculty mentors played key roles in supporting their success.

Dateline

Wed, 05/14/2025 - 12:00

jpopham3@gatech.edu

Contact

JP Popham, Communications Officer II

College of Computing | School of Cybersecurity and Privacy

Keywords

students

graduates

PhD

PhD Students

Research

go-research

go-researchnews

Daily Digest

website

academic excellence

Categories

Alumni

Community

Computer Science/Information Technology and Security

Research

Student Honors and Achievements

Student Research

Mercury ID

682394

Source updated

Mon, 07/28/2025 - 10:46

Georgia Tech Students Help Illuminate Coffee County’s History

dgivens8 — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 21:07:46 +0000

Georgia Tech Students Help Illuminate Coffee County’s History dgivens8 Fri, 07/11/2025 - 17:07

Georgia Tech students played a pivotal role in the award-winning Coffee County Memory Project, an oral history initiative that preserves the stories of school desegregation in rural Georgia.

Launched in 2016, the project was supported by the Institute’s Sustainable Communities Summer Internship Program, run by the Center for Serve-Learn-Sustain (now the Center for Sustainable Communities Research and Education), in which students work full time with community partners across Atlanta and Georgia.

Beginning in 2017, trusted advisers contributed to the success of this work, including Vernon E. Jordan Jr., Christopher Lawton, Ann McCleary and G. Wayne Clough. Clough, who served as Georgia Tech’s president from 1994 to 2008, long advocated for public service, community-engaged research, and interdisciplinary teaching and learning.

In 2019, Georgia Tech students and participating interns Brice Minix and Nabil Patel combed through decades of local newspapers, digitized school board records, and conducted interviews with community members who lived in Coffee County during desegregation. In 2020, Kara Vaughan Adams and Bennett Bush transcribed countless interviews. Samina Patel’s contributions in 2020 and 2021 included graphic and web design.

All their work laid the foundation for two virtual museum exhibits: emergingVOICES of Coffee County and Overcoming Segregation: A Journey Through Coffee County’s Forgotten Stories. The latter received the 2023 Award of Excellence from the American Association of State and Local History. Further recognition came this year when the project earned the 2025 Georgia Association of Museums’ Special Project Award for the PLAYBACK & FASTFORWARD seminar series.

T. Cat Ford, Project Director said, “The Serve-Learn-Sustain interns we partnered with from Georgia Tech were all graduates of Coffee High School. Their efforts turbo-charged our work—not only because they worked tirelessly but also because, as they preserved their own history, they offered valuable insights into their lived experience of this legacy.

Click here to learn more about SCoRE’s Sustainable Communities Internship Program.

Summary sentence

Georgia Tech students received the 2023 Award of Excellence from the American Association of State and Local History for the Coffee County Memory Project

Summary

Georgia Tech students played a pivotal role in the award-winning Coffee County Memory Project, an oral history initiative that preserves the stories of school desegregation in rural Georgia. Launched in 2016, the project was supported by the Institute’s Sustainable Communities Summer Internship Program, run by the Center for Serve-Learn-Sustain (now the Center for Sustainable Communities Research and Education), in which students work full time with community partners across Atlanta and Georgia.

Dateline

Fri, 07/11/2025 - 12:00

jennifer.martin@research.gatech.edu

Contact

Jennifer Martin, Assistant Director of Research Communications Services

Associated importer

Keywords

go-bbiss

go-researchnews

Categories

State Impact

Student Honors and Achievements

Student Research

Mercury ID

683112

Source updated

Fri, 07/11/2025 - 17:07

When Talent Meets Opportunity: Celebrating the Impacts of Scholarships at Tech

dgivens8 — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 19:38:38 +0000

When Talent Meets Opportunity: Celebrating the Impacts of Scholarships at Tech dgivens8 Mon, 06/16/2025 - 15:38

A hum of anticipation filled McCamish Pavilion as more than 150 attendees turned their attention to the arena floor, not for a basketball game, but to hear about the impact of scholarships at Georgia Tech. On April 5, Georgia Tech hosted the second annual Scholarship Brunch, an event that brings scholarship recipients together with their benefactors to celebrate the potential unleashed when talent meets opportunity. Rick Clark, Georgia Tech’s executive director of Strategic Student Success, served as master of ceremonies, and he opened by highlighting why scholarship assistance is so vital to attracting top talent from Georgia and beyond. “One thing we’ve found to be clear is that admissions without affordability is not access,” he said.

Clark was followed by Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera, who recounted how a scholarship made it possible for him, “a middleclass kid from Madrid, Spain,” to come to Georgia Tech, earn his doctorate, and later return to serve as president. Like Clark, he underscored the urgency of making Tech affordable for top talent. “If we want to have the very best, smartest, kindest, most dedicated people” working to solve the world’s most pressing challenges, “we have to find them when they’re young and invest in them.”

Next, three current scholarship recipients and an alumna donor spoke. Fourth-year computer engineering student and Virginia native Elisa Miller recalled how scholarship support led her to Georgia Tech and how her education has positioned her for future success. While at Tech, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) awarded Miller a Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation Scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in cybersecurity, with a DOD job awaiting her upon graduation. She offered advice to current and future Tech students, urging them to “seize every opportunity you are given to tackle every challenge you face.”

JahWill Fannings, a fourth-year business administration student from West Point, Georgia, described how his scholarship validated a bet he placed on himself in high school: He would apply only to Georgia Tech, and if admitted, he would only attend if he could do so without incurring debt. Thanks to a G. Wayne Clough Tech Promise Scholarship, that bet paid off. Freed from financial burdens, Fannings was able to launch his second company, Flowst8, an AI-powered workflow tool for musicians and other creatives. He credits the network of students, mentors, and industry leaders he was able to connect with as key to his upward trajectory. “Georgia Tech is more than a school,” he said. “It’s an ecosystem designed to help us all build toward success.”

Tampa, Florida, native Sofia Mesa, a first-year civil engineering student and recipient of the Godbold Family Foundation Scholarship, spoke of her desire to attend the Institute from a young age. When family road trips took her family through Atlanta, she would plead with her parents to stop and visit Tech Tower and the Kessler Campanile. What most excites her about the future, Mesa said, is what a Georgia Tech diploma signifies. “It’s more than just a piece of paper. It’s a statement that says, ‘I endured, I grew, and bring it on, because I am ready for whatever you can throw at me.’”

Closing out the program was Ronda Sides, IE 1983, who, along with her husband Alan Sides, ME 1983, endowed her first scholarship in 1999. Sides described her family’s return to Georgia after 18 years abroad. Witnessing firsthand the transformation the Institute had undergone inspired them to give back. Fittingly, after hearing from students about what they gain from scholarships, Sides related the impact of giving on donors. “Students, I know how good it feels when you look into your accounts and you see the money that has flowed in,” she said. “We as donors look into our accounts, and we see the money that flowed out and was sent to you — and it’s an exponentially better feeling.”

Plans are underway for next year’s Scholarship Brunch, which will once again celebrate remarkable talent and extraordinary generosity. Business administration student JahWill Fannings 16 “Georgia Tech is more than a school. It’s an ecosystem designed to help us all build toward su

Summary sentence

On April 5, Georgia Tech hosted the second annual Scholarship Brunch, an event that brings scholarship recipients together with their benefactors to celebrate the potential unleashed when talent meets opportunity.

Summary

Dateline

Mon, 06/16/2025 - 12:00

justin.horton@dev.gatech.edu

Contact

Justin Horton

Associated importer

Keywords

Scholarships

Georgia Tech scholarships

alumni philanthropy

billionaire philanthropy

donate

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Brunch

McCamish

development

Categories

Alumni

Business

Campaign Stories

Computer Science/Information Technology and Security

Engineering

Institute and Campus

Institute Leadership

Special Events and Guest Speakers

Student Honors and Achievements

Mercury ID

682800

Source updated

Mon, 06/16/2025 - 15:38

ISyE Honors Top Graduate and Undergraduate Students

dgivens8 — Fri, 23 May 2025 16:24:41 +0000

ISyE Honors Top Graduate and Undergraduate Students dgivens8 Fri, 05/23/2025 - 12:24

This month, students at the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISyE) were presented awards for their exceptional efforts and contributions within the program and community.

Below are the awardees:

Graduate Awards

The program bestows multiple awards and fellowships to graduate students who have been recommended for quality and positive performance within the last year.

Atlanta Air Cargo Association PhD Student Fellowship for Research Excellence
1. Joseph Boone
Shabbir Ahmed PhD Student Fellowship for Research Excellence
1. Neelkamal Bhuyan & Jingye Xu
Thos and Claire Muller PhD Student Fellowship for Research Excellence
1. Yuming Sun
Anderson-Interface PhD Student Fellowship for Research Excellence
1. Kevin Wu
Jerry and Harriett Thuesen PhD Student Fellowship for Research Excellence
1. Diptangshu Sen
Robert Goodell Brown PhD Student Fellowship for Research Excellence
1. Mengqi Lou
Ed Iacobucci PhD Student Fellowship for Research Excellence
1. Yuhao Wang
Margaret and Stephen Kendrick PhD Student Fellowship for Research Excellence
1. Alexander Bukharin
Angela P. and Reed J. Baker PhD Student Fellowship for Research Excellence
1. Young In Kim
ISyE Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor of the Year Award
1. Meen-Sung Kim
The Philip J. and Delores A. Scott Graduate Student Health and Wellness Award
1. Sixtine Guerin
2. Himadri Pandey
3. Zihan Zhang
4. Tanuj Deshmukh
5. Thomas Cabe
6. Sharay Gao
Alice & John Jarvis Best Paper Award - Winner
1. Tianjiao Li
Alice & John Jarvis Best Paper Award - Honorable Mention
1. Shaan Ul Haque
Alice & John Jarvis Best Paper Award - Honorable Mention
1. Neelkamal Bhuyan

Undergraduate Awards

The undergraduate awards offer a number of scholarships and recognition to students each year, based on recommendations, past performance and the student's current resume. To learn more about each award, read here.

Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers Excellence in Leadership Award
1. Lucia Touma
The Evelyn Pennington Outstanding Service Award
1. Aron Cheng
The Evelyn Pennington Student Health and Wellness Award
1. Shirley Sharp
2. Piya Khakharia
3. Caroline Steiger
4. Brennan Haynes
5. Mohamad El Abou Khoudoud
6. Shalini Mehra
ISyE Alpha Pi Mu Academic Excellence Award
1. ZhiXian (Chris) Liding
Kurt Salmon & Associates Scholarship in Industrial and Systems Engineering
1. Anna Park, Noreen Ali, Sristi Karamchandani
KS2 Technologies, Inc. Entrepreneurship Award
1. Guy Mastrion
KS2 Technologies, Inc. Innovative Technology Award
1. Sahana Yerneni
Nicholas & Aurora Suarez Condezo International Award
1. Mariana Anargyrou
Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers Outstanding Senior Award
1. Sam Deckbar
Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers Outstanding Freshman Award
1. Mariana Anargyrou
Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers Rising Star Award
1. Aron Cheng
COE Honors Day Award
1. Rohin Shah

Summary sentence

Students in the ISyE received awards this month for their contributions to the program and community.

Summary

This month, the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISyE) honored students with awards for their exceptional contributions. Graduate students received multiple awards and fellowships for their quality and positive performance over the past year.

Dateline

Tue, 04/15/2025 - 12:00

Contact

Camille Carpenter, Communications Manager

Associated importer

Categories

Student Honors and Achievements

Mercury ID

682522

Source updated

Fri, 05/23/2025 - 12:24

Army Vet Guides Student Team in Delivering Digital Solution for Military Operations

dgivens8 — Tue, 20 May 2025 18:04:40 +0000

Army Vet Guides Student Team in Delivering Digital Solution for Military Operations dgivens8 Tue, 05/20/2025 - 14:04

A team of Computing students has developed a digital intake system for the U.S. Army, which is set to be implemented as early as next month, transforming a time-consuming, paper-based process into an efficient, modern platform.

The project was part of Computer Science Junior Design Capstone Expo, where students collaborate in teams to build functional software solutions for real-world clients. For team members Jonathan Collins, Joel Cave, Srithan Nalluri, Mark Podrazhansky, and Caden Virant, that client was the U.S. Army. School of Computing Instruction Lecturer Aibek Musaev led their Junior Design section.

“The Army spends a significant amount of time maintaining, documenting, and repairing equipment that allows them to complete their mission,” said Collins, a U.S. Army veteran. “Our system essentially took the current maintenance process and converted it from an entirely paper-based process to a completely digital one.”

The team built a streamlined web application utilizing a set of modern tools that enhance data management, create a user-friendly interface, and ensure seamless operations. The new system improves accountability and visibility across Army maintenance operations by digitizing the intake and tracking processes. It eliminates the risk of lost paperwork and makes it easier for personnel to stay updated on equipment status and repair needs.

2nd Lt. Noah Parsons, the Army’s point of contact for the project, was impressed with both the product and the team’s professionalism.

“Georgia Tech students have completed the intake system to perfection,” Parsons said. “They performed exceptionally and professionally. I cannot stress how great of a job they have done for their class and for the Army as well. Our company intends to start using the intake system as early as next month.”

For Collins, who served four years in the Army before enrolling at Georgia Tech, the experience was meaningful.

“A large part of my role in the Army involved the very maintenance processes we’ve been working to improve,” he said. “I can’t even count how many hours my coworkers and I spent with the current system. Now, being able to use this new chapter of my life to make meaningful improvements feels incredibly rewarding.”

Collins also took the lead in communicating with the military client, helping the team navigate strict requirements and non-negotiable specifications.

With this system, the Army decided what they wanted, and the team was tasked with delivering exactly that with no variation.

The project taught the team critical lessons about ownership, communication, and collaboration under pressure.

“Communication with the client is the absolute most important thing,” Collins said. “You could have the best programmers in the world, but it won’t matter if you can’t deliver the product the client wants. Meeting often and getting consistent feedback was key.”

The Army plans to begin using the system as early as June, bringing the students’ work full circle and marking a meaningful contribution to real-world military operations.

Summary sentence

Summary

Dateline

Tue, 05/20/2025 - 12:00

emily.smith@cc.gatech.edu

Associated importer

Keywords

College of Computing

school of computing instruction

military

Military Technology

CS Junior Design Capstone

cs junior design capstone expo

army

go-researchnews

Categories

Military Technology

Student and Faculty

Student Honors and Achievements

Mercury ID

682471

Source updated

Tue, 05/20/2025 - 14:04

From the ‘Technique’ to the ‘Wall Street Journal’

admin — Wed, 14 May 2025 17:02:41 +0000

From the ‘Technique’ to the ‘Wall Street Journal’ admin Wed, 05/14/2025 - 13:02

When Cole Murphy posted his last film blog for his high school newspaper, he assumed it would be his final foray into media as he prepared to study business at Georgia Tech.

The Alpharetta, Georgia, native never expected that, after graduating from the Institute, he would be moving to New York City to work for the Wall Street Journal as one of three recipients of the Joseph Rago Memorial Fellowship for Excellence in Journalism.

Murphy was intent on pursuing business strategy and finance opportunities, completing internships at VIVA Finance, an Atlanta startup, and The Home Depot during his first two years at Tech. Looking for a creative outlet and a break from his coursework, he published an op-ed in the Technique, Georgia Tech's student-run newspaper, and rediscovered a desire to write.

He became a regular in the paper's opinion section before becoming its entertainment editor and eventually the editor-in-chief after a summer internship in Washington, D.C. It was during his time in the nation's capital that Murphy says he was able to get a real-world education in journalism. He landed a job with The Dispatch as a reporter, and the pace of the industry is something that he wouldn't trade for anything.

"I love the energy of a newsroom. It's amazing to be around writers I've read for a long time and to be able to bounce ideas off them. When a big story is developing, everyone is talking about the same thing and finding different ways to cover it. There is nothing like it," he said.

Even as his career aspirations shifted, Murphy continued to dive deeper into the Scheller College of Business curriculum. With a strong interest in global politics and economics, his major gives him a unique outlook on current events and has shaped his reporting. Because Georgia Tech doesn't have a traditional journalism program, Murphy believes its student media benefits from having an "outsider perspective."

"Not many people come here thinking they'll go into journalism, so it pulls in a group of students, like myself, who seek out an opportunity to reconnect with writing or find a new passion,” he said. “It brings an authenticity that other student papers may not have. There was no one to teach us what kinds of questions to ask when reporting for a piece, so we just asked whatever we thought people would be interested in.”

Murphy walked across the stage at Commencement this spring and will begin his internship at the WSJ's opinion section in the fall after finishing his final courses this summer. The fellowship, which lasts nine months, is named in honor of Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial writer Joseph Rago, a member of the publication's editorial board who died in 2017 at the age of 34. To Murphy, journalism is "a craft as much as it is a job," but regardless of the subject matter, he wants readers to feel that anything he writes is guided by the principle of "telling the truth and backing it up with facts."

Subtitle

Business administration graduate Cole Murphy is one of three recipients of the 2025 Joseph Rago Memorial Fellowship for Excellence in Journalism.

Summary sentence

Business administration graduate Cole Murphy is one of three recipients of the 2025 Joseph Rago Memorial Fellowship for Excellence in Journalism.

Summary

Business administration graduate Cole Murphy is one of three recipients of the 2025 Joseph Rago Memorial Fellowship for Excellence in Journalism.

Dateline

Wed, 05/14/2025 - 12:00

Contact

Steven Gagliano – Institute Communications

Associated importer

Keywords

student media

the technique

News room topics

Campus and Community

Categories

Student Honors and Achievements

Mercury ID

682401

Source updated

Wed, 05/14/2025 - 13:01

Legacy in Motion: The Sharp Family’s Shared Path in ISyE

dgivens8 — Thu, 08 May 2025 15:29:41 +0000

Legacy in Motion: The Sharp Family’s Shared Path in ISyE dgivens8 Thu, 05/08/2025 - 11:29

At the heart of this family connection is a beautiful academic journey shared between three generations of Yellow Jackets: ISyE Associate Professor, Gunter Sharp (IE ’65, IE PhD ’73), his son Alexander Sharp (B.S. in Applied Biology ‘89, and M.S. in Environmental Engineering ‘99), and his granddaughter, Melina Sharp (IE ‘25).

Gunter, who has seen the evolution of engineering over the decades, retired in 2008 and is currently teaching part-time in the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISyE) while also expanding upon his family legacy.

Melina, following in her father and grandfather’s footsteps, joined Georgia Tech with a mix of anticipation and pride.

Initially unsure of her path, Melina switched to Industrial Engineering (IE), "I changed my major halfway through freshman year… just knowing my grandfather and my dad, and how smart both of them are, and how successful they've been -- that [IE] ended up being the best option and choice for me."

Sharp Minds, Sharper Bonds

The connection between Gunter and Melina is more than just blood, it’s a realm of their shared experiences, heartwarming memories, and mutual respect for industrial engineering.

While Gunter imparted lessons from his extensive engineering background, Melina navigated the modern academic landscape, adapting to new technologies and methodologies.

“Certainly, the technology has changed a lot, we didn't have computers when I was an undergraduate student” stated Gunter, “we used slide rules for most of our calculations, little trigonometric and logarithmic tables, and often drawings with pencil and paper.”

Despite the generational gap, Gunter and Melina have found common ground in their passion for the Tech community. From football games to campus visits, they have numerous fond memories tied to Georgia Tech.

Gunter remembers unexpected winter snowfalls, whereas Melina cherishes memories of visiting her grandfather in Metz, France – hearing stories about Tech traditions and events.

“Fast-forward to the summer after my first year, I did the study abroad program at Georgia Tech Europe (GTE) and next thing you know, I’m getting restaurant recommendations from my grandfather and grandmother” said Melina Sharp.

Family Ties and Tech Triumphs

As Melina prepares for her graduation, there’s one remarkable chapter in her family legacy that’s truly unique: completely Capstone Design Expo and Senior Design with her grandfather by her side.

Encouraged by the accomplishments of her family, she’s hoping to leave her mark on the institution that has been a significant part of her family’s history.

“Just makes me proud of my family and where I come from and that I've had two great role models growing up who have introduced me to Tech and helped guide me along on the path that I'm on.”

With two data analytics internships under her belt, Melina is looking forward to joining the world of construction management, with the software development company Kahua in a Data Scientist role.

Between Gunter’s wisdom and Melina’s fresh perspectives, this rare duo is both nostalgic and forward-looking. Their shared journey at Tech is confirmation to the beauty of intergenerational learning and growth that’s possible within Industrial and Systems Engineering.

The Sharp legacy at Georgia Tech is a powerful reminder that education is not just about acquiring knowledge but also about fostering community, nurturing dreams, and creating lasting generational impacts.

Summary sentence

As a third-generation Yellow Jacket, Melina Sharp is set to graduate and embark on a data science career, showcasing the intergenerational bond with her grandfather and father.

Summary

As a third generation Yellow Jacket, Melina Sharp prepares for graduation and a career in data science, while sharing the key intergenerational connection and growth within Industrial and Systems Engineering.

Dateline

Tue, 05/06/2025 - 12:00

Contact

Camille Carpenter Henriquez, Communications Manager

Associated importer

Categories

Alumni

Student Honors and Achievements

Mercury ID

682286

Source updated

Thu, 05/08/2025 - 11:29

Graduating CS Major Draws Strength from Father’s Example to Lead in Tech

dgivens8 — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 18:00:46 +0000

Graduating CS Major Draws Strength from Father’s Example to Lead in Tech dgivens8 Mon, 04/28/2025 - 14:00

For Tai’Re Barashango, the journey toward computer science (CS) began early, sparked by Lego Mindstorms, a curious mind, and inspiration from his father.

“Growing up, my father taught CS at the high school level,” Tai’Re said. “He never pushed it on me, but I’d visit his office and see what he was working on. Just being around it got me interested.”

Now a faculty member in Georgia Tech’s College of Computing, Sababu Barashango remembers his son’s early creativity well.

“He loved music- listening, dancing, even writing rap songs,” said Sababu, a fellow at the Constellations Center for Education in Computing. “He performed one at his elementary school that became their unofficial theme song. He was also active in sports like basketball, cross country, and track.”

That creative energy extended to technology. Tai’Re began building robotic animals and catapults in middle school using Lego Mindstorm kits, some of which were passed down from his dad. “I gave him my programmable Lego sets,” Sababu said. “And, during summers in high school, I would enroll him in free online courses for coding to complement his CS course.”

At Union Grove High School, he took his first digital technology class.

“Once I started coding, I realized this is kind of my thing,” Tai’Re said.

Outside the classroom, Tai’Re was deeply involved in community service. As a first-year college student, he earned the A.D. King Foundation’s Outstanding Youth Leadership of the Year award. He was recognized for completing over 100 hours of service and for his leadership as a JROTC battalion commander. He also delivered a speech on youth empowerment at the ceremony.

“It was powerful being in a room with people connected to the Civil Rights Movement and others breaking barriers in education,” Tai’Re said. “I think it’s important to give back and inspire kids to be ambitious.”

His father shared how proud he is of his son’s accomplishments. “Tai’Re has grown into a young man with compassion, intelligence, and maturity. He’s a great problem solver, in school and life.”

Now a graduating CS major, Tai’Re has made the most of his time at Tech. He’s been active in research and student organizations. He’s worked as a long-term student assistant in the College of Computing and interned as a software engineer with Genuine Parts Company, tackling real-world technical challenges.

Among his many memorable moments at Georgia Tech, one standout experience for Tai’Re was a Vertically Integrated Project (VIP) with School of Literature, Media, and Communication’s Joycelyn Wilson. His team created a digital archive focused on hip-hop culture.

“We built a website where you could look up songs, watch videos, and even view AI-generated lyric analysis,” Tai’Re said. “It was amazing to merge my love of music with CS.”

He credits CS 1332: Data Structures and Algorithms and other early courses in the School of Computing Instruction for giving him the foundation he needed to succeed.

“That class gave me core skills for technical interviews,” Tai’Re said. “Project-based classes helped me build a strong resume.”

Outside of academics, he was involved in groups such as the African Student Association, African American Student Union, and the Black Student Computing Organization (BSCO).

“BSCO was especially helpful. They host events, share our resumes, and connect us to recruiters,” Tai’Re said.

All the preparation has paid off. After graduation, Tai’Re will begin his career as a software engineer with Cargill in Midtown Atlanta.

His advice for students is to be patient and stay curious.

“Computer science is broad; it might take time to find your niche. But it’s worth exploring. Georgia Tech is rigorous, but you grow a lot as a person and a coder.”

Summary sentence

For Tai’Re Barashango, the journey toward computer science (CS) began early, sparked by Lego Mindstorms, a curious mind, and inspiration from his father.

Summary

For Tai’Re Barashango, the journey toward computer science (CS) began early, sparked by Lego Mindstorms, a curious mind, and inspiration from his father.

Dateline

Mon, 04/28/2025 - 12:00

emily.smith@cc.gatech.edu

Associated importer

Keywords

graduation 2025

College of Computing

school of computing instruction

News room topics

Campus and Community

Categories

Education

Student and Faculty

Student Honors and Achievements

Mercury ID

682101

Source updated

Mon, 04/28/2025 - 14:00

2025 Provost's Academic Excellence Award Recipients

dgivens8 — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 15:23:29 +0000

2025 Provost's Academic Excellence Award Recipients dgivens8 Fri, 04/25/2025 - 11:23

This year's Provost's Academic Excellence Award recipients include Alexander Divoux from the College of Sciences, Isabella Baker from the College of Design, Camryn Bryant from the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, Aubrey Charron from the Scheller College of Business, and Andrew DiBiasio from the College of Computing.

Established in 2021, the Provost’s Academic Excellence Award was created to recognize the remaining finalists of the Love Family Foundation Award. Each recipient is a graduating senior and represents the most outstanding scholastic record from their college. Finalists receive a $2,000 award, generously sponsored by the Love Family Foundation, and recognition at the annual Student Honors Celebration.

Alexander Divoux is a mathematics and computer science student in the College of Sciences. Alexander has conducted research in combinatorics and wishes to continue math research in external probabilistic combinatorics and structural graph theory. He is also fluent in Chinese and actively studying Japanese as a part of the Japan Student Association. Alexander plans to pursue a PhD in mathematics at Princeton University after he graduates. “I am deeply honored to have received this award, and am incredibly grateful to my family, friends, and mentors for their continuous support. Throughout my time at Georgia Tech, I have been shaped by the outstanding guidance generously offered by this amazing community. A special thanks to Dr. Tom Kelly and Dr. Xingxing Yu for nurturing my curiosity and growth in mathematics. Georgia Tech has been a place of constant discovery and inspiration, and I am both excited and proud to carry that spirit forward in all that comes next.”

Isabella Baker is an architecture major in the College of Design and is minoring in Environmental Science. Isabella was awarded “Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher” for her work on photogrammetry in Italian ornamentation. She aspires to contribute to environmentally conscious urban development through interdisciplinary collaboration and research. Isabella notes, “The future of sustainable architectural design is promising, and I am committed to contributing to climate change mitigation through innovative and responsible design solutions.” Isabella will be returning to Georgia Tech to obtain her Master’s in Architecture. “Receiving this award is a deeply meaningful way to conclude my undergraduate experience at Georgia Tech. I’m especially thankful to the School of Architecture for creating space for me to explore the areas of the field I am most passionate about while learning alongside inspiring peers and faculty. I’ve found the collaborative environment at Georgia Tech extremely supportive and exciting, and through my minor, research, and student-led initiatives, I have grown as both a designer and individual. Special thanks to Dr. Danielle Willkens and Julie Kim for their invaluable support and guidance. I’m looking forward to carrying forward everything I have learned at Georgia Tech as I take the next steps in my studies and career.”

Camryn Bryant is currently a literature, media, and communication student in the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. Camryn was a recipient of the Gold OMED Tower Award which celebrates the academic achievements of Georgia Tech students. She is the founder of an online fashion magazine and has been involved in several organizations on campus including filmmaking, investing clubs, Society of Women in Business, and Girls into Venture Capital. One day, Camryn hopes to build her dream career that blends her love for film, fashion, and finance – combining creativity, style, and strategy. After graduation, Camryn will be working as a Financial Analyst for the Wealth Management Division at Goldman Sachs. “As a student in Ivan Allen College, I have learned a variety of tangible skills — from analyzing films to writing white papers. But ultimately, the most important thing I’ve learned is the value of community. I am blessed to have the support of my family, friends, and educators during this chapter of my life. My communities, both at home and on campus, have shown me that anything is possible with hard work, commitment, and faith. I am extremely honored to represent Ivan Allen College in this way and can’t wait to give back to Georgia Tech as an alumna. Go Yellow Jackets!”

Aubrey Charron is a business administration major in the Scheller College of Business. Aubrey interned at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta on the Arthur M. Blank Transition Team as they worked to open the new Arthur M. Blank Hospital. She also was a campus tour guide and won Tour Captain of the Semester in 2024. Aubrey hopes to pursue a career in hospital administration and would like to get her Master of Healthcare Administration in the future. “I am honored to represent the Scheller College of Business and grateful to the Love family for making this award possible. As I found my footing both at Georgia Tech and as a young adult, there have been countless reasons to laugh, celebrate, and even cry. In every moment, I have been able to turn to the Undergraduate Program Office, Professors Bill Todd and Tim Martin, my incredible friends and family, and countless others for support and guidance. Scheller has become my home over the past four years. Thank you, Scheller– I’ll forever be your biggest fan!”

Andrew DiBiasio is a computer science major in the College of Computing. Andrew is a teaching assistant for CS 1332 where he strives to provide mentorship and guidance to students. Andrew is interested in facing real-world problems, one example of this is a tool he made that track room utilization on campus, addressing enrollment issues. Andrew will be returning to Georgia Tech to pursue a Master’s of Science in Computer Science with a specialization in Machine Learning. “I’m deeply honored to receive this award and want to express my gratitude to my family and friends for their support, and the faculty and staff of Georgia Tech’s College of Computing for their guidance throughout this incredible four-year journey. I want to issue a special thank you to Dr. Mary Hudachek-Buswell for her exceptional support, as this recognition wouldn’t have been possible without her. Lastly, I'd like to thank Dr. Offerson, who has served as a role model throughout my time at Tech, for motivating me to always put my best foot forward.”

The Office of Undergraduate Education is proud to celebrate these exceptional students and looks forward to their continued success in their academic and professional pursuits.

Summary sentence

Alexander Divoux, a mathematics and computer science major, is among the recipients of the 2025 Provost's Academic Excellence Awards.

Summary

Alexander Divoux, a mathematics and computer science major, is among the recipients of the 2025 Provost's Academic Excellence Awards.

Dateline

Fri, 04/25/2025 - 12:00

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Keywords

College of Sciences

School of Mathematics

academic excellence

cos-community

Categories

Student Honors and Achievements

Mercury ID

682045

Source updated

Fri, 04/25/2025 - 11:21

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