September 27, 2024 Georgia Engineering Foundation Attn: Scholarship Review Committee Harris Tower, Suite 700 233 Peachtree Street Atlanta, GA 30303 RE: Letter of Support for Mr. Benny Zheng for the Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarships Dear Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship Review Committee, With the strongest possible support, I recommend Benny Zheng for this year’s Georgia Engineering Foundation (GEF) Scholarship. I have known Benny since March 2024 when he applied for and was selected for our prestigious First Year Scholars Program (FYSPS) within the University of Georgia’s (UGA) College of Engineering. Benny is pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree at UGA and is currently enrolled in my First Year Seminar: Engineering Exploration, Leadership, and Service this semester. I have been quite impressed with Benny! It is because of his discipline and dedication to academic excellence and his genuine personality to serve his program and others that makes him the ideal candidate for your scholarship. In my opinion, he is very deserving of a GEF scholarship this year. The FYSP for which Benny was selected supports students actively pursuing an engineering degree who demonstrate a financial need and an interest in promoting underrepresented and underserved groups in engineering. I recall Benny’s application last spring where he commented on wanting to use his future engineering degree to impact society and change the world. His writing and ideas were beyond that of a graduating high school student. Needless to say, I was very impressed! While this semester is over one-third complete, Benny has excelled in every assignment and tasks given to him. I challenge my students to research and devise solutions to complex problems. One such project includes him being paired with two other engineering students of different disciplines and devising and explaining how the three different engineering disciplines might work together to solve a problem. This exercise is meant to illustrate to the students that problems are best solved through a multidisciplinary approach. Benny has taken charge with this team and they are set to deliver an excellent presentation to the class next week. Although Benny only began at UGA in August, he has already become a member and actively engaged in the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE). His engagement at this level is promising and indicates potential for him to become a future leader of the organization as he progresses through his program at UGA. Benny is a fantastic candidate for GEF Scholarship and I strongly recommend him to you without reservation. If you have any additional questions, please contact me by phone at 706-542-9480 or by email at sdurham@uga.edu. Sincerely, Stephan A. Durham, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASCE Interim Dean and Juneau Construction Company Professor in Civil Engineering
September 27, 2024 Georgia Engineering Foundation Attn: Scholarship Review Committee Harris Tower, Suite 700 233 Peachtree Street Atlanta, GA 30303 RE: Letter of Support for Mr. Benny Zheng for the Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarships Dear Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship Review Committee, With the strongest possible support, I recommend Benny Zheng for this year’s Georgia Engineering Foundation (GEF) Scholarship. I have known Benny since March 2024 when he applied for and was selected for our prestigious First Year Scholars Program (FYSPS) within the University of Georgia’s (UGA) College of Engineering. Benny is pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree at UGA and is currently enrolled in my First Year Seminar: Engineering Exploration, Leadership, and Service this semester. I have been quite impressed with Benny! It is because of his discipline and dedication to academic excellence and his genuine personality to serve his program and others that makes him the ideal candidate for your scholarship. In my opinion, he is very deserving of a GEF scholarship this year. The FYSP for which Benny was selected supports students actively pursuing an engineering degree who demonstrate a financial need and an interest in promoting underrepresented and underserved groups in engineering. I recall Benny’s application last spring where he commented on wanting to use his future engineering degree to impact society and change the world. His writing and ideas were beyond that of a graduating high school student. Needless to say, I was very impressed! While this semester is over one-third complete, Benny has excelled in every assignment and tasks given to him. I challenge my students to research and devise solutions to complex problems. One such project includes him being paired with two other engineering students of different disciplines and devising and explaining how the three different engineering disciplines might work together to solve a problem. This exercise is meant to illustrate to the students that problems are best solved through a multidisciplinary approach. Benny has taken charge with this team and they are set to deliver an excellent presentation to the class next week. Although Benny only began at UGA in August, he has already become a member and actively engaged in the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE). His engagement at this level is promising and indicates potential for him to become a future leader of the organization as he progresses through his program at UGA. Benny is a fantastic candidate for GEF Scholarship and I strongly recommend him to you without reservation. If you have any additional questions, please contact me by phone at 706-542-9480 or by email at sdurham@uga.edu. Sincerely, Stephan A. Durham, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASCE Interim Dean and Juneau Construction Company Professor in Civil Engineering
September 27, 2024 Georgia Engineering Foundation Attn: Scholarship Review Committee Harris Tower, Suite 700 233 Peachtree Street Atlanta, GA 30303 RE: Letter of Support for Mr. Benny Zheng for the Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarships Dear Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship Review Committee, With the strongest possible support, I recommend Benny Zheng for this year’s Georgia Engineering Foundation (GEF) Scholarship. I have known Benny since March 2024 when he applied for and was selected for our prestigious First Year Scholars Program (FYSPS) within the University of Georgia’s (UGA) College of Engineering. Benny is pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree at UGA and is currently enrolled in my First Year Seminar: Engineering Exploration, Leadership, and Service this semester. I have been quite impressed with Benny! It is because of his discipline and dedication to academic excellence and his genuine personality to serve his program and others that makes him the ideal candidate for your scholarship. In my opinion, he is very deserving of a GEF scholarship this year. The FYSP for which Benny was selected supports students actively pursuing an engineering degree who demonstrate a financial need and an interest in promoting underrepresented and underserved groups in engineering. I recall Benny’s application last spring where he commented on wanting to use his future engineering degree to impact society and change the world. His writing and ideas were beyond that of a graduating high school student. Needless to say, I was very impressed! While this semester is over one-third complete, Benny has excelled in every assignment and tasks given to him. I challenge my students to research and devise solutions to complex problems. One such project includes him being paired with two other engineering students of different disciplines and devising and explaining how the three different engineering disciplines might work together to solve a problem. This exercise is meant to illustrate to the students that problems are best solved through a multidisciplinary approach. Benny has taken charge with this team and they are set to deliver an excellent presentation to the class next week. Although Benny only began at UGA in August, he has already become a member and actively engaged in the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE). His engagement at this level is promising and indicates potential for him to become a future leader of the organization as he progresses through his program at UGA. Benny is a fantastic candidate for GEF Scholarship and I strongly recommend him to you without reservation. If you have any additional questions, please contact me by phone at 706-542-9480 or by email at sdurham@uga.edu. Sincerely, Stephan A. Durham, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASCE Interim Dean and Juneau Construction Company Professor in Civil Engineering