Kwame Osei-Tutu was an exceptional student in my Advanced Calculus II class during the 2022-2023 school year. Kwame is an outgoing, hardworking young man with immense leadership potential. Kwame’s growth as a leader has been fueled by the confidence he has generated while exceling in several STEM-related endeavors both at GSMST and outside of school. Kwame helped GSMST prepare the incoming freshman for their coursework by serving as a leader in GSMST’s summer STEM event. This event allows the incoming freshmen at GSMST to experience the school, and Kwame helped develop activities and designate leaders for different activities. Kwame also managed a social media account for the event to help show the community how we are preparing students for STEM-related fields at GSMST. While taking on these additional responsibilities, Kwame has still found time to engage with many courses that have helped him develop his skills. Kwame has taken multiple STEM-centric courses at GSMST, including engineering concepts, foundations, and applications, AP Computer Science Applications, AP Computer Science Principles, and nanotechnology and materials engineering. Kwame has excelled in all these courses, and they have given him essential background knowledge to propel him into his future in a STEM field. Kwame has used what he has learned at GSMST to become proficient in Autodesk software programs such as AutoCAD, Inventor, and Civil 3D. Kwame is also proficient both Python and Java programming, and Kwame has experience with website design in HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. Kwame has used these skills to become a tutor for young children in the Code Ninjas program. Code Ninjas is a program that helps children learn how to code by working their way through a rigorous coding program. Kwame has been participating in the program since 2021. This program has helped Kwame develop his communication skills, and he has been so effective that he is now a program assistant. Kwame has also already gained experience in a STEM career field through his role as an engineering intern at Travis Pruitt & Associates in Norcross. As an engineering intern, Kwame has used his CAD skills to create proposals that he has presented to the lead engineer. Kwame worked with the engineers on the team to complete projects that satisfied the needs of their clients while also staying within the client restrictions. Kwame also researched local building laws and regulations to ensure that the projects complied with the legal restrictions as well. It was a pleasure to have Kwame Osei-Tutu in my classroom. Kwame is an exceptional student who leads by example. Kwame has demonstrated academic excellence and a commitment to community at GSMST. In a school filled with high achieving students, Kwame still manages to separate himself from the group and establish himself as a leader both in the classroom, in his professional duties, and in the community. Kwame has already taken steps to ensure he is prepared for a STEM career, and I believe he will excel in the engineering field.
Thomas Njee is an exemplary student who excels academically. Thomas excelled in his rigorous coursework at The Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology (GSMST) and he consistently exceeded course expectations. Thomas possesses excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and Thomas is intellectually gifted. Thomas separated himself from his peers as a consistent top performer in my Advanced Calculus II class during the 2022-2023 school year. Thomas was enrolled in my Advanced Calculus II course after completing AP Calculus AB as a junior. Advanced Calculus II proved to be challenging for many students, but Thomas was ready for the challenge immediately. Thomas would approach problems in a unique way. Any program looking for a student with flexible reasoning skills would be honored to have Thomas as an asset. Thomas’s unique approaches were not always the easiest for his peers to comprehend, but he also can clearly communicate his logic clearly. Thomas reads people and their reactions to determine how he should proceed with his explanation. I would frequently have students work in groups, and Thomas consistently proved to be an asset to his group. A great example of Thomas’s ability to think within an engineering framework was the Archimedes Death Ray Project that we completed in Advanced Calculus II. We were studying surface area and learning how to calculate the surface area of a solid of revolution using Pappus’s Theorem. Students had to study different types of reflective surfaces, the cost of their chosen substance, and then they were required to calculate the surface area of their design. Students were told to create a design that could maximize the amount of light reflected while minimizing the cost. While many students were designing intricate mirrors that would cost millions of dollars to design properly, Thomas had an exceptionally novel, yet effective, solution: coat the lining of the object with aluminum foil. This method was substantially less expensive than other methods, and it allowed his group to create a theoretical death ray with a much larger surface area. Thomas is an innovative, creative, exceptionally intelligent young man. Thomas can construct intricate solutions, or find the simplest, yet effective, solutions within given constraints. Thomas is a kind, respectful young man, and I believe he will excel in the engineering field. Thank you for your time and consideration of Thomas Njee.
Greetings, I am writing to highly recommend Abraham Kibret for the scholarship offered by the Georgia Engineering Foundation. I have had the privilege of knowing Abraham both as a dedicated member of our church community and as a young scholar who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, commitment to community service, and academic excellence. Abraham Kibret is a first-year Computer Engineering major at The University of Georgia, and he has consistently proven himself as an exemplary student by getting in. His passion for learning, intellectual curiosity, and dedication to his studies are truly commendable. Abraham has consistently achieved top grades in his coursework, reflecting his strong work ethic and intellectual capabilities. His academic excellence is a testament to his commitment to pursuing a career in engineering. In addition to his academic achievements, Abraham is an active member of our church. His dedication to our faith community is unwavering, and he has played a significant role in various church activities and community service initiatives. Abraham's commitment to his faith and community reflects his strong leadership qualities, his ability to inspire others, and his deep sense of responsibility towards our congregation. Abraham Kibret's passion for engineering, dedication to community service, strong leadership skills, and exceptional academic record make him a highly deserving candidate for the scholarship offered by the Georgia Engineering Foundation. His commitment to both his academic pursuits and his community is truly commendable, and I have no doubt that he will continue to excel and make significant contributions to the field of engineering and his community in the future. I wholeheartedly support Abraham's application for this scholarship, and I am confident that he will be an outstanding representative of your foundation's values and mission. Sincerely, Solomon Beyene
September 28, 2023 Georgia Engineering Foundation Attn: Scholarship Review Committee Harris Tower, Suite 700 233 Peachtree Street Atlanta, GA 30303 RE: Letter of Support for Mr. Abraham Kibret for the Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarships Dear Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship Review Committee, With the strongest possible support, I recommend Abraham Kibret for this year’s Georgia Engineering Foundation (GEF) Scholarship. I have only known Abraham since March 2023 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. Abraham is pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Computer Systems 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 Abraham! 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 Abraham 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 have been impressed with Abraham and how determined and detail-oriented he has been through our interactions this semester. I have found him to perform exceptionally well academically. My direct observation of Abraham is that he works hard to get the job done correctly and on time while also being extremely detailed and organized. Through my interactions with him, I am confident that he will have tremendous successes in our program. Further, he is well-liked not only by his peers but faculty and staff within our college. Abraham 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 Assistant Dean for Student Success and Outreach Professor
September 28, 2023 Georgia Engineering Foundation Attn: Scholarship Review Committee Harris Tower, Suite 700 233 Peachtree Street Atlanta, GA 30303 RE: Letter of Support for Ms. Isryel Mcnair for the Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarships Dear Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship Review Committee, With the strongest possible support, I recommend Isryel Mcnair for this year’s Georgia Engineering Foundation (GEF) Scholarship. While I have only known Isryel since March 2023 when she applied for and was accepted into our prestigious First Year Scholars Program (FYSP) within the College of Engineering at the University of Georgia (UGA), it is within this short time that I have become extremely impressed by her personable skills, organization and work ethic, and engagement with our college and programs. Isryel is currently enrolled in my First Year Seminar: Engineering Exploration, Leadership, and Service this semester. The FYSP for which Isryel 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. In Isryel’s application last spring she spoke of how she found her passion for engineering at a young age through fixing and repairing a family sewing machine. Her passion expanded into the field of environmental engineering as she mentioned that she wanted to “be the change you want to see in the world.” Additionally, she elaborated that women make up less than one-third of environmental engineers and only a small percentage (3.5%) are black like her. She hopes to not only make an impact with her environmental engineering degree and tackle climate change, extreme weather, and other current/future challenges but also make a difference for other women of color. Her views and comments within the application were well written and exhibited the characteristics of a natural leader. I’m impressed! While this semester is over one-third complete, Isryel has excelled in every assignment and tasks given to her. I challenge my students to think critically and with an eye towards a more global perspective. Isryel has absorbed this philosophy and is working toward developing those critical engineering and professional skills necessary for today’s profession. For example, Isryel served as an intern with the Gwinnett County Water Resources Department this past summer. Through this internship she had to interact with customers, manage a databases, and create solutions to customer issues. It is great to see a first-year student with this type of experience. I attended the Fall 2023 Engineering Career and Internship Fair and found Isryel confidently speaking with many top employers in attendance. My observations are that she strives to learn as much as she can and to take advantage of opportunities that allows her to grow and develop as a young engineer. Isryel is a fantastic candidate for GEF Scholarship and I strongly recommend her 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 Assistant Dean for Student Success and Outreach Professor
To whom it may concern: It is my great pleasure to recommend Hailey Aston for the Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Hailey during her first semester at the University of Georgia. Hailey was selected to participate in the second cohort of a scholarship program at the University of Georgia, the First Year Scholars Program. As a member of the second cohort of scholars, Hailey has demonstrated strong leadership skills, worked cohesively in teams, presented quality communication skills, and learned to engage in the College of Engineering community. During her tenure in the program, Hailey has taken a proactive approach to assignments and participation in class. She doesn’t shy away from asking clarifying questions and makes other students feel welcome to ask questions or share feedback. As part of the program, Hailey serves as a representative for underrepresented students pursuing engineering. This commitment to service and leadership does not go unnoticed. As a female in engineering Hailey is ensuring that our college community and the future of engineering are diverse and inclusive. In addition to her leadership in the First Year Scholars Program, Hailey has a proven record of leadership and excellence during her high school academic career. She served as the secretary for Women in Science and Engineering in which she helped recruit students into the STEM pathway and created STEM demonstrations as part of elementary outreach. As Hailey settles into her first semester at the University of Georgia she is exploring new organizations to join and I have no doubt that she will serve in a leadership position later in her academic career. Hailey is committed to pursuing a career in Mechanical Engineering and has technical skills related to coding in JAVA and MatLAB. Hailey Aston would serve as a valuable representative for the Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship. The scholarship would enable her to continue her mission of pursuing excellence in engineering with a mindset of justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. I recommend her for this scholarship opportunity with the highest support. Hailey will be a great representative and steward of the University of Georgia and any organization she participates in. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need additional information. Sincerely, Amber Amber Juncker Director, Engagement & Recruitment College of Engineering 1156D Driftmier Engineering Center Athens, GA 30602 706-542-2744
Georgia Engineering Foundation September 28, 2023 Dear the Scholarship Committee: I would like to recommend Xinyue (Angel) Lin as an applicant to the Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship. I am currently teaching three sections (CRN 30293, 57093, and 30115) of MATH2250 (Calculus I for Science and Engineering) during the fall semester of 2023 in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Georgia. Xinyue (Angel) Lin was enrolled in section 30115, and I am pleased to provide this recommendation based on her outstanding performance in my class. Xinyue’s academic achievements in my course have been exceptional. Her first test score exceeded expectations, earning 102% (including extra credit). Additionally, her performance on weekly quizzes has consistently demonstrate excellence: Q1 (9.9/10) Q2 (10/10), Q3 (10/10), and Q4 (10/10). As of today, she completed 98.60% of the online homework assignments (WebAssign). Xinyue's dedication to her studies is truly commendable. She attends every class with a high level of attentiveness and consistently occupies the front row of the classroom. She actively engages in discussions, both during class and in review sessions for tests. Furthermore, she actively participates in online discussions platform (Piazza), helping her classmates with their questions. Her passion for learning calculus is evident through her insightful questions and enthusiasm for mathematical concepts. Xinyue also displays excellent interpersonal skills by maintaining a respectful and polite attitude towards her classmates and instructors. I wholeheartedly recommend Xinyue (Angel) Lin for the Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship. I have full confidence that she will make the most of this opportunity and continue to excel in her academic pursuits at UGA, furthering her future career goals. If you have any further questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for considering Xinyue (Angel) Lin as a deserving candidate for the Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship. Sincerely, Dr. Hee Jung Kim Senior Lecturer Department of Mathematics The University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602 hjk@uga.edu
Georgia Engineering Foundation September 28, 2023 Dear the Scholarship Committee: I would like to recommend Xinyue (Angel) Lin as an applicant to the Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship. I am currently teaching three sections (CRN 30293, 57093, and 30115) of MATH2250 (Calculus I for Science and Engineering) during the fall semester of 2023 in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Georgia. Xinyue (Angel) Lin was enrolled in section 30115, and I am pleased to provide this recommendation based on her outstanding performance in my class. Xinyue’s academic achievements in my course have been exceptional. Her first test score exceeded expectations, earning 102% (including extra credit). Additionally, her performance on weekly quizzes has consistently demonstrate excellence: Q1 (9.9/10) Q2 (10/10), Q3 (10/10), and Q4 (10/10). As of today, she completed 98.60% of the online homework assignments (WebAssign). Xinyue's dedication to her studies is truly commendable. She attends every class with a high level of attentiveness and consistently occupies the front row of the classroom. She actively engages in discussions, both during class and in review sessions for tests. Furthermore, she actively participates in online discussions platform (Piazza), helping her classmates with their questions. Her passion for learning calculus is evident through her insightful questions and enthusiasm for mathematical concepts. Xinyue also displays excellent interpersonal skills by maintaining a respectful and polite attitude towards her classmates and instructors. I wholeheartedly recommend Xinyue (Angel) Lin for the Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship. I have full confidence that she will make the most of this opportunity and continue to excel in her academic pursuits at UGA, furthering her future career goals. If you have any further questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for considering Xinyue (Angel) Lin as a deserving candidate for the Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship. Sincerely, Dr. Hee Jung Kim Senior Lecturer Department of Mathematics The University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602 hjk@uga.edu
Georgia Engineering Foundation September 28, 2023 Dear Scholarship Committee, I am writing to recommend Xinyang (Alena) Lin as an applicant for the Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship. I am currently teaching three sections (CRN 30293, 57093, and 30115) of MATH2250 (Calculus I for Science and Engineering) during the fall semester of 2023 in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Georgia. Xinyang (Alena) Lin was enrolled in section 30115, and I am pleased to provide this recommendation based on her outstanding performance in my class. Xinyang's academic achievements in my course have been exceptional. Her first test score exceeded expectations, earning 101% (including extra credit). Additionally, her performance on weekly quizzes has consistently demonstrated excellence: Q1 (10/10), Q2 (10/10), Q3 (10/10), and Q4 (9.7/10). As of today, she has completed 98.61% of the online homework assignments (WebAssign). Xinyang's dedication to her studies is truly commendable. She attends every class with a high level of attentiveness and consistently occupies the front row of the classroom. She actively engages in discussions, both during class and in review sessions for tests. Furthermore, she actively participates in online discussions platform (Piazza), helping her classmates with their questions. Her passion for learning calculus is evident through her insightful questions and enthusiasm for mathematical concepts. Xinyang also displays excellent interpersonal skills by maintaining a respectful and polite attitude towards her classmates and instructors. I wholeheartedly recommend Xinyang (Alena) Lin for the Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship. I have full confidence that she will make the most of this opportunity and continue to excel in her academic pursuits at UGA, furthering her future career goals. If you have any further questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for considering Xinyang (Alena) Lin as a deserving candidate for the Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship. Sincerely, Dr. Hee Jung Kim Senior Lecturer Department of Mathematics The University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602 hjk@uga.edu
To whom it may concern: It is my great pleasure to recommend Suvu Gurung for the Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Suvu during her first semester at the University of Georgia. Suvu was selected to participate in the second cohort of a scholarship program at the University of Georgia, the First Year Scholars Program. As one of 15 students in the second cohort of scholars, Suvu has demonstrated strong leadership skills, worked cohesively in teams, presented quality communication skills, and learned to engage in the College of Engineering community. During her tenure in the program, Suvu has taken a proactive approach to assignments and participation in class. She doesn’t shy away from asking clarifying questions and makes other students feel welcome to ask questions or share feedback. As part of the program, Suvu serves as a representative for underrepresented students pursuing engineering. This commitment to service and leadership does not go unnoticed. As a female in engineering Suvu is ensuring that our college community and the future of engineering are diverse and inclusive. In addition to her leadership in the First Year Scholars Program, Suvu has a proven record of leadership and excellence during her high school academic career. She served as the president of Paul Duke STEM High School’s Computer Science Honor Society and helped found a coding club of which she served as the president. Her impressive leadership has transitioned into her collegiate career as she is already serving a leadership position for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers as the Freshmen Chair. During her final year of high school, Suvu served as a process engineering intern at the Dennis Group where she helped design and utilized AutoCAD to bring plant improvements at J.M. Smucker’s food factory. Her platform projects were approved by senior engineers at the firm. Her impressive accolades align with the accolades of upper-level engineering students. Knowing she is just starting her career at UGA, we are incredibly excited to see what she moves on to accomplish. Suvu Gurung would serve as a valuable representative for the Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship. The scholarship would enable her to continue her mission of pursuing excellence in engineering with a mindset of justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. I recommend her for this scholarship opportunity with the highest support. Suvu will be a great representative and steward of the University of Georgia and any organization she participates in. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need additional information. Sincerely, Amber Amber Juncker Director, Engagement & Recruitment College of Engineering 1156D Driftmier Engineering Center Athens, GA 30602 706-542-2744