October 28, 2023 To Whom It May Concern: I am writing this reference at the request of Anna Gessner, who is applying for a scholarship from your organization. I have come to know Anna over the past year in my capacity as a teacher at Cherokee Bluff High School where she has taken both my Honors Chemistry and Honors Physics classes. In addition, I have also recently become co-sponsor of the Women in Stem Club of which she is the co-founder. She is a bright, dedicated, multi-talented student, and I recommend her without reservation. Anna is one of the most well-rounded, accomplished students I have had the opportunity to teach. She would best be described as perceptive, diligent, and highly resourceful – the type of student who excels academically but also balances outside interests and projects. Physics can be daunting and frustrating at times, but I have consistently seen Anna stand up to the challenge – working hard, doing her best to work through difficulties, and advocating for herself when necessary. I have always found her to be friendly, focused, and with a positive outlook on her studies and activities. Anna is also always a positive, dependable influence in the school and the community at large. She has been involved with several organizations and outside activities, but I am most impressed with her co-founding of the Women in STEM Club at school and how quickly she has managed to help grow it. I came of age at a time when STEM careers were not often seen as attainable for young girls and I would have loved to have had a supportive community in high school such as this to help guide me. Our school is relatively small, rural, and has a large community of Hispanic students; by founding this club and working so hard to make it successful, Anna has likely paved the way for several young women to pursue careers/educations that they may not have had the chance to do otherwise. There are very few students who can confidently say that they have likely had such a long-term impact in their community. In conclusion, I would highly recommend Anna Gessner. Based on her performance in my class, she has a very bright, successful future ahead of her. If you need any further information you may reach me by telephone or by email at jodi.sulak@hallco.org anytime. Sincerely, Jodi L. Sulak, M.S. Science Instructor
It is my pleasure to write this letter of recommendation for Anna Gessner. I first met Anna her junior year at Cherokee Bluff High School when I became her AP Statistics teacher. I was greatly impressed with her work ethic and enthusiasm. Although Anna only needed to take one math course, she made the decision to take AP Statistics and Honors Precalculus in the same year to show her dedication to her mathematics education. She is one of those type of students that teachers never forget. It has been a true honor to have been able to teach Anna during her high school experience. As a student, Anna demonstrates a passion of learning and the level of commitment necessary to succeed in college. She is determined to put forth immense effort to earn the highest grade and fully comprehend the course work. While at Cherokee Bluff High School, Anna has taken numerous AP and honors courses. She stays committed to her school work and strives for the best grades possible. Anna takes higher level courses to challenge herself and prepare for her future. Not only is Anna an incredible student, but she truly shined with her passion for STEM and leadership when she helped to create the Women in STEM club at Cherokee Bluff High School. As the vice president, she asked me to be the staff advisor for the club. I have been nothing short of impressed with the way Anna has led the students in the club and created activities for every meeting. Anna is a hardworking and determined student. Her leadership and drive is an asset at any school. Because of her dedication and work ethic thus far, Anna will truly shine at the collegiate level. Her commitment to academics makes Anna a wonderful collegiate candidate. Sincerely, Brittany Lundrigan
October 27, 2023 To the Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship Committee, It is both an honor and a privilege to write this letter of recommendation for Xavier Willis. I know Xavier through church activities and also Boy Scouts of America of which our church is the chartered representative for Troop 312. Xavier started his scouting journey as a cub scout and has completed the highest rank of scouting – The Eagle Scout. The journey from “Lion” cub scout to “Eagle” scout demonstrates Xavier’s commitment to perseverance, excellence, and hard work, which are all qualities to receive your distinguished scholarship. In 2019, only eight percent of all scouts earned Eagle rank, (Scouts BSA Eagle Scout Fact Sheet). Xavier is and has demonstrated throughout the years every aspect of the Scout Law, Scout Oath, and Scout Motto. A few of those attributes include loyalty, trustworthiness, obedience, duty to God, duty to the country, helping others at all times, and being prepared. I have observed Xavier grow from a preschool boy to a teen leader exhibiting skills such as facilitator of group meetings, initiating community activities, and assisting younger scouts to achieve skill sets. It’s not often you observe a teen give maximal effort with task performance. I will say, Xavier demonstrates maximal effort with task performance and can be spontaneous in his efforts. Just a sneak peek into a few of Xavier’s skill set during scouting. While obtaining his Eagle rank, Xavier chose to serve the community by researching, organizing, collaborating, and collecting winter items that would benefit two organizations that serve the homeless and families with basic needs insufficiencies. He called them “Winter Care Kits”. He gave leadership to assemble items for the kits. He prepared a written project proposal, and plan and gave a verbal account of this project to an unknown review board. Because of Xavier’s commitment to excellence in helping others, demonstration of high moral character, and perseverance in task performance, I am confident that he will be committed to completing any academic, service, and leadership task given to him. It is with great pleasure that I recommend Xavier Willis to receive your prestigious award .I am Ronecial Byrd, affectionately referred to as “Mrs. Dale”. I am a Sunday preschool teacher at Turner Chapel AME and the committee chair for Turner Chapel BSA Troop 312. Please feel free to contact me with more questions or concerns at d22byrd@aol.com or 404-317-3220. Sincerely, Ronecial Byrd
To Whom It May Concern: I am very proud to recommend Jacob Bennett for consideration of your scholarship. I taught Jacob in my AP Physics 1 class during the 2021-22 school year and he was one of my top students in the class. While I will let his academic record speak for itself, I would like to focus on a few characteristics that Jacob exhibits that I believe will make him successful at your school. These characteristics are his friendly, calm demeanor and his mature communication. With only having a class of eight students in AP Physics 1 last year with us being a new school, I got to know Jacob quickly. Jacob was one of the couple of students that participated regularly answering the questions in class instead of being shy. He clearly had a confidence with the physics content early on that served him well to perform academically well in the class. I enjoyed observing Jacob regularly work with his peers to help them understand the content when they struggled. He is well respected as he is very friendly and positive with his peers in supporting them through the challenges not only AP Physics was for many, but I could listen to him working through AP Calculus or other classes with them too. He never turned anyone away when they had a question and accepted if he made a mistake on a problem. I was also impressed that Jacob was most of the time very calm. While I know he did get frustrated with some topics on momentum and rotation during second semester, he continued to have an even-tempered attitude toward those challenges and again a confidence that he could overcome the struggles and excel. I believe Jacob could continue to improve in accepting new challenges that get him outside his comfort zone, so he continues to develop his coping skills through those struggles and work through them appropriately. As stated earlier, Jacob participated regularly in class answering questions and being involved in class discussions. Jacob is very well-spoken and speaks well with both peers and teachers. He is respectful to his teachers, but also mature to either open or continue conversations with adults. I would see Jacob at the county recreation center where he worked when I had events with my family, and he was always open to talk for a few minutes instead of going into his phone or finding a reason to ignore me. Jacob also does a very good job with his written communication seen through his free response answers to multiple AP Physics questions. His ability to be clear, concise, and analytical in his scientific writing to explain physics phenomena was often used as an exemplar in the class. I believe Jacob will use his communication skills to not only support his work in class, but to get him involved in the college community beyond the classroom. I am again proud to recommend Jacob Bennett.
October 27, 2023 Anna is a committed and successful member of the Cherokee Bluff High School student body. She is 14th in her class out of 270 students, to date. Her grade point average is 4.4902. She will graduate with honors in May with the class of 2024. My recommendations are pretty much regurgitating what can easily be seen on the transcript; because I do not get to see the students daily or have them in classes. However, I hope to pinpoint and highlight some important information. Yes, it is on the transcript, but admission officers and scholarship committees may not realize the importance of certain tasks or classes when reading the many applications received. By the time she graduates, Anna will have completed two Dual Enrollment courses, 13 Honors courses and seven Advanced Placement courses. Anna only has one graduation requirement left but is choosing to take a full load of rigorous courses, including three Honors and two Advanced Placement courses. Everything previously mentioned is even more impressive as Anna is a star soccer player. She made a soccer commitment and plans for athletics to help her gain her education. She is a stellar student-athlete. She definitely puts emphasis on student, which is rare. I know that she is countlessly working athletically. However, she is so academically driven that she will be successful in whatever realm that her future takes her. I hope that soccer is great for her, but she will succeed with whatever she chooses to do! As you can tell, Anna has been committed to academics and extracurriculars during her career at CBHS. She will bring determination and an attitude of cooperation and motivation to any College, University and/or future endeavor. I strongly recommend Anna Claire Gessner. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 770-967-0080, ext. 11090 or email at beth.purdy@hallco.org. Sincerely, Beth Purdy Graduation Coach
October 27, 2023 Dear Scholarship Committee, I am writing this letter to recommend Olivia Craig for a Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship. Olivia is currently a student in my Engineering Graphics and Design course, so I have known her for about three months. Thus far, Olivia has proven to be an excellent student academically, earning high marks in a challenging first year engineering course that introduces students to several engineering graphics software packages. Engineering Graphics and Design requires students to adapt quickly to new software, pay significant attention to detail in the drawings they create, and encourages trial and error as they learn new techniques. Olivia is meticulous in all her work, is very detail oriented and is able to calmly work her way out of challenging software difficulties. She asks thoughtful questions in class that not only benefit her, but the entire class. Throughout high school, Olivia was involved in many activities geared toward serving others and advancing herself academically. These include serving on several hurricane relief teams and volunteering at a food pantry. She also was the president of the Technology Student Association at her high school and team leader for two competition projects, which further peaked her interest in engineering. At the University of Georgia, Olivia is a member of the Morehead Honors College and an intended double major in Environmental and Civil Engineering. Olivia has aspirations for a future in civil and environmental research focusing on clean energy. She hopes to use her engineering brain and servant’s heart to make clean energy available and affordable, particularly in under served areas, throughout the world. Olivia’s excellent academic record and the opportunities she takes to enhance learning with volunteer, leadership and other experiential learning activities make her an excellent candidate for a Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship. Please feel free to contact me if you need further information or have any questions. Best Regards, Hillary S. Tanner Principal Lecturer UGA College of Engineering, School of Environmental, Civil, Agricultural and Mechanical Engineering hstanner@uga.edu
Glenn D. Vargas-LaFleur 1700 Cherokee Avenue Columbus, GA 31906 (706) 748-2534 October 26, 2023 Georgia Engineering Foundation Harris Tower, Suite 700 233 Peachtree Street Atlanta, GA 30303 Dear Scholarship Committee: I am writing to recommend Ms. Crisely Guzmán for the Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship. I had the esteemed pleasure of knowing Crisely in her sophomore, junior and senior years at Columbus High School as her Spanish II teacher and the sponsor of the Latino Student Union, an organization she founded at our prestigious school. While in my Spanish II class, Crisely was one of the top performers, all classes considered. Her attention to detail, her strong work ethic, her natural eagerness to learn, and her determination to succeed in my class helped her understand the nuances of the Spanish language and cultures in such a way as to apply them to her own world. Being Latina living in the United States, she took the information learned in my class and applied it to her own world. Although I taught Crisely during the Covid pandemic, she stayed focused and unwavering in my class and in her other classes, something that proved difficult for many students to do. She demonstrates a keen ability to think critically in and out of the classroom. Crisely is one of the students to whom her peers could turn for assistance in Spanish and other subjects. During her junior year in high school, Crisely asked me if I would be willing to sponsor the Latino Student Union at our school. I excitedly agreed simply because I know the type of student she is, and I was confident that this organization would be something positive for the school and community. I was not disappointed. She started something at our school that has left a footprint that is growing bigger and stronger. Being the founder of this organization, she also served as President. Crisely is a natural leader, having taken charge and spearheading this organization with grace, positivity, and zest. She organized committees to plan events in the school and the larger community. She spread awareness of “Latinidad” (what it means to be Latino) and issues that affect the Latino community. In the Latino Student Union meetings, she consistently came in prepared with an agenda, a presentation, and topics on which to discuss. Aside from my personal involvement in Crisely’s academics and extracurricular activities, she is well known for her contributions to her school and her community. Within Columbus High School, Crisely served as Class President during her junior and senior years, participated in Cross Country, assisted in the Hair and Makeup Crew for our drama program, and was heavily involved in our Girls in Engineering, Math, and Science (GEMS) program. Additionally, she was inducted into various prestigious organizations such as the National Honor Society, the Beta Club, the National English Honor Society, and several others. While she was heavily involved in these academic and extracurricular programs, she managed to perform at high standards in her classes, maintaining a weighted GPA well over 4.0. Crisely was well known at our school for her academic prowess, her kind nature, her natural ability to lead, and her open and understanding mind. She excelled in a total of eight rigorous AP courses at Columbus High School. At her young age, she is highly accomplished, having been granted several academic awards. Her SAT scores, her school grades, her social competence, and her commitment to her community make Crisely an excellent candidate for your scholarship, and she has my most sincere and enthusiastic recommendation. Please contact me with any questions. I will be happy to answer them for you. Sincerely, Mr. Glenn D. Vargas-LaFleur Spanish Teacher and Latino Student Union Sponsor
To whom it may concern: It is my great pleasure to recommend Izzy McNair for the Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Izzy during her first semester at the University of Georgia. Izzy 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, Izzy 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, Izzy 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, Izzy serves as a representative for underrepresented students pursuing engineering. This commitment to service and leadership does not go unnoticed. As a female in engineering Izzy 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, Izzy has a proven record of leadership and excellence during her high school academic career. During high school, she interned with Gwinnett County Water Resources. In this role, she was exposed to local governance policies and procedures while developing critical customer service and business skills. Izzy is committed to pursuing a career in Environmental Engineering and has taken steps to advance her opportunities by attending our college’s career fair and accepting an offer for a summer internship with an engineering firm. This is an amazing accomplishment for a student in their first semester and speaks to Izzy’s professionalism and leadership qualities. Izzy McNair 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. Izzy 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
Dear selection committee, I am absolutely delighted to provide my wholehearted recommendation for Xinyang Lin, also known as Alena Lin, as an exemplary candidate for the Georgia Engineering Foundation (GEF) Scholarship. It has been my distinct privilege to have Alena as a student, both during her participation in the Engineering boot camp over the summer and her current freshman semester, where she is enrolled in the introductory-level Physics course, PHYS 1251 (Introductory Studio Physics I), at the University of Georgia. From the outset, Alena has consistently distinguished herself through her exceptional problem-solving abilities and an unrelenting passion for comprehending intricate physics concepts, a quality that extends beyond the confines of our classroom. Alena possesses an innate aptitude for not only grasping complex physics principles but also for effectively applying them in a wide array of problem-solving scenarios, whether it be in the completion of homework assignments or performance in midterm examinations. Her consistently remarkable performance, which has consistently exceeded class averages, is a testament to her unwavering commitment to academic excellence. She has recently demonstrated this with distinction in the two exams administered in the course. Throughout the semester, Alena has been an active and engaged participant in classroom discussions. Her contributions to the learning environment have been invaluable, and she has consistently offered her support to fellow students. Her empathetic and collaborative nature makes her an exceptional team player who invariably respects and acknowledges the opinions and perspectives of her peers, even when they diverge from her own. Her influence extends beyond her academic prowess, as her enthusiastic approach to assignments and responsibilities reflects her genuine enthusiasm for learning and personal growth. Alena has effectively maintained this exceptional level of commitment despite being concurrently enrolled in multiple courses, all while refraining from seeking extensions or making excuses. Her remarkable organizational skills have left a lasting impression on me, as I marvel at her capacity to efficiently manage a multitude of tasks. This unique combination of exceptional academic performance and unparalleled organizational acumen makes Alena an ideal candidate for the Georgia Engineering Foundation (GEF) Scholarship. I hold a high degree of confidence that Xinyang Lin (Alena Lin) is on an illustrious path to achieve remarkable feats in her future endeavors. With unequivocal enthusiasm, I endorse her application for the Georgia Engineering Foundation (GEF) Scholarship. Alena is a gifted, empathetic, intuitive, dedicated, and astute individual whose accomplishments will undoubtedly leave an enduring mark on all who have the privilege of collaborating with her Sincerely, Nandana Weliweriya, Ph.D. Lecturer, Physics Education Researcher E-mail: nandanaw@uga.edu
Recommendation of Manuel Blaser for the Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship Dear Members of Board of the Georgia Engineering Foundation, I am writing to you to support the application of Manuel Blaser, born August 14, 1997 of Ibach, Switzerland for the Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship. Manuel was my student in the courses ‐ TA.BA.STG: “Introduction to Automation Technology” ‐ TA.BA.PRGC_MM: “Programming in C” ‐ TA.BA.MECHTRO: “Mechatronics” ‐ TA.BA.PYTHON: “Introduction to Python” where he demonstrated a great level of enthusiasm and participation. His formidable analytical skills and structured approach to problem solving allowed him to maintain his standing in the front runner group of each course, despite shouldering a challenging study load and a demanding engineering employment outside of school. His overall grade point average, when directly converted to U.S. equivalent, may not seem too impressive. However, I would like to point out that I would assess our grading system to be much tougher than the one in the U.S. and it is difficult to convert our grade average directly to a U.S. GPA. We assign grades from A through F (A = excellent, B = very good, C = good, D = sufficient, E = passing, F = fail). C means you have fulfilled all course requirements to a T, B and A are reserved for outstanding/beyond‐required performances. Therefore, most students get mostly Ds and Es which then results in a fairly low GPA if converted directly to a U.S. GPA. I consider Manuel a strongly above average student in terms of intellectual ability, but definitely excellent/outstanding when viewed in combination with his formidable practical skills. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. Best regards, Prof. Dr. Adrian Koller