September 29, 2024 Georgia Engineering Foundation Attn: Scholarship Review Committee Harris Tower, Suite 700 233 Peachtree Street Atlanta, GA 30303 RE: Letter of Support for Ms. Kelly Patterson for the Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarships Dear Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship Review Committee, With the strongest possible support, I recommend Kelly Patterson for this year’s Georgia Engineering Foundation (GEF) Scholarship. While I have only known Kelly since March 2024 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. Kelly is currently enrolled in my First Year Seminar: Engineering Exploration, Leadership, and Service this semester. The FYSP for which Kelly 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 Kelly’s application last spring she spoke of how she found her passion for engineering at a young age. Her views and comments within the application were well written and exhibited characteristics of a natural leader. I’m impressed! While this semester is over one-third complete, Kelly 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. Kelly has absorbed this philosophy and is working toward developing those critical engineering and professional skills necessary for today’s profession. For example, Kelly has already become engaged in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the National Society of Black Engineers. It is great to see a first-year student become engaged in such great engineering-related organizations. I attended the Fall 2024 Engineering Career and Internship Fair and found Kelly 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. Kelly 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 Interim Dean and Juneau Construction Company Professor in Civil Engineering
Professional Letter of Recommendation To whom it may Concern, I am Jordan Cox, General Manager of Zaxby’s in Warner Robins, Georgia. I have spent many years Managing and Developing the talents of the employees that work for me. In the time I have known Taylore, he has impressed me with his character and the drive to perform. He has gone above and beyond the expectations set for him, regardless of how high those expectations may be. He was one of the best young minds in our building and would be a great asset for any institution. Taylore has shown great prowess in the areas of empathy, people skills and time management. His ability to Manage school and Managing in a Full-Time role should impress anyone. Also, he was one of our most talented Assistant Managers. In his performance review he received exemplary marks in every category we grade on. He is hungry to do well and is always seeking constructive criticism on how to improve and is not afraid to admit a mistake. In conclusion, I enthusiastically recommend Taylore for any endeavor he pursues. He embodies a distinctive combination of Character, Competence and Interpersonal Skills that would make him an asset for any organization. For any questions, comments or concerns, please feel free to contact me personally at (336)964.8990 or by email at cox.zaxbys@outlook.com. Sincerely, Jordan B Cox
I am pleased to write this letter of recommendation for Garrett, who has been a remarkable student in my AP Computer Science A class at Union Grove High School. Over the past scholastic year, I have had the privilege of witnessing Garrett’s growth, dedication, and enthusiasm for learning. Garrett consistently demonstrates a strong work ethic and a genuine passion for technology. His ability to engage with complex material and think critically about challenges sets him apart from his peers. He approaches assignments with creativity and a commitment to excellence, often going beyond the requirements to explore topics in depth. In addition to his academic prowess, Garrett is an outstanding collaborator. He works well with others, fostering a positive environment that encourages teamwork and open dialogue. His peers respect him not only for his knowledge but also for his kindness and willingness to help others succeed. Garrett’s leadership qualities shine through in group projects, where he naturally takes on the role of motivator and organizer. Beyond the classroom, Garrett was involved in multiple clubs and extracurricular activities, showcasing his dedication to personal growth and community involvement. His ability to balance these commitments with his studies is a testament to his time management skills and determination. I am confident that Garrett will bring the same level of passion and commitment to his future endeavors as he has shown in my class. He has my highest recommendation and I have no doubt that he will excel and make meaningful contributions wherever he goes.
To the Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship Selection Committee: Venya Gunjal is one of the hardest working, kindest, and most delightful students to graduate from our magnet program, and I am so glad for this opportunity to recommend her to be a recipient of your financial support. She is an excellent scholarship candidate due to her intellect, work ethic, optimism, and respectfulness of everyone that she engages with. In our magnet program, Venya experienced a culture of support, intellectual curiosity, and exploration which has helped to set her up for future success with strong foundational knowledge, self-confidence, and in demand skills. She thrived in the collaborative environments provided in our numerous AP and post-AP courses where we emphasize the need for critical thinking and dealing with uncertainty. Venya successfully navigated our program while being very engaged in leadership, work, and independent research experiences. She created and maintained meaningful friendships, and her persistence and time management skills allowed her to earn excellent grades. Venya sought out volunteer and work opportunities which helped her to solidify the decision to enter the biomedical engineering field of study. I believe Venya will be very successful in her undergraduate and graduate programs of study. She has already demonstrated the ability to reach high-level achievement while at Wheeler. In order to thrive in our magnet program, students must be able to motivate themselves, manage their time, and use their natural gifts and talents effectively. Venya did all of that while still finding time to explore hobbies and personal interest activities. I am glad that she was able to maintain a balance in her life and keep such a joyful outlook. Venya’s participation in the Georgia and National 4-H Programs has provided her with the unique opportunity to interact with adults in impact roles that is not typical in someone of her age. Those experiences, along with her maturity and desire to positively affect others, will help her to channel her creativity and abilities towards a career of service. Your scholarship support will thus have a meaningful impact on both Venya’s education as well as the members of our society who will benefit from her education and career goals and achievements. Sincerely, Nicole F. Ice, Ph.D. Mathematics Teacher AP Calculus AB & BC, Multivariable Calculus, Differential Equations
Joshua Titus CEO, Gozio Health 372 Peachtree St NE Atlanta, GA 30309 joshua@goziohealth.com 404.539.0235 9/27/2024 To Whom It May Concern: I am writing this letter to enthusiastically recommend Maan Patel for the scholarship opportunity with the Georgia Engineering Foundation. As the founder and CEO of Gozio Health, I had the pleasure of working with Maan during his internship as a Robot Technician from December 2022 to May 2023. During his time with us, Maan demonstrated a commendable work ethic and remarkable technical skills give his young age. He was responsible for maintaining and repairing our mapping robots used for hospital mapping, a critical component of our services. Maan oversaw all repairs, issues, and fixes for our fleet of 13 robots, showcasing his technical knowledge and attention to detail. What stood out most about Maan was his eagerness to learn and outgoing personality. I am confident that Maan's technical skills, coupled with his enthusiasm for learning and positive demeanor, will make him an excellent candidate for your scholarship program. He has shown great potential for growth, and I believe he will continue to excel in his academic and professional pursuits. If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me. Maan has my highest recommendation for the Georgia Engineering Foundation scholarship, and I am excited to see what he will achieve in the future. Sincerely, Joshua Titus CEO, Gozio Health
Elizabeth Tavit 22 Brainerd Road Summit, NJ 07901 elizabethtavit@hotmail.com September 29, 2024 To Whom it May Concern, It is with great pleasure and without reservation that I recommend Aiden Kurian as a candidate for the Georgia Engineering Foundation. I came to know Aiden four years ago when he joined our home school co-op, Classical Conversations, where I served as his class tutor for 3 years. I supervised Aiden in Physical Science, Biology, Physics, English Literature, Writing, Apologetics, Music and Art History, Logic, Greek Literature, Latin, and American and World History, all of which were honor curricula. Aiden's intellect manifests itself in many ways. I have observed Aiden to be a hard working, serious, and ambitious student. Aiden quickly distinguished himeself as both a hardworking student and an intellectual leader. Aiden pays strong attention to detail. He displays diligence in the work he hands in, as well as in our numerous in-class discussions. He also displays an amazing ability to synthesize material and posit meaningful and useful questions, while exercising his intellect in every subject. Without exception, Aiden's assignments were handed in punctually, displayed deep thinking, and proved careful attention to detail. Aiden has a kind and gentle affect and quickly wins the affection and respect of his peers. He confidently leads in class academically as well as socially, showing patience to the special needs student in our class and kindness to those students who have not attained his level of mastery in certain subjects. He is quick to offer help to his classmates and to the community at large. I have no doubt that Aiden is extremely deserving of this scholarship and will continue excel both socially and academically in a demanding academic environment. Please do not hesitate to contact me further in this matter. Very truly yours, Elizabeth Tavit BM, MS Ed.
To Whom it May Concern: It is my pleasure to provide this letter in support of Venya Gunjal as she applies for a scholarship from the Georgia Engineering Foundation. Venya is well positioned to be successful within the biomedical engineering field of study and to be eligible for this prestigious scholarship. The context in which I know Venya is through her participation in Georgia 4-H. Georgia 4-H is the youth development organization of the University of Georgia, which is delivered through county Extension offices throughout the state. Venya participated in Cobb County 4-H, and as she matured in the program, she quickly engaged in programs and opportunities that would take her beyond Cobb County. One of Venya’s greatest accomplishments in Georgia 4-H includes serving as the 2022-2023 President of the State 4-H Board of Directors. Each year, nine youth are elected by their peers to represent the over 170,000 (10-year average) 4-H’ers across the state and provide leadership, serve as an advisory group, and plan and coordinate a variety of activities. State Board members also interact with many stakeholders including elected officials, donors, and leaders. They hone their communication skills, confidence, and leadership skills which they can then apply in other settings. We witnessed Venya’s success as a President and her ability to serve as a strong leader and contributing team member. Georgia 4-H’ers also can develop mastery of content in various areas and earn “Master 4-H” status as they earn first place at state level competitions. It’s a significant accomplishment to master in any one area of the program, and Venja is a six-time Master 4-H’er. This places Venya in an elite class of Georgia 4-H’ers, and demonstrates her commitment, work ethic, and dedication to all in which she engages. Additionally, Georgia 4-H’ers are able to apply, earn, or engage in various national opportunities. Venya has taken full advantage of these opportunities and has served as a 2024 National Youth Leadership Team Member, served as a delegate to National 4-H Conference in Washington DC and to National 4-H Congress which is held in Atlanta each year. Twice, Venya has been a finalist at the National 4-H Youth in Action for her work in STEAM outreach and education. These experiences have no doubt offered Venya great perspective and provide chances to enhance and practice her critical thinking skills, problem solving abilities, and team building and communication skills. Furthermore, Venya was recognized as a 4-H Leadership in Action finalist for role in founding of a nonprofit called STEAMPark Inc. Through these efforts, she created positive change, strengthened learning opportunities, and provided free STEAM resources for Title I elementary students. Georgia 4-H prides itself on providing opportunities for youth to enhance workforce development skills and college and career readiness. However, the reality is that the youth must be willing to take advantage of these opportunities and engage to receive the full benefit. Venja has absolutely done this! She has a proven ability to lead, represent, and contribute to our organization. Please accept my strong recommendation for Venya Gunjal in support of being awarded a Georgia Engineering Foundation scholarship and let me know if I can provide any additional information. Regards, Melanie Biersmith State 4-H Leader/Director of 4-H
To whom it may concern, I am writing this letter to recommend that my student, Garrett Moore, be awarded a scholarship by the Georgia Engineering Foundation. For context, I am a Limited Term Assistant Professor at the University of Georgia, where I teach Calculus I, and Garrett is one of my students this semester. In my short time as Garrett's professor, I can sincerely say that Garrett stands out, not only among his peers in class but among all of the calculus students I have taught. He exhibits the critical thinking, problem-solving skills, work ethic, and teamwork that should be supported in the engineering field. Garrett is an active participant in class and is actively engaged in classroom discussion. It is clear to me that he's seen some calculus before, but even compared to his classmates who are familiar with the material, he demonstrates a high level of understanding and engagement and catches on fairly quickly. In calculus, it's very easy to memorize rules and use them without thinking, but he is a student who is actually trying to understand why the rules work and when it is appropriate to use them. At the same time, I've seen him in office hours more than most of his peers because he tries (and tends to succeed on) the most challenging, less routine homework problems. Often, he'll just stop by my office to check that he is right. If he's stuck, I'll give him a small hint which helps him finish the rest of the problem. He has clear talent and understanding, in addition to the work ethic to tackle these more challenging problems. He is also someone who uses his knowledge to help his peers. Whenever there is group work, he and his group are actively engaged in discussions, which is helpful to the classmates who have not caught on as quickly. He has also helped his classmates when they miss class by providing notes and meeting with them to help them catch up. I am especially eager to recommend that he be supported by GEF as I believe he is the type of person who will go on to support others, as he's demonstrated in these small ways with regards to my class. Garrett has the academic work ethic and intelligence needed to succeed in engineering, and he has the collaborative and helpful personality which should be encouraged in the engineering field. For these reasons, I highly recommend that he be awarded financial support as he continues his studies. Sincerely, Gabrielle Scullard
September 29, 2024 To Whom it May Concern, This recommendation is provided at the request of Caden Taylor, who is applying for a scholarship from the Georgia Engineering Foundation. Currently, Caden studies the course named Engineering Graphics and Design (ENGR 1120) under my instruction and performs remarkably well. Caden is keen on understanding engineering drawings and solid modeling concepts. Additionally, Caden shared with me his passion for volunteering within his community and wants to utilize his knowledge of engineering to foster a better future. Although I have known Caden for a short time, I see his enthusiasm for mastering new skills and sharing his knowledge and experience with others. Caden’s ambition, leadership, and perseverance makes him an excellent candidate for the scholarship. Sincerely, Adam Wineland Senior Lecturer
To whom it may concern: It is my great pleasure to recommend Kayleigh Murillo for the Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Kayleigh during her first semester at the University of Georgia. Kayleigh was selected to participate in the third cohort of a scholarship program at the University of Georgia, the First Year Scholars Program. As a member of the cohort of scholars, Kayleigh 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, Kayleigh 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, Kayleigh serves as a representative for underrepresented students pursuing engineering. This commitment to service and leadership does not go unnoticed. As a female in engineering, Kayleigh ensures that our college community and the future of engineering are diverse and inclusive. In addition to her leadership in the First Year Scholars Program, Kayleigh has a proven record of leadership and excellence during her high school academic career. In high school, she participated in FIRST Robotics. She served as an electrical team member as only one of four students supporting the electrical side of her team’s robot. As Kayleigh 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. She has already become a member of the Society for Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) and the Institute for Electronics and Electrical Engineers (IEEE). Kayleigh Murillo 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. Kayleigh 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