RE: Letter of Support for Ms. Bonnie Houston for the Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarships Dear Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship Review Committee, With the strongest possible support, I recommend Bonnie Houston for this year’s Georgia Engineering Foundation (GEF) Scholarship. I have only known Bonnie since March 2024 when she applied for and was accepted into our prestigious cohort of the University of Georgia College of Engineering’s First Year Scholars Program (FYSP). Bonnie is pursuing her 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 Bonnie! It is because of her discipline and dedication to academic excellence and her genuine personality to serve her program and others that makes her the ideal candidate for your scholarship. In my opinion, she is most deserving for selection of a GEF scholarship this year. The FYSP for which Bonnie 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 Bonnie and how hard working and detail-oriented she has been through our interactions this semester. I have found her to perform exceptionally well academically. My direct observation of Bonnie is that she works hard to get the job done correctly and on time while also being extremely detailed and organized. Through my interactions with Bonnie, I am confident that she will have tremendous successes in our program. Further, she is well liked not only by her peers, but faculty and staff within our college. During our class, Bonnie is often the student that asks the questions during class that generates great discussions that link the in-class technical content to more practical engineering concepts. Bonnie 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
To Whom it May Concern, James Harris was a student in my Audio/Video Tech and Film class last year at Mill Creek High School. I met James earlier in his high school career when he was inquiring to improve the sound in the theater performances at the school. I was impressed with his ability to communicate and his level of technical expertise. In my class, James regularly went above and beyond in his work to perform at a high level. He's very good at leading a group and getting the most out of the members. He also shows leadership ability by heading up the live stream crew at Mill Creek. His dedication to take our streaming abilities to the next level was invaluable for my program. He gained many of these skills by volunteering for years at his church in the media department. James has a very bright future and is lightyears ahead of most of his peers for the work he's already put in. I highly recommend him as a scholarship candidate. Thank you for your time, Tom Kutter Mill Creek High School A/V Tech and Film teacher
I have known Mathias for four years as his teacher for Honors Algebra 2 and AP Calculus AB. Mathias was one of the most promising students that I taught last year. His love of the STEM classes was apparent each and every day. His ability to make connections between Physics and Calculus was commendable. I could also always count on him to share his knowledge and to explain deeper concepts to his peers. He was organized and focused throughout both years that I taught him. He was able to participate in extra curricular activities while prioritizing his time and remaining one of the top students in his class. I am not surprised in the least that he has chosen to go into the engineering field. That path is perfect for him and I have no doubt that he will be successful. I highly recommend Mathias Koritschoner.
For the last few years, Venya has been an outstanding member of the Cobb County Farm Bureau 4-H Young Farmers Club. She has completed several projects as a member of the club and has been a great leader within our club. She was also the Georgia Farm Bureau 3rd District and State Winner in our annual Middle School Essay Contest three years ago. Her thoroughness and detail in her essay showed a great enthusiasm for agriculture and promoting the American farmer. This is no surprise to me though, as Venya shows great enthusiasm in everything that she does and she always puts forth a maximum effort. I have also witnessed many of the great things that she has done with many of the other clubs within the Cobb County 4-H program. For example, she recently led the Poultry Judging Team to the State title, she was invited to meet with the Governor of the state of Georgia to talk about her accomplishments. She is also a past President of Georgia 4-H. As far as engineering goes, I have also witnessed great potential that Venya has. While in high school, Venya developed a stormwater management system and presented her idea to the Cobb County Water System. They were so impressed with her project that they said they would try to instill some of her ideas into their stormwater management efforts. Seeing what she had done here, I asked Venya to present her project at the September meeting of the Cobb County Soil and Water District, of which I am Chairman. Her presentation was well received by the group in attendance and everyone was impressed by her knowledge of the subject matter. Venya has also started a 501(c)(3) organization called STEAMPark, Inc. The goal of this is to assist Title 1 schools with technology resources. It also expands beyond that to help others in the community (such as our senior citizens) to better understand how to use modern technology. Venya is always eager to be there and to help out where needed and her family is always there for her as well. I feel that Venya would be a great choice for your apprenticeship program and am looking forward to what she does in the future, scholarship as she has proven that she is a big success in all that she does. I can be reached at 770-335-3862 if you have questions or I can be of further assistance. Stan Kirk, President-Cobb County Farm Bureau, Chairman-Cobb County Soil and Water Conservation District
To whom it may concern, I am pleased to write a letter of recommendation for Mathias Koritschoner. I taught Mathias in Honors Chemistry during the 2021-2022 school year and in AP Chemistry during the 2022-2023 school year. I know Mathias to be a meticulous student, charismatic friend, and dedicated athlete. Mathias immediately impressed me as an exceptionally bright student. He asked thought provoking questions and engaged in each lesson as he learns. Furthermore, Mathias’ goal was not learning to pass the test; he sought a deeper understanding of the world around him. His ability to internalize information is remarkable. I found this a rare and mature quality compared to many of his peers. I looked forward to introducing challenging new concepts to his class, because I knew Mathias would spark a stimulating conversation around the material. Mathias quickly absorbed any information I threw his way. He did more than memorize; he processed the information, connected the dots to past concepts, and applied the knowledge as he continued to learn. He exceeded all expectations, and did so with a smile on his face, even while doing the most mundane or challenging of tasks. All of these qualities contributed to why I selected him for the Honors Chemistry subject award at the conclusion of his sophomore year. After receiving this award, his friends lovingly began calling him “Mr. Chemistry,” a nickname that I adopted as well. I actually first met Mathias as a fill in coach for the JV boys soccer team during his freshman year. At the time I was coaching the girls’ team, and due to some unforeseen circumstances, needed to fill in and coach two games for the boys. Though I had knowledge of the game, I had never met the players before. Mathias quickly stepped up and organized the players, gave me a run-down of each athlete and their position(s), and their usual formation. It was obvious that the rest of the team respected Mathias immensely and valued his opinion. His work ethic on the field was unparalleled, so it really wasn’t a surprise to me when I taught him and he demonstrated those same characteristics as a student. In addition to being a remarkable student and soccer player, Mathias was a member of the backstage crew for the drama department, Science Olympiad state qualifier, and member of the Spanish and National Honor Societies. And those were just his involvements with the school! He was an active volunteer for AMBUCS through direct involvement and fundraising. Mathias has the utmost respect for his teachers and peers, and his work ethic and integrity are beyond reproach. Mathias will undoubtedly bring the same commitment to service and his education throughout his collegiate career at Georgia. Sincerely, Elise Mercer Upper School Chemistry Teacher Savannah Christian Preparatory School
RE: Nomination Letter for Gustavo Miranda Dear Georgia Engineering Foundation Committee: I am writing to enthusiastically recommend Gustavo Miranda for the Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship. As the Assistant Dean for Inclusive Excellence at the College of Engineering at the University of Georgia (UGA), I have had the pleasure of getting to know Kaely both inside and outside the classroom during her freshman year. Gustavo is one of 12 first-generation college students who participated in our Summer 2024 Engineering Academic Boot Camp (EABC) program. Sponsored by Georgia Power, Lockheed Martin, and Gulfstream, this intensive two-week experience helped incoming students acclimate to university life and prepare for the challenges of university-level courses. Through the EABC program, Gustavo was able to transition more smoothly into UGA and the College of Engineering while gaining a strong foundation for the rigorous science courses ahead. Gustavo’s dedication and hard work during the program have contributed, thus far, to her successful transition. Albeit only a first semester freshman, Gustavo is already involved in the community, while also maintaining and joggling her academic commitment; he has also already met some amazing people in the UGA community who are keeping him grounded. Gustavo embodies the qualities that this scholarship seeks to support. What sets Gustavo apart is not only his academic but also his unwavering determination, resilience, and commitment to her education. In sum, I find Gustavo to be a diligent, hardworking individual with great tenacity. Please contact me if you need additional information at soniagarcia@uga.edu. I would personally like to elaborate on Gustavo’s attributes.
Dear Members of the Selection Committee, I’m pleased to write this letter of recommendation for Alton Mamaghani in support of his application for the Georgia Engineering Foundation scholarship. I’ve had the privilege of working with Alton in both test preparation and the college advising process throughout his high school career, and I can confidently say that he embodies the qualities that the scholarship seeks to recognize. Alton’s involvement in both his school and community is impressive. In high school, he actively contributed to the Dunwoody community through school clubs like National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta. Through those organizations, he did things like donate to food and clothing drives and participate in math nights at local elementary schools to promote involvement and excitement for math. He also applied to be part of the Dunwoody Youth City Council and was selected as one of 15 participants. In this role, he attended monthly meetings to learn how local governments work, but also participated in local events, consistently working to improve his community. Throughout our time together, I’ve been continually impressed by Alton’s work ethic. He sets high standards for himself and works to achieve his goals, no matter what. His determination to push himself beyond his comfort zone is inspiring, and I have no doubt that he will continue to excel in whatever he puts his mind to. In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend Alton Mamaghani for the Georgia Engineering Foundation scholarship. He is a remarkable student with a promising future in engineering, and I believe he will be an exemplary representative of the foundation’s values. Thank you for considering his application, and please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions you may have. Sincerely, Rebekah Daniell
Taylore is a hard worker and is dedicated to achieving his dreams. As a student in high school, Taylore would go above and beyond to achieve success inside and outside of the classroom. There would be multiple times when Taylore would reach out for extra enrichment in a subject though he hardly needed it. He would go on to be an honor graduate of his high school while completing multiple Dual Enrollment courses throughout his high school career. Taylore was also a talented baseball player that would work hard to help his team. Taylore has an others first mentality that has helped become the leader that he is today. He finds success when the people around him are successful with his help. I highly recommend Taylore for the Georgia Engineering Foundation.
I am very pleased to write this recommendation on behalf of Dania Gonzalez. I had the pleasure of having Dania in my STEM Honors Chemistry and AP Chemistry classes. Dania was a hard-working, engaged student who always wanted to achieve more. She performed extremely well on assessments, produced thoughtful lab reports, and was eager to connect concepts at a high intellectual level. During her time at Woodstock High School, Dania completed multiple high-level classes and graduated as part of our STEM Advanced Academic program. She also challenged herself outside the classroom by participating in various activities, most notably the Science National Honor Society, where she served as program chair and vice president. Dania was also a state semi-finalist for the Governor’s Honors Program in both biology and chemistry. Dania served as a tutor for the Spanish National Honor Society by assisting elementary and high school students. She also participated in Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, and Beta Club. Dania has also had a number of outstanding awards and recognitions including the 2021 Bronze and Silver Award Honor as a TipStory Scholar, College Board National Hispanic Recognition, and Award of Excellence in Literature. Outside of school, Dania has maintained employment as a retail sales associate. Certainly, participating and excelling in so many activities while taking high school’s most rigorous coursework requires a high level of discipline and excellent time management, as well as a strong drive to impact one’s community however possible. Dania is a very well-rounded student who has a strong work ethic both inside and outside the classroom. I believe that she is incredibly deserving and would be an excellent choice.
Brittney Sessions, Worthy Marton Fannie McIntyre #136, Order of Eastern Star P.O. Box 50 Sale City, Georgia 31784 brittneysessions@gmail.com (229) 894-9617 August 14, 2024 Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship To Whom It May Concern: I wholeheartedly recommend Terrell A. Mathis Jr. for the Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship. Terrell has been a dedicated volunteer with Fannie McIntyre #136, Order of Eastern Star, since 9th grade, beginning his service at 14 years old. Over the years, I have witnessed Terrell develop into a dependable, trustworthy, and exemplary young man. Throughout his volunteer work, Terrell has consistently exhibited a level of maturity and responsibility that sets him apart from his peers. Whether assigned a large or small task, he approaches every duty with diligence and ensures its completion to a high standard. His commitment to community activities has been unwavering, often taking on challenges that others might shy away from. What stands out most about Terrell is his consistently positive attitude. Even in demanding situations, he remains composed and solution-oriented. He has never been one to complain and always handles himself with respect and grace. His strong sense of responsibility and his respectful and mannerable nature make him an asset in any environment. Terrell is also fortunate to have a great support system, which has further contributed to his personal and academic growth. I am confident that he would be an excellent candidate for your scholarship, bringing leadership, integrity, and dedication—all essential qualities for success. I have no doubt that Terrell will make a positive and meaningful contribution to any program or institution he joins. Should you require any further information or wish to discuss Terrell's qualifications in more detail, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am more than happy to provide any additional support or clarification. Thank you for considering Terrell Mathis for the Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship. I firmly believe he will exceed your expectations and make the most of this opportunity. Sincerely, Brittney Sessions Worthy Matron