Mollie Newton Award for Excellence in Economics
Zack Dunda – Econ
Named in honor of the late Mollie Newton, this award is presented to the senior who has contributed to the School of Economics in academics, leadership, and service. The award consists of $400 and a plaque. Dr. Patrick McCarthy, Chair, School of Economics, will present the award.

Omicron Delta Epsilon Outstanding Senior Cup
Stephen Brincks – HTS
This award is presented by Omicron Delta Epsilon and the School of Economics to the ODE graduating senior who achieves the best overall academic record. The award consists of $150.00 and engraved silver bowl.

Outstanding Economics Student Award
Rathi Bala – Econ
This award is presented to the Economics’ major that demonstrates not only outstanding scholarship but also service to the School of Economics. The award consists of $300 and a certificate.

Outstanding Global Economics and Modern Languages Student Award
She-Kay Chow – GEML
This award is presented to the Global Economics and Modern Languages’ major that demonstrates not only outstanding scholarship but also service to the School of Economics and the School of Modern Languages. The award consists of $300 and a plaque.

Outstanding Economics and International Affairs Student Award
Alexandra Henke – EIA
This award is presented to the Economics and International Affairs’ major that demonstrates not only outstanding scholarship but also service to the School of Economics and the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs. The award consists of $300 and a certificate.

“As students make their camps in the library during final exam week, they may be tempted to seek shelter from their academic chaos in a new structure that has taken shape in the Neely Gallery.

The Treehouse Project is the creation of students in a science, technology and culture (STaC) senior seminar called “The Natural History of Wood” with Hugh Crawford, associate professor in the School of Literature, Communication and Culture.”

Kristin Meagher (IAML) is awarded the Success Beyond Campus Award for her demonstration of hard work and progress in a number of off-campus entrepreneurial activities. Kristen has positively represented the Ivan Allen College through her work with the Canadian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and her current internship at Atlanta’s Carter Center. Ms. Meagher assisted the Department of Foreign Affairs in successfully bringing several “green” technology firms to the city of Atlanta in an effort to further the city’s plans for a more sustainable future. She currently represents the college in her internship at The Carter Center where she was chosen from among nearly four hundred students for her strong academics, leadership skills, experience with international affairs, and fluency in French. At the Carter Center she is entrusted with work in multiple languages, politics, and for Mr. Carter himself, truly proving her to be a worthy recipient of this award.

Katherine Hamblin (HTS) is awarded the I Am Liberal Arts Award for best upholding the values of Mayor Ivan Allen through her involvement on campus and positive representation of the college. Katherine has consistently participated in a large number of campus related activities including the Freshman Activities Board, the Poetry at Tech events, and video editing with the Georgia Tech Cable Network where she eventually became team leader. Her photos have been featured on the HTS Department’s website, her poetry has been published in Erato, and she worked with Associate Dean Dr. John Tone to translate a rare document from the Cuban War of Independence. Off campus, she has done everything from study abroad at Oxford, to volunteer at a local homeless shelter. She has volunteered as a tutor for middle school students, a tutor in english for refugees, and as a tour guide for prospective students at the Ivan Allen College Shadow Days. With a 3.7 GPA to top it all off, she is the definition of a well rounded student and very deserving of the title ‘I Am Liberal Arts’.

Austen Edwards (INTA/PUBP) is awarded the Student Leadership Award for his many positions of leadership and his successful mission through them for positive change in his school and organizations. Austen serves as the International Affairs representative of the Student Government Association and on their Executive Committee as the Vice President of Academic Affairs. He also serves as the Public Policy representative on the Ivan Allen College’s Student Advisory Board. In his time as a leader he has overhauled the registration process, helped to start a minor in Leadership Studies, shaped Georgia Tech’s trimester plan, pushed to open a Center for Service-Learning, and negotiated the Student-Faculty Expectations Agreement. He is not only a member of Georgia Tech’s very wide-reaching organizations, such as the Open Forum Executive Board, but is also a leader on the individual level as a freShGA advisor who mentors individual underclassmen. Austen’s success in enacting positive change and his rigorous dedication to leading make him the perfect student for the Leadership Award.

Erica Murray (INTA) is awarded the Community Service Award for being the student who most consistently contributed to her community in a lasting and meaningful way. Before her time at Tech, Erica volunteered at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and was a seven year member of the Alpharetta-Roswell Chapter of the National Charity League. After she began attending Georgia Tech, she joined the Atlanta Humane Society and has helped over one hundred animals return to good health. As a result of her hard work with the humane society, she was asked to train with the Humane Emergency Animal Rescue Team, a specialized group of individuals who devote their time and passion to the plight of animals in Atlanta. On campus, Erica joined the student-led organization GT HEROs, which is a fundraising division of H.E.R.O. for Children and has since joined the group’s Marketing Committee, been elected Secretary of it’s Executive Board, and served as Co-Executive Director. She has worked with the peers on her team to raise money to improve the quality of life of children whose lives have been damaged by HIV/AIDS. Having recruited several other students to her cause and logged over 500 hours of service before even attending Georgia Tech, Erica Murray’s continuing efforts definitively earned her the Community Service Award.

The Ivan Allen Jr. Faculty Legacy Award was presented to Dr. Haizheng Li, Professor in the School of Economics, in recognition of his research on China and cultivation of an exchange with China.

The Alumnus Legacy Award recognized Philip Rafshoon (IM ’83) for his courageous entrepreneurship as founder of Outwrite Bookstore and his leadership in Atlanta’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community.

The Graduate Student Legacy Award went to Joel Hewett, a PhD candidate in the History and Sociology of Technology and Science program and a Melvin Kranzberg Graduate Fellow in the History of Technology.

The Undergraduate Student Legacy Award was given to Amira Choueiki, an Honors Program student who is completing her degree in Economics and International Affairs with an International Plan track in Arabic and a minor in Public Policy.

The following is an excerpt from a GT Newsroom release that quotes Dr. Barke on the initiative:

“ ‘The X-College Initiative grew from the very strong recommendations from students and faculty in the strategic planning process that Georgia Tech needs to increase student-faculty interaction and allow more flexibility in curricula,’ said Richard Barke, an associate professor in the School of Public Policy and chair of the X-College planning committee. ‘For example, the X-College is considering whether to allow students — with strong faculty guidance — to compose programs of study that focus on particular ‘grand challenges’ facing society, using knowledge from a wide range of relevant fields. The committee is investigating how to achieve these goals while balancing disciplinary and interdisciplinary learning, maintaining the traditional rigor of a Tech education, innovating in learning techniques and educational technologies, and respecting the expectations of graduate schools and employers.’

The vision is broader than student-designed degrees, however. An X-College experience should also serve to challenge faculty to experiment with learning techniques, balancing core instruction with problem-based approaches. Other opportunities could lie in developing alternatives to regular courses taught in semester-length blocks. ”

Click here to read the full release!