Fall Classes Begin Aug. 20
The freshman class will number about 2,180 students when Georgia Tech begins its 2001 fall semester on Aug. 20, including students from 46 states, Puerto Rico and 42 other countries. The foreign countries sending the most freshmen to Tech are India, Korea and China, said Deborah Smith, director of admissions.
40th Anniversary of Desegregation
Forty years ago this fall, Georgia Tech quietly knocked down its barriers to integration and admitted its first three black students — Ford Greene, Ralph Long Jr. and Lawrence Williams. The Sept. 18, 1961, event was handled so routinely that the next day's headline in The Atlanta Constitution was startling by contrast to the times: "Tech Campus Calm."
Tech Leads Country in African-American Engineers
Georgia Tech is the No. 1 producer of African-American engineers in the country, according to Black Issues in Higher Education, a Fairfax, Va.-based publication. Georgia Tech awarded more degrees to African-American engineering students during the 1999-2000 academic year than any other university or college in the nation, according to the report.
Tech Selects Rouse to Chair Industrial and Systems Engineering
Georgia Tech has selected William B. Rouse, an accomplished entrepreneur, author and academician, to chair the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering. He begins Oct. 1. Rouse takes over for John Jarvis, who earlier this year announced his intention to resign after 33 years at Georgia Tech, including 12 years as chair of Industrial and Systems Engineering.
George Plans $1 Million Endowment
William W. George, chairman of Medtronic Inc. and a 1964 industrial engineering graduate of Georgia Tech, plans to establish a $1 million endowment to create and support a new faculty position in health systems engineering — the William W. George Professorship in Health Systems.
Homecoming 2001 Has Online Registration
The classes of 1951, '61 and '76 will gather Friday, Oct. 19 for the 50th, 40th and 25th reunions. Alumni from all classes, their family and friends will meet under the West Stands in Bobby Dodd Stadium for the second annual Buzz Bash. The alumni tailgate party hosted on the Tech Tower lawn begins two hours before the Tech-N.C.State game. Alumni can register online beginning Aug. 6 for all Homecoming events and seminars.
Keys Unanimously Confirmed as Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner
Alumnus John W. Keys III was sworn in as commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation in the Department of Interior in July — an agency he has worked in for 34 years. President George W. Bush nominated Keys for the post in mid-June and the Senate unanimously confirmed him on July 17.
Summer Commencement
More than 900 students have petitioned to receive diplomas at Georgia Tech's summer commencement Friday, Aug. 3 at Alexander Memorial Coliseum. Four hundred eighty-five undergraduates, 282 master's degree candidates and 176 doctoral degree candidates are expected to walk at the 9 a.m. ceremony.
Howard Ector Dies; Star Quarterback Helped Launch Roll Call
Howard Ector said, "One of the great blessings of my life has been my friends. I know a lot of people, and I have a lot of friends." One of the Alumni Association's most loyal friends, W. Howard Ector, IM 40, of Austell, Ga., died July 24. He was a lifelong leader, from his days as a Georgia Tech football hero to his days as a devoted alumnus.
GT Motorsports Wins in Nail-biting Finish
The Georgia Tech Motorsports team drove its single-seat race car to victory at the Formula Student competition held in June in Birmingham, England. The competition, sponsored by the Society of Automotive Engineers, requires college students to design, build, race and defend an open-wheel formula race car in selected categories.
Tech Robotics Team Soars to Victory
Georgia Tech's aerial robotics team flew circles around the competition — literally — to win the 2001 International Aerial Robotics Competition at Webster Field in Maryland. Tech's was the only robot to accomplish autonomous flight at the event sponsored by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International.
Hurricane Changed Saffir's Career
Herb Saffir's first weeks in Miami were marked by a hurricane that swept through the city in September 1947. Saffir and his wife, Sarah, watched the floodwaters swirl below — quite a change from New York. As a result of that experience, Saffir, CE 40, a structural engineer and expert on using building codes to prevent storm damage, invented the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale used by weathercasters to rate storms. Get his take on what lies ahead for coastal residents during the hurricane season.
Ferst Celebrates Decade of First-rate Entertainment
A 10th anniversary is something to sing about. Who better to do the singing than José Carreras? The acclaimed Spanish tenor — perhaps best known for his work with fellow tenors Luciano Pavarotti and Plácido Domingo — headlines the anniversary season of the Robert Ferst Center for the Arts, where he will perform on Jan. 25.
Long, Pearson Named Chairs of Ivan Allen Schools
William J. Long has been named chair of the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and Willie Pearson has been named chair of the School of History, Technology and Society. Both schools are in the Ivan Allen College at Georgia Tech. A professor in the school since 1991, Long has been associate chair, graduate studies director, acting chair, and director of the European Union Center. Pearson was a professor of sociology at Wake Forest University. He is recognized nationally as a leading scholar in the sociology of science.
O'Leary Welcomes Jackets Back to Flats
The biggest question mark of the new season is quarterback George Godsey's knee, said head coach George O'Leary, who welcomes 18 starters back to the Flats on Aug. 6. O'Leary, last year's Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award winner, said Tech should have an explosive offense paired with an aggressive defense in the quest for a fifth-straight bowl and a top-10 national ranking.
Paul Griffin Joins Athletic Association
Paul Griffin, the director of athletics at the University of South Florida for 15 years, has joined the Georgia Tech Athletic Association as a special consultant. Griffin guided the USF athletic program to unprecedented success with 10 teams in NCAA championship competition in 2000-01.
Volleyball Team Tours Germany
The Georgia Tech volleyball team is touring Germany. The Yellow Jackets are combining sightseeing with six matches in Hamburg and Berlin, including a match against the German Youth National team.
August Calendar
Classes begin and toe meets leather. Fall may be just around the corner, but we still have to cope with the August heat.
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