Student Leaders Honored

John C. Staton Jr., IM '60, president of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association, and Neal Stubblefield, ME '79, selection committee chair, presided over the ceremony, which was also attended by many of the students' parents.

The cash awards are sponsored by the Alumni Association, and recognize students of noteworthy academic achievement and campus involvement. Also, a travel award provides a student with an opportunity to study abroad. The leadership awards are given in categories based on class year. The freshman, sophomore, junior, senior and post-graduate recipients, and the travel award recipient, each receive $4,000.

Annie Anton, studying for a master's in computer science, won in the Graduate category. She is liaison to faculty for the College of Computing, and serves on the board of directors of T.E.C.H. Expo. Anton was one of the creators of the Georgia Tech Electronic Orientation System, a computerized "information brochure" for prospective Tech students.

The senior category went to Claudette MacRae, a management major. MacRae is a member of Alpha Chi Omega and president of the Order of Omega. She also served as chair of Greek Week.

Gregory Sirmans, an industrial engineering co-op student and president of Pi Kappa Alpha, received Junior honors. He is vice president of the student chapter of the Institute of Industrial Engineers and a member of Phi Kappa Phi honor society.

Civil engineering student Brintha Sundaram received the prize in the sophomore category. She is vice president of the Student Alumni Association and a Georgia Tech ambassador.

Sundaram founded the Georgia Tech Liaison for Incoming Students (GTLINCS) program.

The freshman recipient was Catherine Axon, an industrial engineering student. She is treasurer of the Freshman Council.

Lara O'Connor, a senior AK, plans to use her award from the Travel category for an eight-week intensive study course in Japan. O'Connor is a member of Phi Mu, ODK and the U.S.-Japan Society. She is also a math teaching assistant.

In addition, special recognition awards of $1,000 each were presented to students in the five class-level categories.

All students with a minimum grade point average of 2.7 are eligible to apply for the awards. Nominees complete application and reference forms, which are turned over to selection subcommittees. Award semi-finalists are determined on the basis of the written submissions, and are then interviewed, after which the winners are determined.

The student leadership and travel awards are provided through the Buzz Fund, a licensing program which collects royalties from the sale of merchandise bearing a Georgia Tech logo. The fund is managed by the Georgia Tech Foundation, and divided into thirds among the Alumni Association, the Athletic Association and the Student Center.

The awards were initiated in 1991 and presented to six students. Special recognition categories were added this year.

Student Leadership Award recipients gather after being honored at a May 1 luncheon in the Wardlaw Center. The 15 winners and their respective categories and majors are (standing from left): Mike Waller, Senior Special Recognition, IE, Psy; Heather Smith, Sophomore Special Recognition, Arch; Lara O' Connor, Travel, AE; Edward Carolan, Senior Special Recognition, EE; Karen Steadman, Junior Special Recognition, IE; Gregory Sirmans, Junior, IE; Andrea Smith, Freshman Special Recognition, Econ; Annie Anton, Graduate, MS ICS; Brintha Sundaram, Sophomore, CE; Rita Morgulis, Graduate Special Recognition, MS ISyE; and Kathleen Cummings, Graduate Special Recognition, PhD EE. (Seated from left) Brittany Robinson, Sophomore Special Recognition, ChE; Claudette MacRae, Senior, Mgt; Regina Hardin, Junior Special Recognition, MAT; and Catherine Axon, Freshman, IE.