We are pleased to share that Dr. Sybrina Atwaters has been appointed as Executive Director of the Office of Student Achievement.

Sybrina is a three-time graduate from Georgia Tech, receiving her B.S. in electrical engineering and master’s and Ph.D. in sociology of technology and science. She also earned master’s degrees from Emory University in Theological Studies and Georgia State University in instructional technology. She has over nine years of experience in industry and over 15 years of experience in higher education. Her industry experience includes serving on the RF wireless design team for AT&T wireless (formerly Bellsouth Mobility) during the 1996 Olympic games and was responsible for much of the cellular design infrastructure along the Georgia Tech 75/85 corridor and east Atlanta. Her academic research interests combine sociology and engineering, and she has collaborated with the National Academies, Iowa State University, the Fund for Theological Education, and the Association of Theological Schools. She has presented her work at both national and international conferences and has been published by Spring International and John Hopkins University Press. She has taught courses at Emory University, Morehouse, and Georgia Tech.

As Executive Director of OSA, Sybrina will serve as a member of the OUESS senior leadership team. She will lead the OSA team in alignment with its core mission to provide student success programs to increase the retention and graduation rates and post-baccalaureate success of students and to enhance student achievement across the matriculation cycle. She will develop strong collaborative partnerships with fellow OUESS units as well as our colleges and other administrative units (such as Enrollment Management, Student Engagement and Well-Being, and International Initiatives). Finally, she will continue to hold a courtesy faculty appointment in Georgia Tech’s School of History and Sociology (HSOC).

Please join us in congratulating Sybrina on this new appointment!

The 2025 Co-op and Internship Honors Luncheon, held on April 15, highlighted the outstanding experiential learning achievements of Georgia Tech students, as well as companies that have provided exceptional internship and co-op programs.

Thank you to our co-op and internship employers, campus partners, faculty, staff, and administrators for supporting Georgia Tech students.

2025 Award and Scholarship Recipients

2025 Co-op Employer of the Year: Johnson & Johnson MedTech

As a leader in medical technology, Johnson & Johnson MedTech is dedicated to developing smarter, less invasive, and more personalized healthcare solutions—impacting patients worldwide. But beyond their groundbreaking work, what truly sets them apart is their commitment to their co-op students.

Joe T. LaBoon Award (Outstanding Co-op Student): Luke Rendel, Mechanical Engineering

During his three semesters at Chick-fil-A, Luke embraced every challenge with curiosity, adaptability, and a hands-on mindset. Whether tackling open-ended design problems, presenting to executives, or stepping in to support his team, Luke combined technical excellence with professionalism and storytelling.

J.E. McDaniel Award (Highest GPA, Co-op Student): Matthew Joseph Ellis, Computer Science

With a 4.0 in computer science and four co-op terms at Itential, Matt’s work is already shaping the future of automated 5G networks. Matt was praised for his ability to learn complex systems under tight deadlines, improving existing code with precision, and delivering projects that align with company strategy.

2025 Internship Program Employer of the Year: Amazon Web Services

AWS is a global leader in cloud computing, empowering businesses to innovate and scale—and their internship program reflects that same commitment to growth. AWS provides interns with real ownership, cutting-edge projects, and an incredibly supportive network—from mentors to managers. Interns aren’t just observers; they’re valued team members, given the tools and trust to make an impact.

Student Intern of the Year: Ekta Mistry, Industrial and Systems Engineering

Ekta Mistry’s internship at United Airlines was impactful and transformative for her team. From building a Statistical Analysis Tool that saves hours of manual work to creating a Resource Center that streamlines operations, Ekta’s work directly elevated her team’s efficiency and standardization. But beyond her deliverables, it was her professionalism, agility, and confidence that left a lasting impression.

Mahdi Al-Husseini, a distinguished Georgia Tech graduate (BME ’18, PP ’18, MS CS ’20) and U.S. Army captain, has been selected as a Knight-Hennessy Scholar at Stanford University. This prestigious fellowship, which supports exceptional students from around the world, will provide Mahdi with funding and leadership development opportunities as he continues his groundbreaking research in aeronautics and astronautics.

Currently pursuing a PhD at Stanford, Mahdi has built an impressive career at the intersection of biomedical engineering, public policy, computer science, and aerospace research. His work focuses on optimizing medical evacuation systems, applying artificial intelligence to life-saving rescue operations, and improving battlefield evacuation protocols.

Born in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, and of Palestinian and Egyptian heritage, Mahdi was raised in Atlanta, Georgia, spending summers in his father’s hometown in Qatanna, Jerusalem. His global perspective has inspired him to leverage engineering for humanitarian impact. As an aeromedical evacuation officer and HH-60M Black Hawk pilot-in-command, he has logged over 800 flight hours across more than 20 aircraft models, contributing to military operations that save lives in high-risk environments.

Mahdi’s commitment to innovation is evident in his extensive research portfolio and technological contributions. He has authored numerous first-author publications in prestigious journals and conferences, including the Journal of Aerospace Information Systems and the Army War College’s Parameters. His work focuses on developing AI-driven methods to optimize evacuation routes and deploy medical aircraft more effectively, revolutionizing emergency response in military and civilian sectors.

Beyond academia, Mahdi is a licensed professional engineer, registered patent agent, and prolific inventor with over 30 patents and patent applications. His contributions have been widely recognized, with several of his patented technologies acquired by both the military and industry. Notably, he received the Major General Greene Innovation Award for developing a helicopter hoist stabilization system designed to improve medical evacuation missions. He also earned the XVIII Airborne Corps Dragon Lair Award for his work on an AI-powered aircraft maneuver training tool.

Mahdi’s military unit, Lightning DUSTOFF, was honored with the Airbus Robert M. Leich Army Aviation Award for its groundbreaking application of artificial intelligence in medical aircraft dispatch. Under his leadership, the unit pioneered a military exercise that used AI to coordinate medical evacuations between distant islands and moving watercraft, marking a historic advancement in rescue logistics.

As a Knight-Hennessy Scholar, Mahdi will gain access to a global network of scholars and innovators, further empowering his mission to revolutionize aerospace medicine and rescue operations. He will complete his PhD in Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Stanford School of Engineering and will also pursue an MBA at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. His selection highlights his exceptional achievements, dedication to service, and commitment to shaping the future of flight and emergency medical response. This marks Mahdi’s second prestigious fellowship this year, after receiving the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans earlier this Spring. 

For more information about the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program, contact Georgia Tech’s Prestigious Fellowships Advising, at prestigiousfellowships@gatech.edu.  

For the fourth year in a row, ten BlackRock Hallac Scholarship finalists from Georgia Tech were extended internship offers to work at BlackRock in summer 2026. BlackRock is the nation’s largest public asset management firm, and internships in this organization are difficult to come by.  

The BlackRock Hallac Scholarship, a legacy to the late Charles S. Hallac, provides a full-ride scholarship to two exceptional Georgia Tech students of reduced means each year. 

The Georgia Tech Career Center offers coaching for the first-year students who apply for the scholarship to help prepare them to meet with high-level executives in the firm. Students who are granted interviews are not only interviewing for the scholarship, but also for the possibility of interning. 

The Office of Undergraduate Education and Student Success (OUESS) celebrates our OUESS Student Advisory Board Spring 2025 graduates. These individuals engaged in forward thinking discussions each month and contributed to a number of topics to support student success. Their insights have helped shape current or future programs, services, policies, and other academic initiatives.  

We are pleased to announce that Albert Acheampong has joined Academic Success and Advising as Academic Program Manager I for Pre-Health Advising. Albert will provide support and guidance to undergraduates, graduates, and alumni pursuing careers in medicine. His contributions and role will be integral to the ongoing programing, event planning, and development of resources aimed to support the Georgia Tech pre-health community.  

Albert earned his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology from Augusta University and his master’s degree in Applied Exercise and Health Sciences with a focus in Sports Management from Kennesaw State University. He began his career in higher education as an Assistant Academic Counselor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, supporting student-athletes in balancing academic and athletic goals. Since then, Albert has served in various advising roles, including Student Success Advisor at South College Atlanta and most recently as an Academic Advisor at Life University.

Albert is passionate about helping students navigate academic challenges, creating academic plans, and developing their professional skills. He has advised students pursuing a variety of health-related majors, including pre-chiropractic, biology, exercise science, pre-physician assistant, and pre-nursing. His experience includes both traditional and non-traditional student populations, enabling him to provide personalized support tailored to each student’s academic and professional aspirations in the health professions.

An avid Dallas Cowboys fan, Albert enjoys cheering on his team. In his spare time, he stays active through exercise and loves traveling with his wife, exploring new places together.

Please join us in welcoming Albert to ASA and OUESS!