First published in 1923, the Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine continues to tell the stories of Georgia Tech and its people, connecting alumni with one another and the Institute. Look back at the last 100 years through clippings from the magazine's archives.
We highlight six examples from Tech's history when Yellow Jackets were on the forefront of innovation.
As a kid, you may have looked to a not-so-technical device to predict your future: the Magic 8 Ball. Here we have Georgia Tech’s own version of the classic kid’s toy: a panel of experts who will answer our questions about what the world will look like in the next 20 years and beyond.
Georgia Tech alumna Rachel Little, BME 15, is the senior product engineer at The Home Depot behind "Skelly," the viral 12-foot-tall Halloween skeleton. Released in 2020, the giant decoration became a phenomenon as people embraced exterior decorating during the pandemic, with Little's team overcoming engineering challenges like wind resistance. Little, who once considered a medical career, now uses her engineering skills in a role she loves, continuing to develop new, large-scale holiday decorations.
Georgia Tech students and alumni aren’t like those from any other university. But how do they get that way? Is it something they’re born with? Or is it something the Institute draws out of them?
For Christmas in 1954, Santa brought to a young John Carter Jr., IE 69, a set of five Lionel train cars, a gift that launched a lifelong hobby of collecting model trains.
Georgia Tech's unbeatable drone racing team.
Raghav Kohli navigates complex tech and legal issues in the autonomous vehicle landscape as Waymo’s senior director of automotive partnerships and assistant general counsel.
Thirteen years later, this classic American sports car has been restored to its former glory.
When these two Yellow Jackets discovered the Yellow Jacket Flying Club, they instantly knew they'd found their home—and soon after their flying partner for life.
Race car driver Bud Moeller, ChBE 76, has competed in more than 250 races over the last three decades.
As kids and young adults, these three alumni always had their eyes on the sky. Whether they wondered what lived on the moon, were awed by the vastness of space, or were excited by a rocket’s plume, their curiosity and passion led them to careers where, at three different organizations, they are driving innovation in the aerospace industry.
The odds were against Cole Getzler ever finding his old four-wheeled friend from college.
Georgia Tech is playing a pivotal role in Georgia’s electric mobility boom, partnering with automakers like Hyundai and supporting startups like EnviroSpark. With research breakthroughs in battery technology, contributions from alumni shaping EV infrastructure and policy, and campus initiatives such as electrifying its bus fleet, the Institute is helping to drive innovation and sustainability in the EV industry. President Ángel Cabrera highlights Tech’s cross-disciplinary expertise and commitment to building a thriving ecosystem for electric mobility.
NASA’s Artemis program, aiming to return humans to the Moon by 2024—including the historic milestone of landing the first woman—has key contributions from Georgia Tech alumni astronauts Eric Boe (MS EE 97), Shane Kimbrough (MS OR 98), and Doug Wheelock (MS AE 92). Artemis will rely on the Space Launch System rocket and the Orion spacecraft, which will dock with the lunar Gateway outpost before sending astronauts to the Moon’s surface with a new landing system. These missions are designed not only to advance lunar exploration but also to inspire the next generation of STEM leaders, with Georgia Tech graduates playing pivotal roles.
Are we raising our technology to be biased? From Joy Buolamwini's research illuminating bias in facial recognition systems tp Nashlie Sephus' work at Amazon AWS on algorithmic fairness, Georgia Tech alumni are on the forefront of a big problem facing the tech industry.
Chris Eubanks, Cls 18, stunned the tennis world with his Wimbledon debut—rising from discomfort on grass courts to a quarterfinal run and worldwide acclaim.
Daniel Weinman, ME 09, celebrates record-breaking poker win.
Georgia Tech alumna and four-time Olympian Chaunte Lowe is determined to compete in her fifth Olympic games, training in her backyard during the Covid-19 pandemic. Her renewed determination comes after a 2018 breast cancer diagnosis, where her surgeon encouraged her to use her platform as an Olympian to raise awareness and save lives. Drawing on the resilience she learned as a student-athlete at Tech, Lowe is overcoming the challenges of being immunocompromised to prepare for the postponed Tokyo games, inspiring many with her unwavering drive.
The story follows a surprising connection between Randolph "Randy" Whitfield, ME 32, a prominent Georgia Tech alumnus, and Sarah Rutledge, a 2020 Stamps President's Scholar, through a shared address. Whitfield, a decorated engineer and lifelong Tech supporter, lived for 60 years in the home at 2540 Dellwood Drive, which was originally designed by a Tech architecture student. Decades later, Whitfield's grandson, Randy McDow, IE 95, discovered by chance that the newest resident of his grandparents' old home was a recipient of the very scholarship program he helps administer, bringing the Georgia Tech legacy full circle.
Georgia Tech's revitalized Law, Science, and Technology (LST) program is uniquely positioned to mold future lawyers who can tackle complex issues at the intersection of law, technology, and policy. The program provides crucial pre-law advising, expanded course offerings, and internship opportunities, helping students on their path to law school. The article also profiles several successful alumni in the legal field—including a deputy general counsel at Tesla, a U.S. District Court Judge, a chief operating officer for the Governor of Georgia, and an assistant director at the Department of Justice—all of whom credit their Tech education for their success.
In this excerpt from his book "Things New and Strange," Georgia Tech President Emeritus G. Wayne Clough recounts his journey from a small town in South Georgia to becoming the first Southern-born secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. After retiring, Clough undertook a unique project: exploring the Smithsonian's vast collections to see what they could teach him about the history and culture of his boyhood home. This quest revealed surprising artifacts and interconnected stories that helped him understand not just what his home was, but how and why it came to be.
Thank this Georgia Tech grad for Marietta’s Big Chicken and wish him a happy 90th birthday this year.
Celebrating the Past, Present, and Future
For Linda Griffith, ChE 82, the Georgia Tech infirmary will always be near and dear to her heart as a place of tremendous kindness and caring.
Two Yellow Jackets strike up a conversation waiting for a flight at the airport. What comes next shows the bond that Georgia Tech alumni share for a lifetime.
How Georgia Tech’s EXCEL Program helps individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities create their own success.
Georgia Tech’s Deans of Students might be best-known for showing kindness and compassion, but there are plenty of stories of faculty members helping students in need.
Georgia Tech has a ton of intellectual capital to help solve problems around the world. But what about problems that arise in Tech's own backyard? Here, we take a look at some of the Tech organizations and people who are helping communities in Atlanta and across Georgia.
"I just knew it had to be me," says Lauren Rice, Mgt 11, of becoming an organ donor for her sister.
From Astronomy Club to Humans vs. Zombies, explore a few of the 500+ student organizations Yellow Jackets can join at Georgia Tech.
Georgia Tech Head Football Coach Brent Key, Mgt 01, brings hard work and hope to the Flats.
Michael Hearn, Mgt 86, transformed his life by losing 200 pounds and setting a goal to run a half marathon in every U.S. state before age 65. Inspired by health challenges, family, and lessons learned at Georgia Tech, Hearn turned to running as both a physical and mental outlet. His journey—from bariatric surgery to completing 35 races and inspiring others through Men’s Health features and Atlanta Track Club ambassadorship—reflects his resilience, grit, and the joy of sharing races with his children.
After 75 years, the collective power of contributions to Roll Call, Tech's fund for excellence, is still making a huge difference. Read about how one of Tech's proudest traditions got rolling.
Q&A with President Cabrera
With the new Reck Garage-officially unveiled this spring next to the John Lewis Student Center—Georgia Tech's iconic mascot will always have a prime parking spot in the heart of campus.
Georgia Tech’s grade forgiveness policy offers students a second chance to recover from academic setbacks without compromising the Institute’s high standards. It’s a quiet shift that reflects a growing culture of support, resilience, and mental well-being.
"He would rather win than breathe." That was the late New York recruiting analyst Tom Konchalski describing Jose Alvarado as a high school basketball player.
Students get a taste of life after college at Dinner Jackets.