Warm Fellowship, Hot Food, Priceless Opportunities
By: Matt Sowell | Categories: Alumni Interest
On a chilly November evening in Atlanta, a group of Georgia Tech students gathered at the home of Betsy Bulat, IAML 04, for a hot meal and valuable conversation.
“I definitely get a lawyer vibe from you,” she told one of the students interested in pursuing law before she explained a summer internship program that’s offered at her firm. "We love to hire students from Georgia Tech.”
Bulat served as a host for Dinner Jackets, a program organized by the Student Alumni Association that connects current Yellow Jackets with alumni in the Atlanta area. Now in its 13th year, Dinner Jackets demystifies networking by allowing students to share a meal with a professional.
“I love hosting; it’s such a great opportunity to get to know the students. It benefits me as much as them,” says Bulat.
The meals vary from host to host, allowing students to share a meal made with care and a taste of the host’s style. In Bulat’s case, it was a vegan red lentil dahl, served with rice, fresh salad, and garlic bread.
“Events like these allow you to see a very real perspective on what your future could be like,” says Katy Dickenson, a computer science student who attended the dinner. “You get to spend a little time getting to talk to the host and hear about their career and what different steps have brought them to their current position in life.”
Dickenson says that programs like Dinner Jackets have made a positive impact on her career plans, helping her set goals and discover her passions.
“Programs like this and Expert Jackets, where alumni speak to a group of interested students about their career, and Jackets on the Job, where students travel to a host’s place of work and get immersed in what their day-to-day life is like, really help us connect and get perspective,” she says.
Alumni who live within 20 minutes of Tech’s campus are invited to host a group of six to 10 students. Dinners can take place in a home or at a restaurant. Hosts are encouraged to invite alumni friends and colleagues to join the meal.
Do you want a taste of Dinner Jackets?
Dinner Jackets' host Betsy Bulat shared the recipe for her delicious red lentil dahl below:
Ingredients:
1–2 tbsp coconut oil
2 yellow onions chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp fresh ginger
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp coriander
1 tsp red paprika powder
1 tsp garam masala
1 cups (300 g) dry red lentils
3 ¼ cups (780 ml) vegetable broth
1 cup coconut milk
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, strained
1 tsp salt (or salt to taste)
Pepper to taste
2 tsp sugar
Juice of one lemon or lime
1. Heat the coconut oil in a skillet or saucepan. Add the chopped onions and sauté for four to five minutes until translucent. Once done, add the garlic and ginger and sauté for another minute until fragrant. Add the spices and sauté for another half a minute.
2. Place the lentils in a fine sieve and rinse in cold running water. Then add them to the onion mixture. Pour in the vegetable broth, stir to combine, and bring to a simmer. Cook covered for eight to 10 minutes or until the lentils have absorbed most of the liquid.
3. Add the coconut milk and strained tomatoes and simmer another five to 10 minutes, or until the lentils are tender.
4. Season with salt, pepper, sugar, and lime/lemon juice to taste.
Serve with rice, lemon wedge, and freshly chopped parsley or cilantro.
