Wreckreation

Astronomy

With 14 astronauts from Georgia Tech and many more Jackets advancing space exploration across the industry, the Institute is the perfect place to be bitten by the space bug. The Astronomy Club wants to make that happen. Hundreds of amateur astronomers line up outside Tech’s Howey Physics Building to peer through telescopes during the club’s popular Public Observatory Nights. In addition, the Astronomy Club meets weekly on Mondays for presentations, pizza, and a spectacular view of the universe through the Georgia Tech Observatory’s 20-inch-diameter Cassegrain reflector. Once a semester, these student astronomers escape the glare of the Atlanta skyline in search of darker skies at the Deerlick Astronomy Village in Raytown, Georgia. – Jennifer Herseim

Band

The Band Club was formed by the same person who arranged and copyrighted “Ramblin’ Wreck” and “Up with the White and Gold”: Tech’s Band Director from 1914 to 1928, Frank Roman. So you could say the Band Club is as much a part of Tech history as the Fight Song. While the School of Music houses several musical groups, including the Glee Club and Georgia Tech Symphony Orchestra, Band Club holds social events such as the Band Banquet and a formal for all Georgia Tech’s bands. – JH

Crew

When Cassi Niemann, Arch 01, M Arch 08, arrived at Georgia Tech to study architecture in 1997, she felt like she was missing a part of herself. From elementary school through high school, she had been a gymnast and a track and field athlete. Now, for the first time she could remember, Niemann didn’t have a sport. “I was a freshman from Maryland, and I didn’t know anyone,” she says. “I needed to fill that void.”

One day, she was meandering down Skiles Walkway when she saw Georgia Tech Crew recruiting new members. Niemann told the team leaders that while she thought it seemed cool, she had barely even seen competitive rowing before, much less participated.

They told her she was perfect.

Founded in 1985 by two roommates who fell in love with rowing in college, Tech Crew has grown into a world-class team, with up to 100 members at any given time, practicing seven days a week and competing in regattas against Olympians and traditional collegiate powerhouses. In 2018, one of Tech Crew’s Men’s Varsity teams took home gold, giving added credence to the organization’s recruiting tagline: “Become a national champion—no experience required.”

“Some people may assume that our success comes from only recruiting students who have rowing experience,” says Lane Proctor, PR officer for Tech Crew. “However, that is entirely untrue. The majority of our team had never stepped foot in a boat before coming to Tech. We have dedicated coaches that, every semester, teach our rowers how to row from the ground up.”

This included Niemann, who was surprised to find that her fellow recruits were not only inexperienced rowers, but many of them weren’t even that athletic. Together, they built their strength, and learned to move their hands and legs and even breathe in rhythmic unison. The daily practice regimen, the structured physical activity that added balance to her studies, was exactly what Niemann had been looking for when she arrived at Tech. And along the way, the lonely Maryland transplant found community.

Niemann went on to be a coach on the team. After graduation, she steered away from architecture and became a personal trainer and rowing instructor. And to this day, she still gets together with former teammates for weekend boat trips. “The team made me faster and stronger and yes, we won some medals,” she says. “But in the end, it’s all about building strong relationships and making memories.” – Tony Rehagen

DramaTech

One of Tech’s oldest student-run organizations, DramaTech dates back to “The Marionettes” of the 1920s. And when we say “student-run” we mean that students do it all, from acting to directing to set, costume, and prop design to business operations. The purpose is to not only facilitate theater opportunities for Yellow Jackets of all academic stripes, but also provide diversion and entertainment for the rest of campus. When watching a performance in the Dean James E. Dull Theatre at the Ferst Center, keep an eye out for a toaster. For decades, it’s been a DramaTech tradition to find creative ways to incorporate the prop into all productions—no exceptions.  –TR

Executive Round Table

What happens when you pose a challenge to a dining room full of bright Yellow Jackets? Be ready for more than a dozen solutions before dessert has even been served. Since its founding in 1956, the Executive Round Table’s program has developed future leaders by bringing students, faculty, and industry executives together for engaging conversation over dinner. The ERT dinner meetings have featured prominent speakers over the years, including former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn. But at ERT, everyone meets as equals. Curiosity driven students, faculty members, and members of business and social arenas cast aside their titles for an open exchange of ideas and opinions.

The organization also hosts an annual SFI (Student-Faculty-Industry) Conference where members gather with faculty and industry leaders to discuss topics under a central theme. The 2023 conference featured experts in national security speaking about technology’s role in the space and defense industries. During dinner meetings, each speaker concludes their presentation with a thought-provoking challenge posed to the ERT members. On any given night, that round-table discussion might revolve around incentives for electrical utility companies that align with consumer needs, a business challenge posed by an executive from a Fortune 500 company, or the search for extraterrestrial life on Venus. For industrial engineering student Hayden Perciful, the high-caliber conversations and the wide range of topics means meetings never get dull. “I like to show up and be surprised by the topic,” she says. “You never know what the topic is going to be next.” –JH

(F) Yellow-Jacket Flying Club

Georgia Tech students don’t just design aircraft—they can also fly them. The Yellow Jacket Flying Club is the nation’s oldest continuously operating collegiate flying club, founded as the Georgia Tech Flying Club in 1945. Its first airplane was a Stearman PT-17 biplane donated as military surplus after World War II. Today, the club owns and operates four Cessna 172 Skyhawks that it rents to members for flight training. But it’s not all about the cockpit: YJFC also hosts events for anyone interested in aviation, featuring guest speakers like astronauts, airline pilots, and air traffic controllers. Plus, they collaborate with other clubs for “fly-in” events, where students grill out, talk shop, and spread their wings. –TR

(G) Student-Government Association

Convened in 1922 as the Student Council, a small group met regularly with the Dean of Students to discuss campus concerns; today the Student Government Association (SGA) comprises a diverse body of students who work to make the Georgia Tech experience better for all students. The SGA touches almost every part of the Institute: The legislative branch represents every major student group and constituency, and the executive branch’s 25-plus committees oversee most of campus life, including service, sustainability, and academics. The organization also provides funding and visibility for other student groups and ensures that major Institute administrative initiatives and projects have student input. While working on behalf of Tech’s more than 45,000 current students, the SGA focuses on projects that will benefit future generations of Yellow Jackets. These have included the Mental Health Joint Allocation Committee, the Midtown Free Fridge, the Diversity Symposium, and a personal finance course. –SWS

HyTech Racing

This team of Yellow Jacket engineers doesn’t just race cars—it races the clock. On Day One, the multidisciplinary team of Tech’s finest meet at the Student Competition Center and start designing their next Formula SAE Electric car, which they then build from the bolts up. As the machine takes shape, the team continually tests design, performance, and efficiency, first on computer simulation, then on the pavement of the MRDC parking lot. The main event is a weeklong summer competition at Michigan International Speedway against the best in the world. Then the day after that race ends, another begins as the team goes
back to the drafting board to start next year’s entry. –TR

Ice Hockey

While many people might not immediately associate Atlanta with Canada’s national sport, Georgia Tech Hockey Club has been sending skaters onto the ice since 1973. The Yellow Jackets are the longest continuously organized collegiate club hockey team in the Southeast, 100% student-run by team members elected at the end of each fall semester. That board hires the coaches and manages the team’s schedules, travel, and finances. After a lull in participation and success in the 2010s, the team has bounced back to qualify for the Collegiate Hockey Federation National Finals in each of the last two seasons. –TR

Juggling Club

Hold your jokes about how all Tech students skillfully “juggle” their rigorous coursework—this club isn’t just about carnival tricks. Okay, it IS a lot of fun. But juggling is also an art form, a beautiful sort of dance of balance, strength, and grace. Speaking of strength, it’s also very much a physical activity, even a sport. But no previous skills or requirements are necessary to join the Juggling Club at Georgia Tech, which practices three times a week on Tech Green. (And let’s not think about working your way up to tossing knives, flaming torches, and chainsaws.) –TR

Kendo Club at GT

One of the newest clubs at Georgia Tech, KGT was formed in the fall of 2021, though practices didn’t begin until 2022. While kendo, the martial art of sparring with bamboo sticks/swords (shinai) and protective armor, is also relatively modern, the practice is rooted in Japanese training and tradition that goes back centuries. KGT is open to students of all experience levels, including those who have never tried it. That’s because kendo is not all about fighting and technique. It’s also about focusing the mind, body, and spirit, while appreciating Japanese culture. –TR

Lacrosse

Making it to nationals last year for the first time in the club’s 52-year history, the Georgia Tech Men’s Lacrosse team has set its sights on the national championship title this season. With two games a week against other colleges’ club teams and an upcoming competition in Utah, the squad is well on its way to another standout year. The men’s team picked up regional championship titles in 1997, 2004, 2016, and 2017. The Tech Women’s Lacrosse team practices year round, competing in Division 1 play across the South. Last year, the women’s team made it to regional playoffs, and in 2019, they competed at the regional championship semi-finals. But aside from their success on the field, the Lacrosse club also promotes lifelong skills by developing team players who challenge each other to become better versions of themselves on and off the field. –JH

Miracles at GT

Most clubs and organizations at GT are about more than just physical activity, but Miracle is special. It’s about giving back to the community outside of Tech. The largest student-led philanthropic group on campus, Miracle is one of 300 Dance Marathon programs across the U.S. Each year, students from all backgrounds work to organize, present, and participate in a spring dancing showcase that raises money for the Heart Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. And since 1991, Yellow Jacket dancers have brought in more than $200 million for the noble cause. –TR

North Avenue Review

In 1989, in the wake of the student demonstrations in China’s Tiananmen Square, a group of Yellow Jackets banded together to produce a platform for fellow students to express unedited and uncensored opinions. The North Avenue Review (NAR) was born. Today, GT’s open-forum magazine goes to print twice a semester and publishes online pieces, including essays, op-eds, poetry, art, fiction, and journalistic stories. Students are not just the writers, but they are also editors, designers, marketers, and everything in-between. And if you’re looking for an element of sport, the NAR, represented by their pink narwhal mascot, hosts ‘zine fests, write-athons, and five-minute poetry events. –TR

Outdoor Recreation Georgia Tech

One of the greatest challenges any Tech student has is finding occasion to get outside. Think about it: No matter their major, Yellow Jackets spend a lot of time in the classroom, lab, library, or at home hitting the books. They can enjoy the lush EcoCommons and other parks and greenspaces, but getting any fresh air or adventure off campus can be tough.

This is especially true for students like T.J. Kim, who came to Tech from Singapore to study mechanical engineering. “I didn’t really know what was out there beyond the engineering school,” says Kim, ME 18. “I was a closed off and shy guy who was good at science and math and liked to play video games. That’s when I heard some friends in my freshman hall talking about ‘ORGT.’”

ORGT stands for Outdoor Recreation Georgia Tech, a Campus Recreation Program that has been organizing wilderness adventure trips for students since 1970. Today ORGT provides more than 100 open-enrollment trips—from hiking to kayaking, climbing to caving—each year. When Kim first decided to follow his friends and become an “ORGTeer,” he decided he wanted to try them all. “I thought ‘college is the time where you want to explore,’” says Kim. “Even if I was scared, I was going to go for it."

His first trip was mountain biking, even though he barely remembered how to ride a bicycle on even terrain. Still, Kim’s biggest fear wasn’t the mountain or the machine, but rather not wanting to hold the rest of the group up. He was relieved to find that the team leaders were accommodating and encouraging, and his fellow ORGTeers were unconditionally supportive of everyone, no matter their experience or skill level.

Through the years, Kim made sure to get his homework done during the school week so he’d have weekends clear to escape the indoors and have his next ORGT adventure. He found that the group not only pulled him out of his house, but it also pulled him out of his shell and taught him interpersonal skills and teamwork. “It shaped me,” says Kim, who graduated in 2018 and is now a data scientist with The Home Depot. “Today, my personality IS the outdoors. Now my hobby is planning trips for mountain biking, climbing, skiing…all across the U.S. ORGT was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me and something everyone should try.” –TR

Sports Parachute Club

These Yellow Jackets really do fly. Almost every weekend while school is in session, members of the Sport Parachute Club spread their wings (or parachutes) and skydive. Founded in 1969, the club is one of the oldest collegiate skydiving clubs in the country. The club, with funds from SGA, helps cover skydiving costs, particularly for first-time jumpers, to lower the barrier of entry to the sport. Every year, members compete at the National Collegiate Skydiving Championships, and several have even jumped into Bobby Dodd Stadium before games. Alumni who started with the club have gone on to compete across the globe, including Chris Gay, EE 87, MS EE 90, Shannon Pilcher, BC 94, and Ian Bobo, IE 94. (Read Sky-High Success.) –JH

Quiz Bowl

Quiz Bowl at Georgia Tech has a deep, rich history. The modern version of the competition consists of four-player teams battling to answer 20 “toss-up” questions on academic subjects ranging from chemistry to history to computer science to art. This format was developed by Robert Meredith, an assistant professor of English who coached the Tech team from 1973 to 1989, and the Academic Competition Federation (ACF) national championship trophy is named in his honor. The club practices every Monday and Thursday, reviewing questions from previous competitions, and regularly fields teams at regional and national tournaments. In 1996, Tech won its first national championship. In 2022, the club defeated Stanford to win the Overall Championship at the ACF National Tournament, and overcame Brown University to win the Undergraduate National Championship at the Intercollegiate Championship Tournament. –SWS

Ramblin' Reck Club

Keeper of Tech spirit and traditions, the Ramblin’ Reck Club has been spreading joy since 1930. Aside from its responsibility to maintain and care for the Ramblin’ Wreck, the club oversees several other traditions, including the T-Book, T-Night, Mini 500, Freshman Cake Race, and Wreck Parade. This year, the club moved into a new space next to the John Lewis Student Center. (Read A Dream Garage Comes True.) –JH

Swim Club

"Everything is optional, except having fun” is the Swim Club’s unofficial motto, and its members take it seriously. The goal of the club is to create a culture where its 200-plus members attend the four-plus weekly evening practices because they want to, not because they have to. This lighthearted approach has led to the club’s success, winning three successive College Club Swimming National Championships, as well as 2019 and 2022 Georgia Tech Sports Club of the Year. In 2019, the club signed a sponsorship contract with Arena, giving the team exclusive access to some of the highest-quality racing technology on the market. –SWS

Technique

The ‘Nique, the moniker by which Tech’s student newspaper is known, was born in 1911 as a product of Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate: The “To Hell With georgia” issue was entirely dedicated to the upcoming football game with the University[sic] of Georgia. “The South’s Liveliest Newspaper” has continued this rivalry tradition every year since. The ‘Nique covers student functions, sports events, and interviews with Institute administration and city leaders, among other topics. The publication serves as a champion of free press on campus, and as a truthful, reflective record of campus life. –SWS

Ultimate Frisbee

Ultimate is a game played on a field with a flying disc and mixes aspects of American football, soccer, rugby, and basketball. Georgia Tech fields a women’s ultimate team, “Wreck,” and a men’s ultimate team, “A Tribe Called Tech.” Both squads compete at regional and national tournaments. Wreck’s motto is “Better Together,” with team members working to improve their physical and technical skills, while also building lifelong friendships. In its 30-plus years of existence, Tribe has qualified for nationals five times, as well as qualifying for regionals for 19 consecutive years—since 2004. –SWS

(V) Club Volleyball

The women’s club volleyball team at Georgia Tech practices and plays competitively throughout the fall and spring semesters. This includes home tournaments hosted at the Campus Recreation Center (CRC) and the National Collegiate Volleyball Federation National Championships. In 2022, after nationals’ two-year hiatus because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the club finished fifth. The team also hosts regular open-gym sessions, which any interested student can attend, as well as a “beach” volleyball fundraiser played on the CRC sand courts. –SWS

WREK Radio

Entirely student-managed, -operated, and -engineered, WREK Radio transmits music around the clock on 91.1 FM and streaming at wrek.org. The 100,000-watt station, which covers the metropolitan Atlanta area, began in March 1968 with programming that emphasizes music outside the cultural mainstream—a focus that continues today. In addition to specialty music segments, WREK broadcasts weekly news shows, as well as Live at WREK, which features live band performances in the station’s studio. Additionally, the station hosts WREKtacular, an annual off-campus music festival. WREK offers a DJ-training program for students interested in serving as broadcast hosts, and student-engineers maintain everything from the station’s antenna to its website. Staff also have access to WREK’s physical library, consisting of tens of thousands of CDs and records. –SWS

(X) TedxGeorgia

TEDxGeorgiaTech is an independent TEDx chapter organized under the worldwide TEDx umbrella. The group’s goal is to showcase ideas from the Tech community to make an impact on campus and beyond. Run by a team of around 30 student volunteers, TEDxGeorgiaTech hosts Open Mic Nights featuring comedy, slam poetry, and musical performances; Speaker Salons where 4 to 5 presenters give curated talks; and all-day conferences with up to eight speakers and networking opportunities for attendees. Talks given at these events are uploaded to TEDx’s YouTube channel, where they are shared with a wider audience. The Tech team also organizes events such as connecTED to network with other local chapters, including TEDxAtlanta, TEDxEmory, and TEDxUGA. –SWS

Yellow Jacket Roller Derby

With skater names like “Allen Wench” and “Lightning McLynn,” the Yellow Jacket Roller Derby team likes to have fun. But don’t make the mistake of not taking this group seriously. The gender inclusive team plays a full-contact sport—all on roller skates. And while roller derby is a fast-growing sport, with leagues around the world, YJRD has the distinction of being one of only a few collegiate teams in existence. The team’s mission is to spread the sport to as many students as they can, welcoming new members of all backgrounds and abilities. “Though we are all so different in our identities and interests, we are all tied together by our devoted love for roller derby,” says league president Emily Primmer a.k.a. “Primm Reaper.” –JH

(Z) Humans vs. Zombies

Better watch out—the zombies are coming for you! Humans vs. Zombies (HvZ) is the largest game played on Tech’s campus, with hundreds of people—students, faculty, and staff—participating each semester. Organized and refereed by a team of admins, HvZ is comparable to tag, but with short missions and strategy built in. Play begins with one person designated as the “Original Zombie” and everyone else as humans, who can stun zombies by hitting them with balled-up socks, large marshmallows, or foam darts shot from Nerf blasters. The game ends when either the humans have completed their missions, or all humans have been turned into zombies. (The lone exception to this is George P. Burdell, who has been classed as a “professional human” and is impossible to kill.) –SWS