{"394011":{"#nid":"394011","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Faces of ECE: Senior Stories 2015","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAlmost 200 Georgia Tech School of Electrical and Computer Engineering seniors are set to graduate this May. Each one has a unique story to tell. Here are four of them.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022#Chang\u0022\u003EBenjamin Chang\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022#Timperio\u0022\u003EChris Timperio\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022#Hanson\u0022\u003EErin Hanson\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022#Danielak\u0022\u003EZack Danielak\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022Chang\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003EBenjamin Chang\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EElectrical engineering major Benjamin Chang is all about upholding Georgia Tech traditions and spreading school spirit to new Yellow Jackets. His college career has been punctuated by his involvement in several extracurricular organizations that spread the Georgia Tech love to new and current students alike. Chang started working with FASET (Familiarization and Adaptation to the Surroundings and Environs of Tech), which is an orientation program for new students and their families, during the summer after his sophomore year. From there, he steadily became involved in more activities such as Wreck Camp, an extended orientation experience for new students designed to help jumpstart the college experience, and GT 1000, The Georgia Tech first year seminar.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen he isn\u2019t helping new students get acclimated to the Tech experience, he is busy spreading school cheer to the student body, alumni, and the greater Georgia Tech family through the Ramblin\u2019 Reck Club, an organization of students founded in 1930 that is committed to the education and promotion of Tech spirit, history, and tradition. In addition to organizing spirit-related events and upholding Tech traditions like Homecoming and T-Book, the Reck Club performs one of the most important functions on campus: maintaining the Ramblin\u2019 Wreck.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis year, Chang added Georgia Tech Cheerleading to his portfolio of spirit-related commitments. In between his extracurricular activities, he managed to squeeze in co-op work with NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center. The challenge of participating in so many activities combined with coursework taught Chang valuable time management skills as well as how to be a team player.\u0026nbsp;Through it all, his Reck Club family helped him inject moments of fun into times that would have otherwise been stressful.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChang is still deciding between graduate school or working in industry, but regardless of his future path, he\u2019s sure to keep his beloved alma mater close to his heart for the long haul.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI love this school and I want to help others develop the same love for this school that I have. We\u2019re only at Tech for so long, I want people\u2019s experience here to be positive and memorable when they look back as alumni,\u201d Chang said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022Timperio\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChris Timperio\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EElectrical engineering major Chris Timperio spent much of his time in college building a global community through the game of lacrosse. Now his legacy stretches from Georgia to Europe and includes an opportunity to play in the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) World Lacrosse Championships. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAttracted by the fast pace and high level of concentration required, Timperio\u2019s passion for the sport started in high school. When he moved from New York to Savannah, Georgia to attend Armstrong Atlantic State University (AASU), he noticed that lacrosse wasn\u2019t as popular in the South. He was disappointed to find that AASU didn\u2019t have a team, but felt he lacked the influence and know-how to change things.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI was thinking there wasn\u2019t any possible way this kid from New York could just come down and start a team,\u201d Timperio said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe quickly put his urge to start one on the backburner in order to acclimate to his new environment and focus on schoolwork. Once Timperio settled in, he joined a local club called Savannah Schlitz where he gained new skills and enjoyed the camaraderie of working with a team toward a common goal. With that experience under his belt, he felt confident enough to take the plunge and see what it would take to start a team at AASU. He paired up with another northeastern transplant named Gregory Muller and they jumped into the process.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe studied the ins and outs of creating a sport club team, recruited players, talked to administrators, scheduled fundraisers, wrote a constitution, and petitioned for the new AASU lacrosse team to become a registered sports organization. From the time we started the process to the time I left Armstrong to transfer to Tech, the team had grown to more than 20 players with funding from the school for uniforms, equipment, and travel,\u201d Timperio said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMoving from AASU to Georgia Tech, Timperio went from a big fish in a small sea to being swallowed up by rigorous courses and a well-established lacrosse program.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI knew the workload at Tech would be tougher than AASU and the lacrosse program would now be in the big leagues. It was definitely humbling going from the top of your program to starting out at the bottom. However, this gave me a new motivation to work even harder and make a name for myself at Tech,\u201d Timperio said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring his junior year at Tech, Timperio spent a semester abroad in Metz, France at the Georgia Tech Lorraine campus. While there, he had the opportunity to meet and train with lacrosse teams from all over Europe including groups in Rome and Belgrade, as well as German teams from Kaiserslautern, Saarbrucken, Trier, and Munich. Over a weekend trip to Serbia, Timperio met and played with the Belgrade Zombies. He became fast friends with the group as they played lacrosse and toured the city. At the end of the weekend, the Zombies invited Timperio to play with them for their induction into the FIL World Lacrosse Championships.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter graduation, Timperio plans to work in RF engineering at Space X. But regardless of his professional commitments, the friendships and community he has built with lacrosse will endure. He has a firm date on the calendar to reunite with the Zombies in Manchester, England for the 2018 Championships. He also hopes to pass his love of the game on to the next generation by coaching a youth team.\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022Hanson\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003EErin Hanson\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EErin Hanson has a tattoo of Karel J. Robot, the first program she learned from her high school mentor, computer science teacher Bambi Hertel. It is a permanent testament to Hertel\u2019s passion for programming and teaching as well as a reminder to keep moving forward, no matter the obstacles. The tattoo and her teacher\u2019s impact on her were made all the more poignant due to Hertel\u2019s passing from lung cancer last year, combined with her own health struggles. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHanson took every course offered by Hertel in order to soak up everything she had to teach. By the time Hanson enrolled at Georgia Tech, it was a no-brainer that she would major in computer engineering. She has excelled in her studies due in part to the foundation laid by Hertel.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAcademically, I feel mediocre compared to a lot of the kids I encounter in ECE. The accomplishments that stick out the most to me are very small moments in the grand scheme of the six years I\u0027ve spent here: that one time I got 100% on my thermo test, or the one semester that I managed to pull off straight A\u0027s,\u201d Hanson said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDespite her humility, Hanson\u2019s accomplishments earned her the prestigious Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship from the Department of Defense (DoD). The award targets scientists and engineers with an aptitude for conducting theoretical and applied research. It covers the full cost of tuition, plus a monthly living stipend. In exchange, an equal time commitment in the form of civilian work is owed to the DoD. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThat award lifted a tremendous financial burden. It was better than any grade I could have gotten,\u201d Hanson said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring the spring of 2014 while enjoying academic successes and a new found financial safety net, Hanson began experiencing sharp pain in her lower abdomen. An ultrasound revealed a grapefruit-sized mass on her ovary. Surgery to remove the mass was done right before spring break. The pathology report came back and she was diagnosed with stage two ovarian cancer. Chemotherapy was recommended immediately. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAll I could think was \u2018Oh my God\u2026I\u2019m never going to graduate.\u2019 I tried to bargain with the oncologist. \u2018I can\u2019t do chemo now. I have an internship in Ohio and then only 12 credits left. We can do chemo after I graduate. He was not amused,\u201d Hanson said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESurgery and chemotherapy meant Hanson missed a good bit of school. Physical recovery was hard, but the mental strain has taken even more of a toll.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThey don\u2019t really tell you how much it can mess with your brain,\u201d Hanson said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe recalled a final she had to take during the course of treatment and described it as \u201cnauseously grasping at straws that aren\u2019t really there.\u201d Even now she says her brain isn\u2019t at 100%, but the compassion of her classmates and professors has made her battle easier and taught her to be vulnerable.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI desperately wanted to remain this self-sufficient, independent person, but it wasn\u2019t always possible. There\u2019s a lot to be said for asking for help and admitting your shortcomings,\u201d Hanson said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHanson is now in remission and will head to Dayton, Ohio after graduation to fulfill her civilian career duties under the SMART program with Wright Patterson Air Force Base. From there, graduate school may be in the cards.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAfter all,\u201d Hanson said with her customary dry wit, \u201cI now have a killer adversity essay for my applications.\u201d\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022Danielak\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003EZack Danielak\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EZack Danielak remembers being captivated by the dissection of a boom box in 3rd grade. At such a young age, Danielak had no real understanding of technology, but the puzzle it presented was intriguing. The fact that he comes from a long line of engineers combined with this \u201clight bulb\u201d moment in third grade led him to study electrical engineering. As he began to uncover the mysteries of technology in class, he also started performing his own kind of magic as a member of the Georgia Tech Cheerleaders. And while his love of engineering played out like destiny, his other great passion happened almost as a fluke.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDanielak, who was interested in weightlifting during his freshman and sophomore years, ran into a friend at the gym who happened to be on the cheerleading squad. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cHe told me that if I like lifting weights, I should try lifting people! So I went to an open practice and loved it right away,\u201d Danielak said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs a member of the White Squad, Danielak cheers at home football games and women\u2019s basketball games as well as competing against other universities at Cheersport Nationals. His favorite moment cheering was when he did his first back flip at Bobby Dodd Stadium.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of 12 men on a 38-person squad, Danielak is the only ECE student and spends a lot of time with his female teammates both during practice and at games. Not only is the sport challenging and fun, it is also a refreshing contrast to his classes, where the ratio of men to women is decidedly higher.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cBeing part of a team with so many successful, athletic, and intelligent female engineers is motivating and inspiring. Our team has one of the highest percentages of athletes in STEM fields and on the Dean\u2019s List, due in no small part to the drive and ambition that these women bring to the team,\u201d Danielak said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to being inspired by his fellow engineering teammates, he also acknowledges other benefits of the sport. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI now have the confidence to shine through interviews, as well as lots of experience working under pressure, making quick decisions, and working with a team through thick and thin,\u201d\u0026nbsp;Danielak said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter graduation, he hopes to work in the automotive industry and focus on hybridization and electrification. With the confidence that comes from performing in front of crowds of fans in Bobby Dodd Stadium combined with a world-class education in electrical engineering, look for him making waves with eco-friendly cars in the future. And while his life may take him far from Tech, he hopes to come back and attend as many football games as possible to cheer on the Yellow Jackets from the stands instead of the sidelines.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFour graduating seniors in ECE tell their unique stories.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Four graduating seniors in ECE tell their unique stories."}],"uid":"27842","created_gmt":"2015-04-06 10:57:58","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:17:58","author":"Ashlee Gardner","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2015-04-06T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2015-04-06T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"393831":{"id":"393831","type":"image","title":"Benjamin Chang","body":null,"created":"1449246346","gmt_created":"2015-12-04 16:25:46","changed":"1475895110","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:51:50","alt":"Benjamin Chang","file":{"fid":"75619","name":"chang.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/chang.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/chang.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":49957,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/chang.jpg?itok=qtBxRIxD"}},"393821":{"id":"393821","type":"image","title":"Chris Timperio","body":null,"created":"1449246346","gmt_created":"2015-12-04 16:25:46","changed":"1475895110","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:51:50","alt":"Chris Timperio","file":{"fid":"75618","name":"serbialax.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/serbialax.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/serbialax.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":114625,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/serbialax.jpg?itok=lzK7D_1i"}},"393841":{"id":"393841","type":"image","title":"Erin Hanson","body":null,"created":"1449246346","gmt_created":"2015-12-04 16:25:46","changed":"1475895110","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:51:50","alt":"Erin Hanson","file":{"fid":"75620","name":"21846_1297896811635_1293338_n.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/21846_1297896811635_1293338_n.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/21846_1297896811635_1293338_n.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":37620,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/21846_1297896811635_1293338_n.jpg?itok=M07kea6B"}},"393811":{"id":"393811","type":"image","title":"Zack Danielak","body":null,"created":"1449246346","gmt_created":"2015-12-04 16:25:46","changed":"1475895110","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:51:50","alt":"Zack Danielak","file":{"fid":"75617","name":"cheersportnationals2015.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/cheersportnationals2015.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/cheersportnationals2015.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":101717,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/cheersportnationals2015.jpg?itok=k7YZZfJw"}}},"media_ids":["393831","393821","393841","393811"],"groups":[{"id":"1255","name":"School of Electrical and Computer Engineering"}],"categories":[{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAshlee Gardner\u003Cbr \/\u003EOnline Communications Manager, School of ECE\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["ashlee.gardner@ece.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}