As spring semester drew to a close, students from Senior Design and the related workforce presentation instruction left their mark on the Workforce Communication Lab, located on the first floor of the Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering.

"It has become a tradition for students to sign the wall of the lab, offering words of appreciation, reflection, and even some advice for next year's classes," said Dr. Judith Norback, ISyE's director of Workplace and Academic Communication.

Alyson Lee from the 2007 graduating class commented on the unique opportunity: "[Signing the wall] signifies the end of a chapter in my life*graduating from Georgia Tech."

In recent semesters, this unique and visible activity has been a highlight for students, and now 100s of signatures cover the walls of the lab foyer, the two columns, as well as other parts of the wall outside the small group practice stations. Sometimes students include quotes, and there is always a wide variety of languages such as Chinese and Japanese. Some student teams will sign as a group, and even the famous George P. Burdell has left his mark.

The mysterious George P. Burdell is a cherished part of Georgia Tech's history and culture that continues to survive today. His enduring presence at the Institute never fails to bring delight, laughter, and the retelling of the many stories of his escapades.

More on the Workforce Communication Lab:

The ISyE Workforce Communication Lab is utilized by students enrolled in core courses with a concentration in workforce communication. Students spend time enhancing their communication skills by receiving feedback and instruction as they practice in small groups. The instruction is unique in that it is based on actual interviews with industrial engineers, managers, and CEOs of organizations that recruit and employ industrial engineering majors. To date the ISyE Communications Lab has had over 7,000 student visits since it opened in 2004. For additional information, please contact Judith Norback at judith.norback@isye.gatech.edu or visit the ISyE Communication Lab web site at http://www2.isye.gatech.edu/communication/index2.htm.