Georgia Tech’s New Student Convocation featured two student speakers from the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, Merry Hunter Hipp and Mike Donohue. Hipp, a sophomore majoring in Public Policy and minoring in History, Technology, and Society, presented the traditional sophomore welcome. Donohue, a double major in Public Policy and Economics & International Affairs, spoke at the Convocation in his role as Chair of the Honor Advisory Council.

Hipp was nominated for her distinguished speaking role by her mentor, and influence in choosing to attend Tech, School of Public Policy Associate Professor Richard Barke. In her speech, Merry Hunter drew from exciting memories of her own Convocation experience and provided sage advice to the new students, encouraging them to enjoy school but also to “be proud to be a Yellow Jacket”. She attributed each letter of “GO JACKETS” to a unique tradition that each new student could consider adopting, like “S is for Success” and “T is for Tech Pride.”

Donohue also sought to inspire pride in the new students, just as he “was proud to be up [on stage] belting out the fight song”. In his remarks, he said the Convocation “creates a great sense of camaraderie amongst the new students because it’s the first time they are all together and it’s going to be the only time they are all together and that’s how they start out their Georgia Tech career and it really sets them on a good path”. While Donohue encouraged new students to enjoy their time at Tech, he also advised them that being a Yellow Jacket comes with the responsibility of academic integrity. He presented the honor code to the students in a light and unique way that Tech students could truly understand…as a mathematical equation. Donohue adapted the poignant Marcus Tullius Cicero quote, "Ability without honor is useless", into “Ability equals Honor”.

As Hipp and Donohue reflected on their experience as new students participating in the Convocation, they both paused in pleasure and disbelief as they recounted all that they have accomplished since they first put on a RAT cap. Both have excelled as leaders in the classroom and in numerous student organizations, and have traveled abroad on academic-related trips. The future for these two leaders is exciting and limitless, the same notions they wished for the proud new students. The Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts also has reason to exhibit “Tech Pride” - of the three students who spoke at the New Student Convocation, two of them are our own.

Story by Lauren Langley, Master's Student, Digital Media Program