{"682286":{"#nid":"682286","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Legacy in Motion: The Sharp Family\u2019s Shared Path in ISyE","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the heart of this family connection is a beautiful academic journey shared between three generations of Yellow Jackets: ISyE Associate Professor, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/users\/gunter-sharp\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGunter Sharp\u003C\/a\u003E (IE \u201965, IE PhD \u201973), his son Alexander Sharp (B.S. in Applied Biology \u201889, and M.S. in Environmental Engineering \u201899), and his granddaughter, Melina Sharp (IE \u201825).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003EGunter, who has seen the evolution of engineering over the decades, retired in 2008 and is currently teaching part-time in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EH. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISyE)\u003C\/a\u003E while also expanding upon his family legacy.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMelina, following in her father and grandfather\u2019s footsteps, joined Georgia Tech with a mix of anticipation and pride.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInitially unsure of her path, Melina switched to Industrial Engineering (IE), \u0022I changed my major halfway through freshman year\u2026 just knowing my grandfather and my dad, and how smart both of them are, and how successful they\u0027ve been -- that [IE] ended up being the best option and choice for me.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESharp Minds, Sharper Bonds\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe connection between Gunter and Melina is more than just blood, it\u2019s a realm of their shared experiences, heartwarming memories, and mutual respect for industrial engineering.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile Gunter imparted lessons from his extensive engineering background, Melina navigated the modern academic landscape, adapting to new technologies and methodologies.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cCertainly, the technology has changed a lot, we didn\u0027t have computers when I was an undergraduate student\u201d stated Gunter, \u201cwe used slide rules for most of our calculations, little trigonometric and logarithmic tables, and often drawings with pencil and paper.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDespite the generational gap, Gunter and Melina have found common ground in their passion for the Tech community. From football games to campus visits, they have numerous fond memories tied to Georgia Tech.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGunter remembers unexpected winter snowfalls, whereas Melina cherishes memories of visiting her grandfather in Metz, France \u2013 hearing stories about Tech traditions and events.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cFast-forward to the summer after my first year, I did the study abroad program at \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/europe.gatech.edu\/en\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Europe\u003C\/a\u003E (GTE) and next thing you know, I\u2019m getting restaurant recommendations from my grandfather and grandmother\u201d said Melina Sharp.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFamily Ties and Tech Triumphs\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs Melina prepares for her graduation, there\u2019s one remarkable chapter in her family legacy that\u2019s truly unique: completely \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.capstone.gatech.edu\u0022\u003ECapstone Design Expo\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/capstone.isye.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESenior Design\u003C\/a\u003E with her grandfather by her side.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEncouraged by the accomplishments of her family, she\u2019s hoping to leave her mark on the institution that has been a significant part of her family\u2019s history.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cJust makes me proud of my family and where I come from and that I\u0027ve had two great role models growing up who have introduced me to Tech and helped guide me along on the path that I\u0027m on.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith two data analytics internships under her belt, Melina is looking forward to joining the world of construction management, with the software development company \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.kahua.com\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EKahua\u003C\/a\u003E in a Data Scientist role.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBetween Gunter\u2019s wisdom and Melina\u2019s fresh perspectives, this rare duo is both nostalgic and forward-looking. Their shared journey at Tech is confirmation to the beauty of intergenerational learning and growth that\u2019s possible within Industrial and Systems Engineering.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Sharp legacy at Georgia Tech is a powerful reminder that education is not just about acquiring knowledge but also about fostering community, nurturing dreams, and creating lasting generational impacts.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAs a third generation Yellow Jacket, Melina Sharp prepares for graduation and a career in data science, while sharing the key intergenerational connection and growth within Industrial and Systems Engineering.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"As a third-generation Yellow Jacket, Melina Sharp is set to graduate and embark on a data science career, showcasing the intergenerational bond with her grandfather and father."}],"uid":"36284","created_gmt":"2025-05-08 15:15:55","changed_gmt":"2025-05-09 17:05:53","author":"chenriquez8","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-05-06T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-05-06T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677045":{"id":"677045","type":"image","title":"The Sharp Family (Melina, Alexander, Gunter)","body":null,"created":"1746717778","gmt_created":"2025-05-08 15:22:58","changed":"1746717778","gmt_changed":"2025-05-08 15:22:58","alt":"The Sharp Family (Melina, Alexander, Gunter)","file":{"fid":"260905","name":"Blank--3-.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/08\/Blank--3-.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/08\/Blank--3-.png","mime":"image\/png","size":1825373,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/05\/08\/Blank--3-.png?itok=--ElVwQo"}}},"media_ids":["677045"],"groups":[{"id":"1237","name":"College of Engineering"},{"id":"1242","name":"School of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISYE)"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"},{"id":"193157","name":"Student Honors and Achievements"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39541","name":"Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ECamille Carpenter Henriquez, Communications Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}