{"683965":{"#nid":"683965","#data":{"type":"news","title":"A Toast to Science and Community: Alumni Wine Tasting Brings Yellow Jackets Together","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe Georgia Tech College of Sciences hosted its second annual Alumni Wine Tasting, a celebration of community, connection, and the science behind every sip.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s always a joy to welcome our alumni and friends back to campus,\u201d says\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/dean-susan-lozier\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESusan Lozier\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;dean of the College of Sciences, Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Chair, and professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. \u201cWinemaking is deeply rooted in science, involving chemistry, biology, and even physics, but what makes this event even better is being able to enjoy it with valued friends.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe night provided a festive and flavorful opportunity for alumni to connect \u2014 and reconnect \u2014 with fellow Yellow Jackets and meet faculty, staff, and students from the College of Sciences. Showcasing the versatility of Georgia Tech alumni, the evening featured several wineries, including La F\u00eate Wine Company, founded and led by Georgia Tech alumnus\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EDonae Burston\u003C\/strong\u003E (Industrial Engineering 1998).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EIn her welcome, Lozier provided updates on \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/transformingtomorrow.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ETransforming Tomorrow: The Campaign for Georgia Tech\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cWe have big plans for those funds, including expanding resources for our students and research faculty,\u201d she says. \u201cWe greatly appreciate the support of those alumni donors who believe in what we are doing and contribute to our efforts.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ECollege of Sciences Director of Alumni Relations\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ELeslie Roberts\u003C\/strong\u003E expressed gratitude to the many contributors who made the evening possible, including the Friends of Sciences. This group leads initiatives ranging from student career development and alumni recognition to alumni travel experiences.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ERoberts individually recognized Friends of Sciences steering committee members\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EPaul Goggin\u003C\/strong\u003E (Physics 1991, M.S. Earth and Atmospheric Sciences 1994);\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EBill Needle\u003C\/strong\u003E (Chemistry 1967);\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EHeidi Schindler\u003C\/strong\u003E (Applied Biology 1997);\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EKathy Wilson-Chu\u003C\/strong\u003E; and\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EMegen Wittling\u003C\/strong\u003E (Biology 2018).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cOur alumni community is incredibly engaged and passionate,\u201d shares Roberts. \u201cEvents like this are a testament to the strength of those connections and the impact they continue to have on our students and mission.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ERecent winners of the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cpies.cos.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECenter for Programs to Increase Engagement in the Sciences\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003Egraduate researcher poster contest were on hand to provide an inside look at current student research.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ENathalie Chavarria\u003C\/strong\u003E (Earth and Atmospheric Sciences),\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EHargobind Singh\u003C\/strong\u003E (Bioinformatics),\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EAdesh Thawale\u003C\/strong\u003E (Chemistry and Biochemistry), and\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EFnu Vidya\u003C\/strong\u003E (Chemistry and Biochemistry), provided insights on their winning research posters and answered questions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAdditionally, throughout the evening, alumni shared reflections on their time at Georgia Tech and the importance of staying connected:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cGeorgia Tech has been a huge and important part of my life,\u201d says recent graduate\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EBiswajit Banerjee\u003C\/strong\u003E (M.S. Bioinformatics 2025). \u201cYou don\u2019t forget the place that launched your future.\u201d\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJim Davidson\u003C\/strong\u003E (Ph.D. Chemistry 1984) recently moved back to Atlanta with his wife, Julie. It was their first time at a College of Sciences event. \u201cIt won\u2019t be our last,\u201d says Davidson. \u201cIt was fun to meet other Yellow Jackets and engage with the College.\u201d\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cIt was the perfect Georgia Tech event, combining fun and a little learning,\u201d says\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EPiper Rackley\u003C\/strong\u003E (Biology 2022 and M.S. Biology 2024). \u201cI love being in the same room with alumni of so many different ages and hearing about their time at Tech.\u201d\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAshley Zuniga\u003C\/strong\u003E (Biochemistry 2014) adds, \u201cIt\u2019s all about the students and how we can help. It\u2019s important to provide support and advocate for them.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen asked why she came to the event,\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ESusan Goode Estep\u003C\/strong\u003E (Biology 1997) summed it up perfectly for the alumni in attendance: \u201cIt\u2019s good to give back to a place that gave so much to us. We\u2019re Ramblin\u2019 Wrecks. We like science, Georgia Tech \u2014 and wine!\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAlumni raised a glass to science, connection, and Ramblin\u0027 Wreck pride.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Alumni raised a glass to science, connection, and Ramblin\u0027 Wreck pride."}],"uid":"36607","created_gmt":"2025-08-19 18:00:53","changed_gmt":"2025-08-19 20:10:21","author":"ls67","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-08-19T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-08-19T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677741":{"id":"677741","type":"image","title":"La F\u00eate Wine Company Founder and CEO Donae Burston (Industrial Engineering 1998), Norman Chu (Electrical Engineering 1984), and Friends of Sciences Steering Committee Member Kathy Wilson-Chu raise a toast to Georgia Tech.","body":"\u003Cp\u003ELa F\u00eate Wine Company Founder and CEO Donae Burston (Industrial Engineering 1998), Norman Chu (Electrical Engineering 1984), and Friends of Sciences Steering Committee Member Kathy Wilson-Chu raise a toast to Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1755627132","gmt_created":"2025-08-19 18:12:12","changed":"1755627132","gmt_changed":"2025-08-19 18:12:12","alt":"Three people raise their glasses in a toast.","file":{"fid":"261674","name":"Wilson-Chu54721007929_67ba2cd3a6_z.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/19\/Wilson-Chu54721007929_67ba2cd3a6_z.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/19\/Wilson-Chu54721007929_67ba2cd3a6_z.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":75023,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/08\/19\/Wilson-Chu54721007929_67ba2cd3a6_z.jpg?itok=Hhacxtk2"}},"677742":{"id":"677742","type":"image","title":"Alumni enjoyed great wine and even better conversation.","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAlumni enjoyed great wine and even better conversation.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1755628775","gmt_created":"2025-08-19 18:39:35","changed":"1755628775","gmt_changed":"2025-08-19 18:39:35","alt":"Four alumni talk around a table.","file":{"fid":"261676","name":"Tablegathering54721127665_5a8edd9c6c.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/19\/Tablegathering54721127665_5a8edd9c6c.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/19\/Tablegathering54721127665_5a8edd9c6c.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":61209,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/08\/19\/Tablegathering54721127665_5a8edd9c6c.jpg?itok=lYpdZIGM"}},"677743":{"id":"677743","type":"image","title":"Graduate student Fnu Vidya (Chemistry and Biochemistry) discusses her research with Dean of the College of Sciences Susan Lozier.","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGraduate student Fnu Vidya (Chemistry and Biochemistry) discusses her research with Dean of the College of Sciences Susan Lozier.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1755629010","gmt_created":"2025-08-19 18:43:30","changed":"1755629010","gmt_changed":"2025-08-19 18:43:30","alt":"A student with long black hair stands in front of a research poster next to a woman with white hair in a blue suit.","file":{"fid":"261677","name":"SusanandFnu54721007314_0a00fdb609.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/19\/SusanandFnu54721007314_0a00fdb609.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/19\/SusanandFnu54721007314_0a00fdb609.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":55737,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/08\/19\/SusanandFnu54721007314_0a00fdb609.jpg?itok=3MxPD78S"}}},"media_ids":["677741","677742","677743"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/alumni","title":"College of Sciences Alumni page"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"},{"id":"42901","name":"Community"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192249","name":"cos-community"},{"id":"506","name":"alumni"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ELaura S. Smith, writer\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["laura.smith@cos.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}