{"693312":{"#nid":"693312","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Three JMHP Students Earn 2026 National Collegiate Honors Council Awards ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMelody Lee, J\u2019Avani Stinson, and Esha Venkat won National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) awards for their outstanding work as John H. Martinson Honors Program (JMHP) students.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe trio will receive their awards at the NCHC Awards Ceremony on Friday, November 13, at 6:00 PM. All three will attend the 2026 NCHC Annual Conference from November 11-14 in New Orleans, Louisiana.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMelody Lee Wins Portz Scholar Award\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMelody Lee, a fourth-year computer science student, was selected as a 2026 NCHC Portz Scholar Award recipient for her paper \u201cStudying Energy-Resolved Transport with Wavepacket Dynamics on Quantum Computers.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Portz Scholar Award, established in 1990, honors the work and legacy of John and Edythe Portz. The award recognizes up to four undergraduate honors students each year as a result of a research paper competition.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E2026 Portz Scholars receive:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e92e19a2b2246a3fcd61ce53df20ade13\u0022\u003EA $350 stipend, disbursed at the 2026 NCHC Annual Conference\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e245dd1f722e6f50538d649f2088614ac\u0022\u003EComplimentary conference registration\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e6a8fa1342d97e91b5b6ce317ce21b784\u0022\u003EThe opportunity to present their research during the Portz Scholars Panel\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou can read Melody\u2019s abstract \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nchchonors.org\/page\/2026-portz-scholar-lee\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELearn more about the Portz Scholar Award \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nchchonors.org\/page\/portz-scholars-awards\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJ\u2019Avani Stinson Wins John J. Hanigan Scholarship\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJ\u2019Avani Stinson, a fourth-year biology student, was selected as one of two recipients of the 2026 NCHC John J. Hanigan Scholarship. J\u2019Avani is recognized for his passion for service, which he has demonstrated through his work on the JMHP Honors Leadership Council Civic Service committee and co-op at NASA Johnson Space Center.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe John J. Hanigan Scholarship, established in 2015, honors John Hanigan\u2014a dedicated leader who managed NCHC\u2019s financial investments and served on the NCHC Board of Directors. The scholarship is awarded to students who demonstrate a history of service and commitment to the spirit of volunteering, honoring John J. Hanigan\u2019s legacy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E2026 John J. Hanigan Scholarship recipients receive:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022ef31283e71cf39ab645b6a173f804a876\u0022\u003EA $500 stipend for conference expenses, disbursed at the 2026 NCHC Annual Conference\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e665e4e453013ef6efda489cb5890fbf2\u0022\u003EThe stipend can cover conference registration, airfare, hotel accommodations, or personal needs the student may have in order to attend.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou can read more about J\u0027Avani\u2019s impact \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nchchonors.org\/page\/2026-john-j-hanigan-scholarship-recipient-stinson\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELearn more about the John J. Hanigan Scholarship \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nchchonors.org\/page\/john-j-hanigan-scholarship\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEsha Venkat Wins Community Engagement Award\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEsha Venkat, a first-year public policy graduate student and spring 2026 JMHP graduate, was selected as the 2026 NCHC Community Engagement Award recipient for her November 2025 JMHP service project with the Atlanta Community Food Bank. For this project, Esha mobilized more than 50 volunteers, including over 25 JMHP students, to sort 11,315 pounds of food, providing the equivalent of 9,429 meals for families across Georgia.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe NCHC Community Engagement Award was created by the NCHC Student Affairs Committee to highlight how honors education leads members to make a difference in their communities. This award is given to one service project each year to celebrate and emphasize student excellence outside of the classroom.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe 2026 NCHC Community Engagement Award recipient receives:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e82a04a4baf63f76ad7e2f2aa0a1bda7a\u0022\u003EWaived conference registration fees for up to two students\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022ee7b488f2b727a36db047cff0cb343c75\u0022\u003EA presentation at NCHC\u2019s Annual Conference to highlight their service project\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou can read more about Esha\u2019s service project \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nchchonors.org\/page\/2025-recipients-comm-engagement-award\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELearn more about the 2026 NCHC Community Engagement Award \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nchchonors.org\/page\/nchc-community-engagement-award\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe John H. Martinson Honors Program congratulates Melody, J\u2019Avani, and Esha on their outstanding achievements and wishes them a wonderful experience at the 2026 NCHC Annual Conference!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E~Author: Jalana Smith, John H. Martinson Honors Program student assistant\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMelody Lee, J\u0027Avani Stinson, and Esha Venkat are recognized nationally for their academic and community engagement contributions.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Melody Lee, J\u0027Avani Stinson, and Esha Venkat are recognized nationally for their academic and community engagement contributions."}],"uid":"27332","created_gmt":"2026-10-19 23:46:47","changed_gmt":"2026-10-19 23:47:51","author":"Amy D\u0027Unger","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-10-19T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-10-19T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"681474":{"id":"681474","type":"image","title":"headshots.png","body":null,"created":"1792453615","gmt_created":"2026-10-19 23:46:55","changed":"1792453615","gmt_changed":"2026-10-19 23:46:55","alt":"Photo of Melody Lee, J\u0027Avani Stinson, and Esha Venkat","file":{"fid":"265882","name":"headshots.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/10\/19\/headshots.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/10\/19\/headshots.png","mime":"image\/png","size":324593,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/10\/19\/headshots.png?itok=OqYFAu1S"}}},"media_ids":["681474"],"groups":[{"id":"72437","name":"John H. Martinson Honors Program"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}