Many Georgia Tech engineering alumni have been inspired to devote their lives to making a positive impact around the globe. Georgia Tech’s worldwide outreach has had a major impact on the Peace Corps. In February, the Institute was ranked 21st among all U.S. volunteer-producing schools, with 22 alumni currently serving around the globe. Since the Peace Corps was founded in 1961, 234 Georgia Tech alumni have served in its ranks.
Graham Huff, ISyE ‘98, MS ISyE ‘05, was on a mission trip to Haiti through the First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta when the January earthquake struck. Five days after getting out of Haiti, Huff went back, arranging for and escorting a shipment of water treatment supplies directed to Deep Springs International in Leogane, where he then helped begin chlorine production. He recently started his own nongovernmental organization, League of Hope, based in Atlanta.
As senior director of international programs for Habitat for Humanity International, Tony Chan, ISyE ‘94, MS Mgt ‘98, was focusing his efforts to provide aid for Haitians in the wake of the earthquake. Chan said he developed “the supply chain strategies for our recovery effort in Haiti, including the shipping and distribution of the initial 10,000-plus emergency shelter kits” in February. His job at Habitat for Humanity also includes the development of global strategies and implementation plans for programs and operations serving more than 85 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Tracy Hawkins’ company also works in locales around the globe but has heightened its efforts in Haiti after the earthquake. Hawkins, ISyE ‘85, calls herself a “humanitarian engineer.” She is the vice president of FilterPure, a company that implements the manufacturing and distribution of ceramic water filters for home use. Production has been increased in the Dominican Republic for delivery to Haiti.
After a career working with hardware and software companies, Ric Gray, ISyE ‘87, saw the opportunity to apply such technologies in another area: disaster response. Gray joined Emergency Visions, which provides consulting and technological assistance on disaster preparation and response. The company played a more active role in the response to the earthquake in Haiti, sending in a search-and-rescue team that included a dog to detect the scent of living people trapped under rubble. Emergency Visions has since begun utilizing its software in the recovery.
Jose Montero, ISyE ‘95, is chair and president of Trekking for Kids, which he founded with his sister. Since 2005, the nonprofit has been organizing purpose-driven treks in the world’s most remote locations to raise funds for orphanages in the areas they visit. Each trekker commits to raising a preset financial contribution for each kilometer walked. Donations from all trip participants are pooled together and used in their entirety to help the orphanage.
Georgia Tech alumni, students and faculty have been working with the nonprofit Health in Harmony for more than a year to design a hospital for a small village on the west coast of Borneo. Construction is scheduled to begin this summer. “I can say this has truly changed my outlook on the world,” said team member Sarah Hilton, IE ‘08, MS HS ‘09.
