The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering has announced the winners of the Department’s 2021 student leadership awards.

The highly competitive honors go to students who’ve demonstrated outstanding leadership in research, entrepreneurship, service, and academics. Department faculty and staff nominate students, who then submit applications and letters of recommendation.

In announcing this year’s winners, the selection committee noted that the awards represent only a small fraction of the great things that happen in the course of a year in Coulter BME and that the committee had to make difficult decisions among a group of talented and worthy nominees.

The 2021 winners are:

 

Ana Cristian

Outstanding Academic Service

This award honors a graduating senior who has challenged themselves through involvement both inside and outside the classroom and contributed to the student educational experience at Georgia Tech. Cristian served as a PLUS mentor, a FOCUS tutor, a teaching assistant for Quantitative Engineering Physiology Laboratory (BMED 3110), a BME Peer Advising Leader (PALS), and an Undergraduate Research Ambassador.

Anabel Alonso

Outstanding Community Service

This award honors a graduating senior who has made service an integral part of their college experience through their commitment and significant contributions to the community. Alonso co-founded ABLE Alliance, a new student organization dedicated to improving disability inclusion on campus. The group was voted Best New Organization by the Georgia Tech Student Government Association in 2020.

Julia Woodall

Outstanding Research

This award honors a graduating senior who has demonstrated outstanding research skills and has shared their work with the broader research community through presentations at local, regional, or national conferences, or through one or more peer-reviewed publications. Woodall contributed to multiple articles, presented at conferences, and held several leadership positions as an Undergraduate Research Ambassador for three years.

Austin Stachowski

Outstanding Industrial Experience

This award honors a graduating senior who has performed exceptional work in, and demonstrated significant commitment to, the biomedical engineering industry through internships, cooperative education, or international work experiences. Stachowski interned for five semesters, including stints at MiMedx Group, MD Innovate, and Edwards LifeSciences. He also received a certificate in business strategy and innovation.

Michael Pullen

Outstanding Entrepreneur

This award recognizes a student or student team who has demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit and initiative and who has made significant progress toward turning their innovative ideas into reality. Pullen is co-founder and CEO of LZRD Tech LLC, an apparel company based on internationally patented grip-enhancing technology.

Amanda Wijntjes

Outstanding Senior

This award honors a student who has exemplified all-around excellence through their significant accomplishments in several of the following categories of activities: service, academics, research, industry, and entrepreneurship. Candidates for this award must have a GPA of at least 3.75. Wijntjes completed two internships, conducted research during several semesters, co-authored a publication, and completed a minor in computer science. Wijntjes also served as vice president of finance for the Society of Women Engineers and volunteered as a BME FUTURES Ambassador and a HealthReach volunteer. Her Capstone Design team won the top BME award at the Spring 2021 Capstone Design Expo with their screening device to assess the ability of newborns to properly breastfeed.  

Jared Meyers

Outstanding Academic Achievement

In addition to his biomedical engineering degree, Meyers has minored in computer science and co-founded Augment Health, which is developing a device to replace urine collection bags for patients with catheters. Meyers completed three internships, performed research for several semesters, was co-author on a publication, and served as president for the Medical Robotics Club. He also was a team member of COVIDx, which finished in the top three at the national TechStars Startup Weekend 2020.