AATCC Announces Scholarship Winners
RTP, NC, July 7, 2022 – Each year, AATCC Foundation recognizes a new group of students who were selected to receive AATCC Foundation scholarships. This year, 26 recipients were awarded more than $90,000 in scholarship and fellowship funds for the fall 2022/spring 2023 semesters. To learn more about each individual scholarship, please visit https://www.aatcc.org/foundation/#grants.
AATCC Foundation is proud to introduce this year’s scholars:
AATCC Foundation Charles E. Gavin III Family Scholarship
Jonathan Shaheen
I am a 4th year Polymer and Fiber student in the Georgia Tech Materials Science and Engineering department. I am honored to have been selected as a recipient of the 2022 Foundation Charles E. Gavin, III Family Scholarship. In my 3 years at Georgia Tech, I have had the privilege of taking many interesting courses across a wide range of subject matters. Material Science has always interested me because of its diverse quantity of applications and meaningful impact on the industries it is applied to. Outside of the MSE department, I am minoring in Computer Science and swim with the varsity team for Georgia Tech. I enjoy the computer science classes I am taking and am excited to apply that knowledge toward a better understanding of material system modeling. This scholarship will allow me to continue to focus wholeheartedly on my classes while also providing me the opportunity to swim and conduct research without so much pressure to offset the cost of higher education. I would like to thank the Gavin family for their generosity in giving this scholarship, and AATCC for the dedication of their member corporations to continuing the education of Polymer and Fiber science in the US.
Alan Gonzalez
I am Alan Gonzalez, a 4th-year Materials Science & Engineering major (polymers concentration) at Georgia Tech. I am fortunate to receive the AATCC Foundation Charles E. Gavin III Family Scholarship for the 2022-2023 school year. This will be my final year at Tech and this scholarship will contribute tremendously towards paying my tuition and achieving graduation. I spend a lot of my time conducting research work (thermal studies of hybrid organic-inorganic fabrics) on campus for Professor Mark Losego and I plan to continue that work in the upcoming year. After graduation, I am hoping to work in the materials industry, specifically with smart apparel or sports performance wear. Of course, graduate school is always a possibility down the line in the future if I want to continue down the research path. I am incredibly grateful for this scholarship and excited for the opportunities it will bring to my career!
AATCC Foundation Charles H. Stone Scholarship
Sophie Frain
I am a rising junior at NC State University in Polymer and Color Chemistry (American Chemical Society Certified concentration). I am heavily involved with our student chapter of AATCC, first as Social Media Chair (2021) and currently as President. Additionally, I have gotten to explore dyeing and finishing through working at the Zeis Textiles Extension over the past year. This summer, I am interning at National Fiber Technology with their production and soft goods teams. This year, I will also begin taking courses for a Masters in Textile Chemistry through NC State’s Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s program. Post-graduation, I plan to be contributing to textile development and innovation. I am so thankful to the AATCC Scholarship Foundation for selecting me as a recipient of the Charles H. Stone Scholarship! I am forever grateful for the opportunities, resources, and friends that AATCC has provided me during my academic career.
Madigan Petri
I am a Polymer and Color Chemistry student ant NC State University and am set to graduate in 2024. I spend most of my free time hiking and playing tennis in my home state of Colorado. At school, I fence for the club team and participate in science workshops for young women with Girls Engineering Change. After graduating, I plan on continuing my education and getting my master’s degree in Textile Chemistry. As a career, I am very interested in research on sustainable packaging and dye techniques. Far into the future, I would like to teach classes at a university. This scholarship is proof that I have the industry backing my goals; it also gives me the ability to help finance further studies.
Sruthi Koppol
I am a rising junior from Cary, N, studying Polymer & Color Chemistry with a Medical Sciences concentration at NC State University. I am beyond grateful for the support of AATCC Foundation to receive the Charles H. Stone Scholarship for the 2022-2023 school year! Over the last two years as an undergraduate student, I’ve been able to make so many connections through the Wilson College of Textiles. With an interest in Optometry School in the future, I’ve worked as an Optometric Technician in the past year, and currently research with Dr. Gao through the STEPs program in the textile labs, conducting experiments to develop 2-D material-based sorbent materials for phosphorus sustainability. I served as the Vice President for NC State’s Chapter of AATCC this past school year, and currently work at the Textile Dean’s Office. I am curious to see how my interests in organic/analytical chemistry and the medical field will push me independently to work on a research project addressing an important environmental concern. I look forward to learning more about myself and my skills with these experiences to pursue a career in STEM. With this scholarship, I am thankful to be able to continue to take on more opportunities to further my education and contribute to the Wilson College of Textiles!
AATCC Foundation Varley Family Scholarship
Andie Zion
This fall, I will start my second year in the Textile Development and Marketing program at the Fashion Institute of Technology. I am so pleased to be a member of the AATCC community as it is such a strong network, and it is truly inspiring to see the accomplishments of those in it. This scholarship is so significant for me because it will allow me to pursue more research on my own time outside of school. I am fascinated by new developments in textile sustainability and would love to work towards the collective mission of helping our planet and its biosystems. I will be double minoring in Psychology and Ethics and Sustainability while earning my bachelor’s degree at FIT and plan to use these topics together to look for new approaches to sustainability. I am beyond grateful for this opportunity and look forward to hearing about more accomplishments from fellow members of the Association.
AATCC Foundation Grady, Hauser, Houser Daniels Graduate Fellowship
Mark Gaskill
Born in Goldsboro and raised in Raleigh, I have recently received my M.S. in Textile Chemistry from NC State University. I have elected to continue my education as a PhD student in the Fiber and Polymer Science program at NC State. My graduate research focuses primarily on the evaluation of protective textiles against the infiltration of particulate and chemical vapor. The bulk of this research focuses on garments used by firefighters and fire investigators. As occupations in the fire service have seen steep increases in the rates of cancer, a greater effort has been put forward to ensure these individuals are properly protected. The goal of my research is to develop and improve methods of evaluating garments used in the fire service and to ensure complete ensembles provide adequate protection at the system-level. I am very thankful to the AATCC Foundation for their support and look forward to repaying this kindness in the future.
AATCC Foundation Scholarships help fund over 20 students in their collegiate journey each year. These scholarships are helping fund the future of the textile industry. If you would like to fund a scholarship and make your mark in textiles, please visit https://members.aatcc.org/store/foundation/1330/ to donate!
About AATCC Foundation: The AATCC Foundation Inc was founded in May 1997 to further the charitable mission of AATCC. The foundation is organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes and is classified by the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization.
