Amanda McMahan plans to be a residential architect when she finishes her studies. After she graduates from UGA in 2006, she wants to get a master’s degree in architecture. In the meantime, she has been studying engineering and has been inducted into two honor societies. In between her studies, she still makes time to help out children and animals. She volunteers weekly tutoring Hispanic elementary school students and occasionally at the Athens Area Humane Society. She works at CertainTeed (Insulation Group) in Athens as an intern under the Engineering Department.
Hometown:
Carrollton, Georgia
High School:
Central High School
Degree objective:
Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering with an emphasis in Structural Systems.
Expected graduation:
December 2006
University highlights, achievements, awards and scholarships:
I am a member of national honor societies Phi Eta Sigma and the National
Society of Collegiate Scholars. I am also the treasurer of the American
Society of Agricultural Engineers, treasurer of the Society of Women
Engineers, and the secretary/treasurer of ASHRAE (American Society of
Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers). I am also president
of Sound Off, a club which advocates for hearing impaired students, and for
the past two years, I have been volunteering once weekly tutoring Hispanic
elementary school children. The kids are so much fun!
Current Employment:
I work at CertainTeed Insulation Group in Athens, as an intern under the Engineering Department. My job includes quality control, process analysis, and future project analysis.
Family Ties to UGA:
My parents are Susan and Steve McMahan; my brother, David, graduated from UGA’s School of Law, and my sister, Melissa, graduated from UGA with a bachelor’s degree in Biology.
I chose to attend UGA because…
…I absolutely LOVE Athens. It has great restaurants, plays, music, people, great everything! I also love the fact that there are so many volunteering opportunities here. It’s a fairly large town with a small-town, close-knit feel.
My favorite things to do on campus are…
…going to football games, walking around north campus, and playing pool in the Tate Center. Whenever I have to study and I am on campus, I go to north campus to sit on the grass and enjoy being outside.
When I have free time, I like…
The botanical gardens are GREAT. I recently discovered them and that is now one of my top three places to visit in Athens. I also enjoy hanging out with
friends and trying new restaurants in Athens. I hope to visit them all before my time here is up. I also love reading (but only when I don’t have to write about it).
The craziest thing I’ve done is…
The craziest thing EVER? I’m not sure I want people knowing that.
My favorite place to study is…
…Waffle House. I never run out of food or coffee, and it’s so cold in there it is impossible to fall asleep studying.
My favorite professor is…
I have two favorites…Drs. Allen and Karwoski. They taught an honors seminar about science vs. religion, and it was a really awesome class. It made me consider things I’d never thought of before.
If I could share an afternoon with anyone, I would love to share it with…
…either Stephen King or Robert Jordan. They have to be fascinating people, to have written the Dark Tower series and the Wheel of Time series, respectively.
After graduation, I plan to…
…pursue a master’s degree in architecture and practice residential architecture.
