I am pleased to announce the appointment of Parker Vascik as an At-Large student member of the Society Board of Directors. The Board formally appointed Parker at its organizational meeting on August 20th following his appointment to the National Advisory Council (NAC). Parker is the Circle President for the Georgia Tech Circle of ODK.
Parker Vascik grew up in the Appalachian mountains of Roanoke, Virginia. He ventured into the big city of Atlanta to earn his degree in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech and is also enrolled in a leadership minor. Parker conducts undergraduate research on campus with the Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory and is a Co-op student with Rolls-Royce North America. He has spent two semesters with Rolls-Royce in Indianapolis working on thermofluid systems and defense engine performance. Parker is slated to work at NASA Headquarters with the Fundamental Aeronautics Program during the summer of 2013 and after gaining his masters degree is interested pursuing a career either in propulsion R&D or national research policy.
During his undergraduate experience at Georgia Tech, Parker has been involved with numerous organizations, including supporting the founding of two student groups. Most important to Parker however was his involvement with the Georgia Tech musical community. Parker is a classically trained cellist playing with the campus orchestra and also picked up singing by joining the Georgia Tech Glee Club his Freshman year. He was involved in the founding and growth of the Student Music Advisory Board and has served as chairman of this board for the past two years. Parker is excited to be part of the filming of the second Hunger Games film in fall 2012 as a cellist.
As part of his education, Parker studied abroad two summers at Georgia Tech affiliations in Oxford, England, and Metz, France. Parker combined his love of travel and outdoors activities this summer through a two week hiking expedition at Mont Blanc, France. He claims summiting the Alps tallest mountain at nearly 16,000ft was the most physically demanding day of his life.
Parker is one of three student members of the Society’s Board of Directors. Having myself served in one of those positions early in my own time with ODK, I cannot emphasize enough the important voice and perspective that Parker will bring to the Board’s work over the next two years.
Congratulations Parker!
