The Atlanta Chapter of ARCS Foundation honored 45 outstanding young scientists with scholar awards totaling  $322,500 at its 23rd annual ARCS Scholar Awards Luncheon Thursday, November 20th at the Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta. ARCS Foundation Atlanta provides scholar awards to outstanding students at Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Morehouse College, and University of Georgia. This year’s recipients included Atlanta Chapter’s first 3 scholars participating in the Roche/ARCS Foundation Scholar Award Program in the Life Sciences. This program will support the next generation of life science leaders and further the shared interests of The Roche Foundation and ARCS Foundation in the advancement of science.

Shan Cooper, Vice President of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company and General Manager of the company’s Marietta, GA facility, keynote speaker for the event, discussed the importance of scientific innovation and plentiful STEM graduates to the future of the United States. She also encouraged the scholars to adopt excellence as a habit in all aspects of their professional lives. Bill Liss from WXIA-TV moderated the question and answer session. An unexpected question resulted in Ms. Cooper, who also happens to be a gospel singer, closing the program with an inspiring rendition of The Star Spangled Banner, which seemed only fitting given ARCS Foundation’s mission.

Thanks to the generosity of local corporations, foundations, individuals, and the Atlanta ARCS Foundation Chapter membership, over $3,800,000 has been presented to 380 scholars since the Atlanta Chapter’s inception in 1992.