The Atlanta Chapter of ARCS Foundation honored 48 outstanding young scientists with scholar awards totaling  $345,000 at its 24th annual ARCS Scholar Awards Luncheon Thursday, November 19th 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. The Atlanta Chapter was happy that Lynne M. O. Brickner, President ARCS Foundation, Inc., was able to join the celebration of this year's scholars.

Keynote speaker for the event was Nael A. McCarty, Ph.D., Marcus Professor of Cystic Fibrosis Division of Pulmonology, Allergy/Immunology, Cystic Fibrosis, and Sleep Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine Director, Emory+Children's Cystic Fibrosis Center of Excellence. Dr. McCarty moved the audience with pictures of children afflicted with CF and descriptions of its impact on the daily lives of the patients and their family members as they age and the disease progresses. Thanks to new drugs under development and other new therapies, the life expectancy for people with CF is increasing. Bill Liss from WXIA-TV moderated the question and answer session following Dr. McCarty's presentation.

Due to the generosity of local corporations, foundations, individuals, and the Atlanta Chapter ARCS Foundation membership, almost $4,200,000 has been presented to more than 400 scholars since the Atlanta Chapter’s inception in 1992. Jane Dolinger, President of the Atlanta Chapter, was pleased to announce that for the first time Atlanta Chapter Scholar Alumni joined together to co-sponsor an ARCS Scholar Alumni Award for the 2015-2016 academic year. It is hoped that, going forward, additional members of this select group will step up to fund more awards for the students following in their footsteps.