Industrial engineer Mackenzie Sicard led eight incoming freshmen into the Alaskan wilderness. The 11-day expedition covered a lot of ground; the adventurers and their mentors trekked through frosty wilderness with heavy packs, took in the vistas of Denali National Park, dug axes into ice to scale frozen walls and rafted down chilly rivers. Not only was this an outdoor expedition, but it was Sicard’s latest venture into leadership.

Sicard is a second-year student at the College and a member of the first cohort of the Clark Scholars Program, which creates an academic experience for students combining engineering, leadership and community service. Sicard thrives on personal connection, ambitiously pursues her goals and has a passion for helping others.

Read more about how the Clark Scholars Program has transformed her Georgia Tech experience in her own words here.