Student Profiles

The Yellow Jacket Marching Band marches in formation at a half-time show

CHRISTINE DREAS

Hometown: Decatur, GA

Major: Aerospace Engineering, minor in International Affairs

Expected graduation date: December 2008

Band Experience/Instruments: This is my fifth season marching piccolo in the band. Last year, I served as one of the piccolo section leaders, and this year I serve as a staff assistant. Additionally, I am an active member in Tau Beta Sigma, the band service sorority.

What does performing in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade^® mean to you?
I see the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade^® as an amazing opportunity for two reasons. First, the Tech experience has been very meaningful for me, and I cannot wait to spread the good word about our great Institute. Also, though I am only a small part of the band's rich history, I am thrilled to celebrate 100 years of service to Georgia Tech during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade^®. The parade is a wonderful opportunity to honor our achievement and allow our alumni all across the country to celebrate with us, and I cannot wait to be a part of it.

What do you enjoy most about being a member of the Yellow Jacket Marching Band?
My favorite thing about the Yellow Jacket Marching Band is our preservation of tradition. So many students make it through their entire time at Tech without wearing their RAT cap, learning the words to "Ramblin' Wreck," taking a road trip to an away football game, paging George P. Burdell, eating lunch at Junior's Grill, building a vehicle for the Wreck Parade, bobbing to the Budweiser song, or enjoying many of the other traditions created by students who have come before us. The band does a great job of keeping Tech traditions alive while moving the Institute forward and filling whatever needs the campus has for us.

Other campus activities: President (2007) and Movie Committee Chair (2005-2006), Student Center Programs Council; Workshops Chair (2008), Georgia Tech Leadership Conference; Facilitator (2006), GT 1000 Freshman Seminar; Member, Omicron Delta Kappa; Executive Board for Sophomore Summit (2006); Undergraduate Research in High-Power Electric Propulsion; Connect With Tech recruitment host

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JASON NAKAI

Hometown: Kennesaw, GA

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Expected graduation date: December 2008

Band Experience/Instruments: This fall marks my sixth and final marching season here at Tech. I marched clarinet for three years, serving as a clarinet section leader my second and third years. This fall is my third year as one of the drum majors of the marching band. I am also the current president of the Georgia Tech chapter of Tau Beta Sigma.

What does performing in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade^® mean to you?
One unique aspect about the Yellow Jacket Marching Band is that it is made up entirely of non-music majors. I am so proud to be a part of a group that can perform at such a high level with people who just love playing music. The parade gives us a chance to perform in front of a much larger and broader audience than just our football fans. I don't think there is any other parade that compares to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade^®, and it is the perfect event to top off the Georgia Tech Band's centennial.

What do you enjoy most about being a member of the Yellow Jacket Marching Band?
I absolutely love being a part of the Georgia Tech football game-day experience. It is awesome to be a part of the game-day atmosphere around campus playing for the fans before the game and supporting the team throughout the game. It is great being a part of a group that gets the opportunity to travel to away games and bowl games to help provide the team with a familiar atmosphere.

Other campus activities: Member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and I have also been a co-op for five semesters.