Georgia Tech-Europe

Colby Dominek, a rising 2nd year Material Science major from Virginia, left the East Coast for the first time for GTE, an opportunity he wanted to take to travel, but also to learn.

“Georgia Tech makes you learn how to learn; if you just memorize, you’re not getting anywhere and here, it applies outside of academics. You’re training yourself by putting yourself in unknown situations every day—to take every experience, make the most of it, have a good time, and, of course, stay alive.” He believes that the things he learns here, both inside the classroom and out, will help prepare him for the future and tries to take a lesson from every experience, encouraging others to do the same. “Just do it. Don’t miss an opportunity.”

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More than 250 students participating in Dr. Orth-Veillon’s GTL2000 course recently visited the Lorraine American Cemetery, taking part in a powerful day of remembrance, reflection, and personal connection to history.

Among the students, second-year Industrial Engineering student Matthew Ramsey experienced a deeply personal moment as he visited the grave of his great-grandfather, Staff Sergeant Russell Wilson, an Army infantryman who was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Bulge. Matthew participated in a family remembrance ceremony by placing flags at the grave and rubbing sand from Omaha Beach onto his great-grandfather’s headstone, stating, “I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to visit his grave and honor him, as I am the first person in my family to ever get the chance to do so.”

Additionally, Kyle Gallentine, a second-year UNG transient student participating in the Cadet Leadership Program, reflected on how a visit to the cemetery unexpectedly deepened his connection to his family’s history. While there, he came across the grave of a soldier from the 45th Division—the same division in which his great-grandfather served during World War II—sparking new questions about his great-grandfather’s wartime experiences and inspiring Kyle “to research as much as I can and visit some of the battlefields where he fought. I hadn’t realized that going to a WWII cemetery would have caused me to learn so much about my family.”

Students also honored Georgia Tech’s legacy of service by rubbing sand from Omaha Beach and laying flowers at the grave of Rubert E. Barnett Jr., a Georgia Tech alumnus and World War II soldier laid to rest at the Lorraine American Cemetery.

The day concluded at Georgia Tech Europe’s commemorative plaque and magnolia tree, where students reflected on the sacrifices of all Georgia Tech alumni who gave their lives during the First and Second World Wars.

Through moments of remembrance like these, history becomes personal, and the stories of those who served continue to move future generations.

Spring 2026, you’ve been good to us 🇫🇷🫶 Congrats to all of the GTE graduates! 🎓