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Kerri Phillips to Receive Order of Augusta

Kerri Phillips

One of our College’s top students – Kerri Phillips – is among eight WVU students who will be awarded the Order of Augusta for their outstanding academic performance, campus leadership and public service.

The students will receive the award during the University’s Commencement Honors Convocation at 7 p.m. Friday, May 16, at the Coliseum.

Phillips said she always knew she wanted to attend WVU and pursue a degree in engineering. In December of last year, the dream came true when she graduated with bachelor’s degrees in mechanical and aerospace engineering.

But her WVU Engineering days are not over yet; Phillips was accepted into the WVU doctoral program in aerospace engineering and began her graduate studies in January.

"I’m excited about this next chapter of my education," she said. "The WVU community has had an everlasting impact on my life, and I look forward to my next four years as a Mountaineer."

In her junior year, Phillips was selected to be part of the WVU Microgravity Team, which allowed her to go to NASA to fly an experiment aboard the DC-9 “Weightless Wonder” aircraft. She also received the prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, the nation’s premier award for math and science. Recently, she was named to USA Today’s All-USA College Academic Team.

In addition, Phillips has received the NASA Space Grant Scholarship and NASA Undergraduate Research Fellowship.

She spent two summers working for the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center where she helped develop an autonomous underwater vehicle project for future applications to explore Jupiter’s Galilean moon, Europa.

"Without the education I received during the first two years of college and the opportunities provided by the NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium, I would not achieved my lifetime dream at 20 to work for NASA," she said. "The research experiences also improved my understanding of the material I was learning in classes, enabling me to apply my knowledge to my internships at NASA and Boeing."

Among her other awards are the Sallie Lowther Norris Showalter Excellence in Mathematics, Gay R. Larsen Educational Trust, PROMISE and WVU Presidential scholarships. She is a member of the WVU Honors College and Phi Kappa Phi, Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Gamma Tau honor societies.

Phillips has also been involved in community service programs, raising funds for an animal rescue shelter and encouraging middle and high school students to pursue higher education.

She is the daughter of Jon and Darla Phillips.

The WVU Foundation, the private nonprofit corporation that generates and provides support for WVU, established the award in 1995. The Order of Augusta was named for its historical significance in the state. Augusta was among the original names considered by the Legislature when the state seceded from Virginia in 1863. The District of Augusta was the original name for the northern region of West Virginia, including Monongalia County.

Recipients of the Order of Augusta are chosen from 50 WVU Foundation Outstanding Seniors - also to be recognized May 16 - for their achievements.

05/15/2008