Aerospace engineering senior receives prestigious award

By: Patrique Ludan

Posted: 7/2/09

Justin Wilkerson was named the top aerospace engineering senior in the U.S. as the 2009 recipient of the Ammon S. Andes National award from Sigma Gamma Tau, a National Aerospace Honor Society.

Wilkerson, who graduated in May, received the award in recognition of his academics, service and extracurricular achievements at Texas A&M University in aerospace engineering.

"Justin works hard on his studies, undergraduate research, service activities, and publications," said aerospace engineering associate professor and national Sigma Gamma Tau President John Valasek in a statement. "This is a fitting reward for his accomplishments that we can all be proud of."

Wilkerson of Amarillo, Texas, came to A&M with a scholarship package. He said he experienced a positive environment while visiting the campus as a high school senior.

"All around, there seemed to be a vibe, something in the air, that wasn't at any other campus," Wilkerson said.

During his 2008-2009 Sigma Gamma Tau presidency with a chapter at Texas A&M, Wilkerson had several responsibilities including, overseeing activities, and delegating duties to fellow officers.

"SGT is involved with tutoring undergrads, improving the aerospace engineering department, being a liaison between students and faculty, striving to connect the aerospace community, and working in the community," Wilkerson said.

He said his academic success was tied to his passion for learning multiple subjects, from physics to politics, and mutations to philosophy.

However, Wilkerson mostly credits his mother,Paula Wilkerson, for his achievements.

"[She] guided me in developing a passion for learning, and from [her] I gained perspective on the definition of a successful life, which extends well past anything accomplished in one's career," he said.

Wilkerson's strong will and confidence stemmed from childhood, his mother said.

"His dad is black and I am white. Growing up in the Texas panhandle, it's not something you see very much," Paula said.

"The elementary he went to, Carver Academy Elementary, is a magnet school - they have to have so many black kids, Hispanics and whites. That made an impression on him because he didn't experience racism at that school. It's a multiracial school," she said.

"He wasn't singled out as a child of color and he feels like he can do anything. A&M reminds him of Carver because it's very diverse there; a student from multiracial parents doesn't stand out there."

Wilkerson credited his research conducted on the fatigue of Nan composites to Valasek, his undergraduate research adviser Daniel Davis, Aerospace Engineering Interim Department Head Dimitris Lagoudas, and the aerospace department.

Davis, who is the director of operations for the Department of Aerospace Engineering, Texas Institute for Intelligent Bio-Nano Materials and Structures, was Wilkerson's adviser his junior and senior years.

"[Justin] very quickly understood the process of fatigue failure in composites," Davis said.

Wilkerson was excellent in the way he communicated ideas and results of research, he said.

Wilkerson is looking forward to his career and is eager to help solve problems as a graduate student at A&M in the fall.

"I will be working toward my master's of science, majoring in aerospace engineering again, specializing in materials," he said.

He was awarded $1,000. Valasek presented a plaque to Wilkerson at the Department of Aerospace Engineering Awards Banquet in May.

Meagan O'Toole-Pitts

contributed to this story.

Award info

The award was created and named for Ammon S. Andes in 1976 to bestow upon Andes a recognition of service to the society as national executive secretary-treasurer from 1964 to 1976. Texas A&M is tied with Purdue University at four each for the most Ammon S. Andes National Award recipients.