Cornell Navy ROTC midshipman earns top honor | Cornell Chronicle

"Williamson, a physics major in the College of Arts and Sciences, is the battalion commander of Cornell's Naval ROTC unit, which includes 48 students from across the university. She was selected for the national award from a group of students nominated from 166 universities. "It was really easy to nominate Kylie for this award because she's such a high-performing student and leader, but she's also one of the kindest students I have ever met," said Michael Mosbruger, commanding officer of the Cornell University Naval ROTC and professor of naval science. "Navy Federal puts students through a pretty rigorous screening process before making these decisions.""

"The awards are based on a student's leadership, military excellence, scholarship and service. Williamson, who doesn't come from a military family, said she discovered ROTC as a freshman. She sought a supportive, competitive and encouraging community to emulate the positive experiences from her participation in high school cross country, track and swimming."

""The Navy unit here is an amazing group; people treat each other like family," she said. "And beyond that, there's a level of accountability that you're held to and standards that are set for you." Williamson's concentration in geophysics and planetary sciences has also been useful in her Navy courses, which include the study of ocean processes, she said. She will also use those skills in her next position - as an officer on a nuclear submarine. "I'll be able to apply all of the things I've learned through a physics degree in a cool setting," she said. "Plus, I've had the opportunity to spend a month on a submarine, so I have a pretty good taste of what it will be like.""

Kylie Williamson, a physics major in the College of Arts and Sciences, serves as battalion commander of Cornell's 48-member Naval ROTC unit and was named Navy/Marines Student of the Year by Navy Federal Credit Union, the first student from Cornell to receive the honor. Selection drew nominees from 166 universities and judged leadership, military excellence, scholarship and service. Williamson discovered ROTC as a freshman seeking a supportive, competitive community, and her concentration in geophysics and planetary sciences has informed naval coursework on ocean processes. She will serve as an officer on a nuclear submarine and has spent a month aboard one.

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