What is your preferred name and major(s) and minor(s)?
Abby Phillips, my major is Exercise Science, and I am minoring in Athletic Training.
What are some of the jobs you held at McDaniel?
I have been a 4 year employee of the Sports Information Department.
What organizations were you part of at McDaniel?
I am a 4 year member and senior captain of the women’s lacrosse team, and a 3 year member of the Alpha Sigma Tau sorority. I am also a contracted ROTC Cadet, and have participated in color guard, as well as been a 2 year member of the Ranger Challenge team. I am also a member of the Gamma Sigma Alpha greek honors society.
How much did you enjoy your time at McDaniel?
My time at McDaniel has been some of the best years of my life. I have never had a class at McDaniel that I did not have a friend in it, or make a new one. Everyone is so accepting and has pushed me to be a better student, leader, and person in general. I value all of the friendships that I have made here, and I know that McDaniel has definitely shaped me into the person I am.
Who do you think is/was your best mentor(s)?
I would say that my best mentors are/were Coach Ramey, and one of the ROTC cadre members MAJ Tortella. They have helped me since I was a freshmen, and as I was just getting into ROTC over the summer between freshman and sophomore year. They have not only pushed me to become a leader in ROTC, but in my academics, on the field, and in life in general. They have been a huge help to me in my successes, and has gotten me through some rough patches, and I am forever grateful to have had them as mentors throughout my McDaniel experience.
What were some of the challenges you encountered and how did you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges I overcame in college was balancing all of my obligations. With my ROTC contract to the school and to a Maryland National Guard unit, lacrosse, and my sorority, finding time to balance all of those obligations, plus my obligation to my academics and maintaining a social life has proven to be very difficult. With the help of my amazing friends and mentors supporting me every step of the way, and constant communication, I have been able to (somehow) successfully balance everything.
What are your plans for after graduation?
After graduation, I will be a commissioned 2LT in the Pennsylvania National Guard. I will be attending the Army’s flight school at Fort Rucker, Alabama to become a helicopter pilot for the PA Guard. After flight School, I plan on attending graduate school to earn my doctorate of Physical Therapy.
What is your best memory at McDaniel? What is your worst memory at McDaniel?
The best memory I have at McDaniel is not a single memory, but all of the time I have spent with my team, sorority, and friends in RTOC. They made everything worthwhile, always pick me up when I’m down, and always know how to make even things fun, no matter what it is. I am grateful to have made all of those friendships at McDaniel, and I know they will last. The worst memory I have at McDaniel was when I was told that I could not afford to come back to McDaniel for sophomore year by financial aid. However, I worked hard over the summer to earn enough money to attend fall semester, and was contracted by ROTC for the following semester to fund the rest of my college tuition.
What advice can you give to those not graduating?
The advice I will give those not graduating is to make the most of your time here at McDaniel. Your time here will go by so quickly, and becoming involved in as much as you can, and making friends and positive relationships along the way will make it all worth while.
