The Phillips’ Family Leadership Incentive Award Winners Announced

Before coming to NC State, Dr. Phillips retired as the Senior Vice President – Technology and Manufacturing from International Paper. Dr. Phillips is currently an Adjunct Professor and the Executive in Residence in the Department of Forest Biomaterials at NC State. He teaches and consults with our faculty, staff and students to elevate the level of our courses and curricula, research, teaching and outreach. He is also an expert consultant in our industry.

Each spring, rising juniors and seniors are given the opportunity to apply for this prestigious award. This year, the Phillips Family Leadership Incentive was awarded to four outstanding students in the Paper Science and Engineering program. Congratulations to our 2022-2023 recipients, Wallace Layman, Blaine Mercer, Anvita Panajkar and Bennett Surrett.

Wallace Layman

I came to NC State because of the career opportunities that the dual degree in paper science and engineering and chemical engineering could bring and the availability of paper specific scholarships. I have been fortunate enough to win several of these scholarships from the National Pulp, Paper, and Packaging supporting organizations even starting freshman year, but this scholarship was a complete stand out when I first heard about recipients in 2019. It amazed me that there was an opportunity to earn such an award and earn a business minor that was only for PSE students. It just further reinforced my thinking that the PSE program at NC State is the best academic program in the country, and a big reason for the success is the generosity of the program’s donors such as Dr. Phillips.

Engineering and business go hand in hand, and I must learn at the very least the basics of business operations if I am to be the best engineer and leader that I can be. I strive to be a leader within the industry and this award will allow me to pursue a minor in business, which may show my future supervisors my interest in being in a managerial or business position, as well as allow me to grow and move into positions that I may not have been able to without this business minor.

Also, being an out-of-state student, the financial cost is twice as much as an in-state student, so this award helps tremendously with this. I am humbled to receive this award and thank the Phillips family from the bottom of my heart for their generosity. I know that this award will have a profound impact on my future career path.  

Blaine Mercer

All my life, I have been drawn to strong leaders. I love to learn what makes them exceptional and see how I can apply their principles in order to enhance my own ability. It was that same attraction that led me to the Paper Science program. My first contact with the Phillips Family Leadership Incentive was the plaque outside of the TAPPI lounge. I saw the names of previous recipients, all talented student leaders in their own right, who had leadership abilities evident enough to others that it merited an award. Part of me wondered if I would ever see my name in brass on that plaque. 

After three years of hard work, receiving this award is motivation for me to step up. The fact that I am a recipient means that others believe in my abilities and strengths as a leader. Knowing that emboldens me to take on more responsibilities within the department, and to give back to the community that has provided so much for me. Additionally, this award opens the door for me to pursue a business minor, which I would not have been able to otherwise. The minor will enable me to fully leverage my education, as it will give me a better understanding on the economic side of things, making me a more effective manager in the years to come. This endowment is a gift that will continue to give, and for that I am extremely grateful. I hope one day to help students achieve their goals just as Dr. Phillips and his family have helped me.

Anvita Panajkar

I came into college as an undecided major, knowing only that I did not want to become an engineer. While exploring what I might like to learn at NC State, the close-knit community in the Paper Science program soon appealed to me, and I found my calling. From being pushed out of my comfort zone to do internships each year to being able to develop my leadership skills by being on the board for TAPPI, the PSE program has supported me in my growth as a student and a leader every step of the way. It has been the highlight of my time at NC State, and at the end of my fifth and final year, I will graduate with three majors: Paper Science & Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and German Studies, along with a minor in Business Administration. I have loved being able to explore the connections between different fields and their applications towards each other.

Having added an extra year to my undergraduate degree, this award has been extremely helpful financially. I am excited to continue my work in the PSE program as well as other organizations as I continue to hone and develop my leadership skills under the guidance of our faculty and Dr. Phillips. This invaluable experience will help me achieve my long term goals of pursuing an MBA and becoming a leader in our industry.

I am exceptionally grateful and honored to have been chosen as a recipient of the Phillips Family Leadership Incentive Award for this year and be recognized as a student leader.

Bennett Surrett

I first learned about the Phillips Leadership Initiative when I came to campus my senior year of high school for the out-of-state scholars’ weekend. From my first day on campus, the Department of Forest Biomaterials has instilled in me the importance of strong leadership in the pulp and paper industry along with service within our campus community. I always looked up to the previous recipients who gave back to the department, and I am honored to be selected to continue their inspiring legacy. Throughout my internships, I have always been intrigued by not only the engineering within the companies, but also the business side of the companies. I have always desired to take business classes to better understand the intersection of engineering and business. However, with already pursuing the dual degree in Paper Science and Engineering and Chemical Engineering as an out-of-state student, I didn’t want to take on the burden of additional education related costs. The Phillips Family Leadership Initiative will lift this burden and allow me to further develop these skills. It will also prepare me for a career not only as an engineer within the industry, but also as a leader in the business and service.