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Srikanth Sastry of India, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Computer Science, was presented Texas A&M University's Eppright Outstanding International Student Award, which includes a $2,500 scholarship. The Epprigth Award is the university's highest recognition to a currently enrolled international student.

Sastry was recognized Feb. 27 at the 2008 Consuls General Luncheon for his work with international organizations on campus and his dedication to Texas A&M and the Bryan-College Station community. University President Elsa A. Murano presented the scholarship plaque and check, and Jim Calvin, interim vice president for research gave an overview of the award and cited Sastry's accomplishments.

Calvin cited Sastry’s dedication to scholastics as well as his involvement in activities on campus and in the community that increase understanding for both members of the community and international students as just a few the reasons for his nomination using his recent work with the 2007 Brazos Valley Worldfest as an example of his efforts to help internationalize the community.

In order to truly become a part of the community in which he lives, Sastry became involved in the local Stage Center Community Theater, Brazos Progressives, and the Brazos Valley Civil Liberties Union as well as organizing a multicultural softball team for the College Station City League.  In his spare time he tutors math students at Jane Long Middle School as part of the H.O.S.T.S. program and co-hosts a radio show at local station KEOS.

Sastry served as President of the International Graduate Student Association and on numerous committees over the past four years as an advocate for International students and the safety and inclusiveness of all students.  He was active member of the Student Leader Task Force for Northgate Safety, Vice President of the China U.S. Relations Forum and is currently a member of Innov8 an informal group brought together by the Research Valley Partnership.While assimilating into campus and community life has been very successful for Sastry, he is also an excellent student with 3.75 GPR.  He has published two research articles in the last six months with three additional papers drafted for submission this spring.

Three other students were finalist for this year’s award, Prashanti Chennamsetti a Ph.D. student from India in Educational Psychology, Veronica Castelo Branco, a Ph.D. student from Brazil in  Civil Engineering, and Sheetal Rao, a Ph.D. student from India in Molecular and Environmental Plant Sciences.

Riyadh Chakmachi, a former international student from Iraq, created the Outstanding International Student Award 22in 1985. In 1991, the award was endowed through the generosity of the late Col. George J. Eppright, class of 1926. The criterion to receive this prestigious award includes an excellent academic record, involvement in a wide array of university and community activities, and promotion of international awareness on campus and in the community.