Fiorillo Receives Casey Scholarship
Peter “Auggie” Fiorillo ’28, a Virginia Military Institute cadet double majoring in applied mathematics and physics with a minor in astronomy, was named recipient of the Jack T. Casey STEM Memorial Scholarship at a small reception in Preston Library Oct. 23.
Capt. Jack Casey ’19 was one of five Marines killed Feb. 7, 2024, in a CH53E helicopter crash in California during a training flight. He majored in physics at VMI and was India Company commander for the 2018-19 academic year. His family, who live in Dover, New Hampshire, established the scholarship in his memory. It is for a 3rd, 2nd, or 1st Class cadet enrolled in a STEM major with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.8. The award is $2,500 for each academic year, up to three years and is payable directly to VMI.
Jack’s mother, Cathy, and brother, Jim, traveled from New Hampshire to Lexington to present the award to Fiorillo. According to Cathy, VMI developed Jack as a person and brought out the best in him. “He was a model VMI cadet, military leader, and an upstanding person. As a mother, I want people to carry on Jack’s positive influence, his enthusiasm, and his contagious smile. With our scholarship, we hope to keep that going, and to have people feel valued and important. We hope Auggie carries on that tradition and helps the guy next to him like Jack did,” she shared.
Col. Stacia Vargas, head of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, explained the department faculty nominated Fiorillo in recognition of his commitment to academic excellence as a double major in physics and mathematics, his strong leadership, and his dedication to helping others. “Auggie exemplifies the values of integrity, leadership, and service that the Jack T. Casey STEM Memorial Scholarship seeks to honor.”
Fiorillo stated receiving this honor is an incredibly meaningful milestone in his educational journey. “I am profoundly grateful. After learning more about Jack Casey, his remarkable character, and the profound impact he made on the lives of others, I feel a great sense of personal pride knowing that the physics faculty and his family have recognized those same qualities in me. This award is not only a tremendous source of encouragement, but also a reminder of the responsibility I carry moving forward. I am fully committed to continuing to live out these values so that Jack Casey’s legacy will endure through my daily actions, my interactions with others, and my future endeavors.”
Fiorillo is from St. Petersburg, Florida, and the son of Caroline Fiorillo and Dan Smith and brother of alumni, David “Alex” Fiorillo ’23 and Caroline “Abby” Fiorillo ’25. He is a member of the cross-country and track and field teams. Upon graduating, he plans to commission into the Navy and work on a nuclear submarine.
