Presidential Augusta Ambassador Leadership Lecture Series - Spring 2022

Amy Cashin (OoA, 2017)

WVU PRESIDENTIAL AUGUSTA AMBASSADOR LECTURE SERIES: Thank you, Amy Cashin, a 2017 WVU Order of Augusta recipient from Melbourne, Australia, for speaking to the Presidential Student Ambassadors in April. After completing a master’s degree in Clinical and Mental Health Counselling at WVU, she remained to enroll as an Ed.D. candidate in Coaching and Teaching Studies.  The former WVU track and field athlete, who continues to work with the team that she captained, qualified for the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo. When comparing the ups, downs and stress between athletic achievement and leadership, she encouraged the PSAs to practice self-kindness, treating themselves as they would treat their friends.

Matthew (Matt) Delligatti (OoA, 2008)

WVU PRESIDENTIAL AUGUSTA AMBASSADOR LEADERSHIP LECTURE SERIES:  Thank you, Matthew Delligatti, a  2008 Order of Augusta recipient, who zoomed with WVU Presidential Student Ambassadors in March. From Fairmont, WV, Matt received a BA in Political Science and a JD from the WVU College of Law in 2011. In 2007, he  became West Virginia University's 18th recipient of the prestigious Harry S. Truman Scholarship. Matt shared his professional leadership journey which began at the age of 20 when he was elected to 9th district city council seat. At age of 22, he became the youngest mayor in Fairmont’s history.  In 2013, he co-founded Kettering Delligatti Law Offices in Fairmont.

Matt grew up in Fairmont, West Virginia. After graduating from Fairmont Senior High School, he attended West Virginia University where he graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. Matt is a 2008 graduate of West Virginia University with a B.A. in political science, where he received the Order of Augusta, an award of academic excellence granted to the top eight graduating seniors.  In 2007, he became West Virginia University's 18th recipient of the prestigious Harry S. Truman Scholarship. The Truman Foundation gives out these awards annually to a select few American students who are dedicated to public service. At the age of 20, he was elected to 9th district city council seat and at the age of 22, Matt became the youngest mayor in Fairmont’s history. 

John Estep (OoA, 2006)

WVU PRESIDENTIAL AUGUSTA AMBASSADOR LECTURE SERIES: Thank you to John Estep, a 2006 WVU Order of Augusta recipient, SuperLawyer, and Senior Litigation Associate in the Milbank LLP Washington, DC office, for zooming with the Presidential Student Ambassadors in April. Known as one of the top-rated Civil Litigation attorneys in Washington, DC, he is from Sistersville, WV. John received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from WVU and his law degree from the University of Virginia. In a vibrant presentation titled “Fly Fishing Lessons in Leadership,” and with photos of Woodburn Hall and Mountaineer Field proudly displayed on the walls behind him, John humorously compared lessons he has learned through fly fishing to professional leadership scenarios and personal experiences.

Jess Harlee (OoA, 2014)

WVU PRESIDENTIAL AUGUSTA AMBASSADOR LEADERSHIP LECTURE SERIES: Thank you, Jess Harlee, a 2014 Order of Augusta recipient from West Virginia University, who currently is the Assistant Director of Life Design in Athletics at Johns Hopkins University. Jess met with the WVU Presidential Student Ambassadors in Feverto discuss her leadership journey which began when she was a 3-time captain of the WVU Women’s Basketball Team and named the Arthur Ashe Jr. Female Sports Scholar of the Year in her junior year.

She reminded the PSAs about the importance of passion in whatever leadership journey they take. Although she graduated from WVU with a degree in industrial engineering and worked in management consulting with Connors Group, she realized that her passion still revolved around athletics. Therefore, she attended the University of Oregon to pursue an MBA in Sports Business. Jess now continues to be a positive influence on the collegiate journey of student-athletes as she helps them achieve their life ambitions.

Mary Bess Marantz (OoA, 2002)

WVU PRESIDENTIAL AUGUSTA AMBASSADOR LECTURE SERIES: Thank you to Mary Bess Marantz, a 2002 WVU Order of Augusta recipient originally from Nicholas County, West Virginia, for zooming with the Presidential Student Ambassadors. Also a Yale Law School graduate, the author, speaker, and popular podcast host recently published her second book, Slow Growth Equals Strong Roots. Her first book, Dirt: Growing Strong Roots in What Makes the Broken Beautiful, a personal account of growing up in the Mountain State, was a best-seller.