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On June 11, the 25-year-old's life was cut short in Newport News, when a reckless driver killed him in a rear end collision, according to a GoFundMe page started in his honor.
The Virginia Beach native had already received bachelor's and master's degrees in physics from ODU, but was still not satisfied.
"Everything was a competition: baseball, kayaking, hiking, even school where he won nearly every award possible from the ODU Physics Department."
A friend of Sargent's family recalled that the young student was a skillful lover of science who was always hungry for more knowledge.
"[Sargent] only deserved the best because [he] always strived to be the best for everyone else. [Sargent was] so focused on making everyone proud that I don't know if [he] ever stopped to realize that we already were.]
The student's girlfriend, Delaney Conter, posted her devastation on social media and spoke highly of the memories they shared throughout their relationship.
Sargent died just shy of his doctorate in astrophysics, so his family created a scholarship to memorialize their son and provide another student the means to learn subjects Corey loved so dearly, the GoFundMe page detailed.
The page had raised almost $13,000 of their $15,000 goal as of August 11.
"The ODU scholarship will aid in ensuring that the historical moment that Corey was set to achieve - the first in ODU history to receive a PhD in astrophysics - is accomplished."
The family's friend wrote that Corey is survived by friends and relatives who loved and treasured their time with Corey.
Click here to donate to the scholarship in honor of Corey Sargent.
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