Two of the three Americans who died in the Germanwings plane crash in the southern French Alps on Tuesday have been named as U.S. government contractor Yvonne Selke, 57, and her graduate daughter Emily of Nokesville, Virginia. Yvonne was a longtime and highly regarded employee of Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., while Emily had graduated from Drexel University, Philadelphia, in 2013. Raymond Selke confirmed on Wednesday that his wife and daughter were among the 150 people who died on a Germanwings flight from Spain to Germany the day before. Scroll down for video . Emily Selke has been named as one of the three Americans killed when a plane crashed in the southern French Alps on Tuesday . Emily Selke was a 2013 graduate from Drexel University in Philadelphia, where she served as vice president of the school's Zeta chapter of the sorority . 'Our entire family is deeply saddened by the losses of Yvonne and Emily Selke. Two wonderful, caring, amazing people who meant so much to so many. At this difficult time we respectfully ask for privacy and your prayers,' said the family in a written statement to WUSA9. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki confirmed that Yvonne and Emily Selke were among those killed in the crash. Psaki said the third U.S. citizen was not being named at this time. Yvonne worked with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the Pentagon's satellite mapping office, according to a person close to the family. 'Every death is a tragedy, but seldom does a death affect us all so directly and unexpectedly,' NGA Director Robert Cardillo said. 'All of us offer our deepest condolences and will keep her family and her colleagues in our thoughts.' Friends and coworkers described her as a diligent and generous worker who regularly brought cookies to co-workers. Booz Allen's chief personnel officer, Betty Thompson, described Selke as 'a wonderful co-worker and a dedicated employee who spent her career with the firm.' France's President Francois Hollande, ceter, embraces Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy as German Chancellor Angela Merkel looks on while they walk on a field near the crash site of Germanwings Airbus A320 . Rescue workers work on debris at the plane crash site: French investigators cracked open the badly damaged black box on Wednesday and sealed off the rugged Alpine crash site where 150 people died when their plane on a flight from Barcelona, Spain to Duesseldorf, Germany, slammed into a mountain . Daughter Emily was a 2013 graduate from Drexel University in Philadelphia, where she had served as vice president of the school's Zeta chapter of the sorority. The university's Gamma Sigma Sigma chapter posted a message on Facebook mourning her death. 'She embodied the spirit of Gamma Sigma Sigma,' the sorority said. 'As a person and friend, Emily always put others before herself and cared deeply for all those in her life. Emily will be greatly missed by her fellow sisters of Zeta. Please keep Emily, her mother and their family in your thoughts and prayers during this heartbreaking time.' Drexel University also issued a statement on Wednesday. 'Drexel is deeply saddened to hear about the tragic loss of alumna Emily Selke and her mother. 'Emily graduated with honors from Drexel in 2013 and was a music industry major in Drexel's Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends. Emily Selke graduated with honors in 2013 and was a music industry major in Drexel University's Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design . 'Kind and compassionate': Friends of Emily Selke, third from the right, have paid tribute to the Drexel University graduate who died in Tuesday's crash . 'Beautiful soul': Emily Selke, left in the photos above, was described as 'down to earth' and 'bright' by her friend Alyse Weaver . An arial view of the Selke's family home in Nokesville, Virginia: The family has said they are 'deeply saddened' by the lose of 'two wonderful, caring, amazing people who meant so much to so many' Emily had worked for 15 months as a community manager at Carr Workplaces, according to her LinkedIn profile. Friends have also begun posting tributes to her on social media. 'I am without many words right now faced with the loss of my friend Emily Selke who was on the Germanwings Airbus flight that crashed earlier today,' wrote Michael Rodino on Facebook. 'Emily was always undeniably her, kind compassionate and wonderfully concerned about all of her friends. There is no way to fill the void left by the loss of someone so determined and selfless except to try and remember to do the best by her. 'She is and always will be the friend you will never ever forget. Thanks for being incredible Emily. You will be missed terribly.' Another friend, Alyse Weaver wrote: 'Emily, it's hard to believe that you were taken from us so suddenly today. Although your time was cut much too short, you will never know how much of an impact you made on my life and so many of the other Zeta sisters. Students embrace in front of the Joseph-Koenig-Gymnasium high school in Haltern am See. Students and teachers at the small-town German high school broke out in tears when they realised that 16 classmates and two teachers were on board an ill-fated Germanwings airplane that crashed in France on Tuesday . 'You are a beautiful soul, so down to earth and interesting, and bright, and just all around one cool chick. You and your family are in our hearts and prayers.' Both Emily and her mom competed in the Manassas Runway Runs marathon in 2014. Emily finished 278, whle her mom finished in 292nd place. A third, as yet unnamed, American was also among the 150 people killed when a Germanwings jet from Barcelona to Duesseldorf, crashed in a remote section of the French Alps. The department was also reviewing records to determine whether any other U.S. citizens might have been on board the flight. 'We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the 150 people on board,' Psaki said. A search and rescue worker at the crash site of the Germanwings Airbus A320 that crashed in the French Alps on Tuesday . The Germanwings A320 lost radio contact with air traffic controllers over the southern French Alps during a routine flight Tuesday from Barcelona, Spain, to Duesseldorf, Germany, before crashing, killing all 150 on board. French officials said terrorism appeared unlikely, and Germany's top security official said Wednesday there was no evidence of foul play. French investigators were opening the jet's mangled black box they recovered, hoping the cockpit recordings inside would help them unlock the mystery of what caused the crash. President Obama said on Tuesday that he had spoken to German Chancellor Angela Merkel  about the crash. The White House said he had also spoken to Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to convey his condolences. Obama called the tragedy a 'terrible airplane crash' and noted that its victims included children and infants. He spoke during an appearance at the White House with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
Two of the three Americans who died in the Germanwings crash have been named as government contractor Yvonne Selke and her daughter Emily . Yvonne Selke of Nokesville, Virginia, was a longtime and highly regarded employee of Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. Daughter Emily was a 2013 graduate and music industry major from Drexel University in Philadelphia . The family has said they are 'deeply saddened' by the lose of 'two wonderful, caring, amazing people who meant so much to so many'
A third, as yet unnamed American, was also killed in the crash . Dignitaries including France's President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited the crash site on Wednesday .