Cadets at Joint ROTC Awards Ceremony in 2019

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA (April 10, 2020) — Joseph Field of Bettendorf, Iowa, is one of more than 100 men and women in the South Carolina Corps of Cadets being recognized for their academic and military leadership and excellence, despite a closed campus.

During their time at The Citadel, the ROTC departments provide military-contract cadets with officer training, to allow them to begin their military careers as officers after graduation. Through the departments, which include Air Force ROTC, Army ROTC, Marines ROTC, and Navy ROTC, The Citadel is one of the nation's proven producers of top military leaders.

Annually, the departments nominate their finest cadets and active-duty students for awards. The award recipients are normally honored as a group in McAlister Field House. Even though the ceremony was canceled due to COVID-19, The Citadel wants to give these outstanding cadets the recognition they deserve.

"While the situation with COVID-19 has affected some of the most meaningful events for the Class of 2020, it has not affected what makes these events so meaningful," said Citadel president General Glenn Walters, USMC (Ret.). "They way they've handled the changes this semester have only highlight just how much credit these cadets deserve."

This year's award winners are:

Air Force Association Cadet Medal

Presented a junior cadet in recognition of outstanding achievement in leadership and academic standing in the Air Force ROTC.

Christian Seidler — Air Force

American Legion Military Excellence Award

Presented to Army, Marine, Navy, and Air Force cadets who have demonstrated military excellence.

Brennen Zeigler — Army

Scott Thompson — Navy

Robert Howard — Marine Corps

Trent Martindale — Air Force

American Legion Scholastic Excellence Award

Presented to Army, Marine, Navy, and Air Force cadets who have demonstrated scholastic excellence.

Samuel Eckert — Army

John Pippins — Navy

Samuel Poulin — Marine Corps

James Quimby — Air Force

American Veterans of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam Award

Presented to ROTC cadets for diligence, discharge of duty, and willingness to serve God and country.

Joshua Roides — Army

Jonathan Urbanic — Navy

James Lipscomb — Marine Corps

Caleb Mosley — Air Force

Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA)

Recognizes ROTC students who have demonstrated good moral character, academic excellence, and potential to serve as officers in the United States Armed Forces.

Christian deJong — Army

Aaron Gilberto — Navy

Alexei Severnyak — Marine Corps

Marshall M. McKee — Air Force

Association of the United States Army Award (AUSA)

Presented annually to the cadet who epitomizes the Army values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage.

Tanner Kennaw — Army

Association of the United States Army Military History Award

Presented to a cadet who has demonstrated a strong interest in, and acumen regarding, the study of military history. The award is a joint project of the Association of the US Army, in conjunction with the US Army Center of Military History.

Paul Bauknight — Army

AT&T Veterans University ROTC Leadership Award

Presented to ROTC cadets who have displayed the ability to solve problems outside the box by using innovative thinking and carrying it through to execution.

Hannah Jalbert — Army

Garrett Sebold — Navy

Hunter Calkins — Marine Corps

Kevin Hall — Air Force

Daughters of the American Revolution Award (DAR)

Presented to one outstanding cadet from each ROTC unit who demonstrates the qualities of dependability and good character, leadership ability, and a fundamental and patriotic understanding of the importance of ROTC training.

Jordan Neeley — Army

Andrew-Russel Newton — Navy

Trent Martindale — Marine Corps

Jacob Fritz — Air Force

Chief of Naval Operations Distinguished Midshipmen Graduate Award

Honors one graduating midshipman at each NROTC Unit and midshipmen at the US Naval Academy who demonstrate the highest standards of leadership, academic, and military performance.

Jeremy Green — Navy

Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America Award

Recognizes outstanding upper-classmen who have demonstrated the qualities of leadership and high scholastic average, and who are highly-active in student affairs.

Michael Makowski — Army

Trevor Compton — Navy

Jonathan Cribb — Marine Corps

Kathryn Christmas — Air Force

Department of the Army Superior Cadet Award

The Department of the Army provides this award annually to the outstanding ROTC cadet in each year of military science at The Citadel that is in the top 25 percent of their ROTC class and academic class.

Brendan Sullivan — Army

Grant Speer — Army

Etienne Fonteneau — Army

Matthew Salazar — Army

Major General Robert Frederick Leadership Award

Presented to a cadet who successfully graduates from the Leader Development and Assessment Course, is compliant with the Army ROTC contract, and exhibits exceptional leadership ability and potential.

Jacob Choppa — Army

General Westmoreland Award

The General Westmoreland Award is presented to an airborne qualified cadet at The Citadel by The 82nd Airborne Division, Lowcountry Airborne Chapter.

Paul Rhyne — Army

Marine Corps Association Award

Presented to a Marine option midshipman in recognition of high endeavor and superior accomplishment during four years of study at The Citadel as a Marine option student.

Hunter Calkins — Marine Corps

Marine Corps League Leadership Award

Presented to outstanding Marine and Navy seniors that have excelled in the areas of leadership, academics, and military performance.

Andrew Becker — Navy

Kathryn Lattimore — Navy

James Mundy — Marine Corps

SSGT Mark Vowels — Marine Corps

Military Officer Association of America ROTC Medal (MOAA)

Presented to outstanding cadets or midshipmen in their next-to-last year in the program who has demonstrated exceptional potential for military leadership.

Heath Baker — Army

Peter Tillman — Navy

Joseph Field — Marine Corps

Taurus Brown — Air Force

Military Order of the World Wars Award (MOWW)

Presented to one member in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th class from each branch of service for their diligence in demonstrating military excellence and outstanding accomplishments during the year.

Wilhelm Birkholz — Army

Fin Willman — Army

Matthew Wall — Army

Ernest James — Navy

Paul Oelkers — Navy

Jason Flowers — Navy

Christian Chekroun — Marine Corps

Anthony Schwend — Marine Corps

Brock Mehl — Marine Corps

Mary Ballentine — Air Force

Taryn Hall — Air Force

James Walker — Air Force

National Defense Transportation Association Award (NDTA)

Recognizes a senior cadet who demonstrates outstanding leadership qualities, academic achievement, and aptitude for military service.

Darrian Wyble — Army

Logan Scronce — Navy

GYSGT Charles Martin — Marine Corps

Jesse Havener — Air Force

National Defense Industrial Association Award (NDIA)

Presented to a cadet who has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities.

Richard Honeycutt — Army

Matthew Byrnes — Navy

Andrew Desjardins — Marine Corps

Cole Gambill — Air Force

National Sojourners Award

Recognizes cadets in each ROTC department who have a potential for outstanding leadership and have encouraged and demonstrated the ideals of Americanism by deed and conduct.

William Rathke — Army

Isaac Al-Tamimi — Navy

Jeremy Gentle — Marine Corps

Joanne Winborn — Air Force

Naval Submarine League Award

Presented to the top Navy ROTC graduate volunteering for the Submarine Force.

Ronald Weimar — Navy

Navy League Honors Award

Presented to the top academic performers of the personnel within the Enlisted Commissioning Programs of the Navy ROTC department.

Patrick Hesse — Navy

SSgt Yann Lamicq — Marine Corps

Pallas Athene Award

Presented to a female Army cadet who showcases scholastic excellence and is outstanding in her class.

Breana Broad — Army

Reserve Officers Association Award

Presented to cadets who have demonstrated outstanding competence in the arts and sciences of national defense.

Michael Dulin — Army

James Kober — Army

Vincent Candela — Army

Hayes Oruitt — Navy

Nicholas Piacentini — Navy

Patrick Ryan — Navy

Dustin Nguyen — Marine Corps

Sean Reen — Marine Corps

Austin Nations — Marine Corps

Aaron Daninger — Air Force

Lillian Layden — Air Force

Jackson Buda — Air Force

Society of the Daughters of the War of 1812

Presented to cadets who have significantly demonstrated and encouraged the ideals of Americanism by both deed and conduct.

Madelyn Wojciechowski — Army

Nicole Spohn — Navy

Regina Miles — Marine Corps

Noah Hammond — Air Force

Society of the War of 1812 Award

Presented to cadets in the 3rd class who have done the most to demonstrate and encourage the ideals of Americanism by both deed and conduct.

Angela Lance — Army

Matthew Weaver — Navy

Noah Park — Marine Corps

Jacob Duresky — Air Force

Sons of the American Revolution Award (SAR)

Presented to the outstanding Army, Marine, Navy, and Air Force cadets based on military excellence and scholarship in their ROTC studies and activities.

Kyle Goodwin — Army

Thomas Giles — Navy

GYSGT Dustin Miller — Marine Corps

John Orville-Eamiguel — Air Force

Society of American Military Engineers (SAME)

Recognizes outstanding engineering students of the Military Reserve Officers Training Corps.

Cameron Cobb — Army

Phillip Wellons — Navy

William Mathis — Marine Corps

James Quimby — Air Force

Special Forces Association Medal of Excellence

Presented to a standout freshman or sophomore cadet who has shown scholastic excellence and military proficiency in keeping with the ideals of US Special Forces.

Luke Meetz — Army

Emily Perkins — Navy

David Stringer — Marine Corps

Luke Eafano — Air Force

Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Award

Presented to outstanding cadets who have made significant contributions to demonstrate and encourage patriotism through participation in activities on campus or in the community.

Nicholas Fricchione — Army

Ethan Powers — Navy

Cody Green — Marine Corps

William Jacobs — Air Force

USAA Spirit Award

Presented to students in each ROTC department that best display the traits and characteristics that embody the spirit of service to others.

Hannah Collee — Army

Andrew Brabazon — Navy

Jerry Walker — Marine Corps

Kevin Brown — Air Force

Veterans of Foreign Wars Award (VFW)

Presented annually to seniors or juniors in each ROTC department who has achieved an outstanding academic record.

Richard Snyder — Army

Denis Kuchta — Navy

Adam Niehoff — Marine Corps

Mitchell Dobin — Air Force

About The Citadel

The Citadel, with its iconic campus located in Charleston, South Carolina, offers a classic military-college education for young men and women focused on leadership excellence and academic distinction. The approximately 2,400 members of the SC Corps of Cadets are not required to serve in the military, but about one-third of each class earn commissions to become officers in every branch of US military service. Citadel alumni have served the nation, their states, and their communities as principled leaders since 1842. The Citadel Graduate College, founded more than 50 years ago, offers 26 graduate degree programs, 25 graduate certificate programs, and 10 evening undergraduate programs in the evening or online. Consecutively-named Best Public College in the South by US News and World Report for nine years and N° 1 Best Public College for Veterans in the South for two years. Learn more about Our Mighty Citadel here.

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