Senior cadet wins 2021 Star of the West competition
Samuel De Los Santos is currently the South Carolina Corps of Cadet’s best-drilled cadet. De Los Santos, a Psychology major from Irmo, SC went up against 36 other cadets for the title during The Citadel’s Star of the West competition Fri., April 16.
The competition, which began at The Citadel in 1886, is an annual event that recognizes and celebrates the precision required in military maneuvers and leadership positions in general.
Cadet Daniel Esteban joined De Los Santos in the final round of this year’s competition. Esteban previously won the Star of the West competition in 2019 and was also the runner-up in 2018.
As best-drilled cadet, De Los Santos will have his name engraved on the Star of the West monument on Summerall Field. The monument was raised in 1961, 100 years after Citadel cadets fired upon the Star of the West ship in the Civil War. The names of all Star of the West competition winners are inscribed on the monument.
De Los Santos will also be awarded the Star of the West medal, which contains wood from the old ship, during the South Carolina Corps of Cadets awards convocation in May.
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