Cadet Vaughn Daughenbaugh wins 2025 Star of the West competition

The Star of the West drill competition began with 35 members of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets. By the end, one cadet was recognized as the best at military drills.

This year, after a close competition, Cadet Vaughn Daughenbaugh won The Citadel’s annual Star of the West contest on Wednesday, April 30.

“This year I had pretty strict goals. Freshman year, my company won Kelly Cup and then we were able to win Kelly Cup a second time this year with me as the sergeant,” said Daughenbaugh, a junior at The Citadel. “So my goals were to win Kelly Cup a second time and I had to win Star of the West, so winning means quite a bit to me.”

The Star of the West competition began in 1886 at The Citadel and is now an annual event that recognizes and celebrates the precision required in military maneuvers and leadership positions in general.

To commemorate his achievement, 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 during the Civil War. Previous year’s winners of the Star of the West competition have their names inscribed on the monument.

Daughenbaugh will also be awarded the Star of the West medal, which contains wood from the old ship, during the South Carolina Corps of Cadets award convocation in May.