Each year, The Citadel STEM Center of Excellence will have two summer programs — a STEAM camp and GenCyber Summer Camp.

Two cadets recently competed in the virtual National Cyber League, a competition giving students a chance to practice their cybersecurity skills. They competed against students from all over the country, and both placed in the top 100 out of more than 7,500 participants.

Ricardo Quintero is a veteran and an undergraduate student at The Citadel majoring in Computer Science with minors in Cyber Security and Spanish. In addition to being a full-time student, he is a volunteer diver at the South Carolina Aquarium and does Spanish tutoring. Quintero served for seven years in the Coast Guard and, after graduating, expects to accept a commission into the Air Force to pursue a career as a fighter pilot.

Annika Ford is majoring in biology with a chemistry minor. She is from Fort Mill, South Carolina but was born in Canberra, Australia. She is a Dean’s List and Gold Stars recipient. This year, Ford serves as Palmetto Battery Company Commander.

“In the first day, I learned that language barriers do not inhibit you from giving the gifts of hope and comfort.”

Weinstein’s research on microplastics, especially the discovery of microscopic tire particles in coastal waters, has gained both national and international attention.

“I think medicine is one of the most humbling professions and I’m excited at the prospect of building relationships and serving those around me.”

The Swain Department of Nursing is recognizing its fourth graduating class, celebrating the graduation of 15 cadets and 12 non-cadet students.

Cyberspace is a battlefield and the adversary is always out there. We need you defending our country in the cyber environment.

“We learned the hottest urban heat island areas, in the deep red on the map, are often the most population dense and are as much as 11.1 degrees warmer than neighboring areas on a sweltering summer day.”