One of the first major events during the commencement season at The Citadel is the annual awards convocation for the South Carolina Corps of Cadets.

The awards are presented to cadets and active duty students in recognition of their outstanding accomplishments. This year’s convocation took place on Thursday, May 4, inside the McAlister Field House.

Photos from this year’s commencement events will be available for purchase through The Citadel’s photo store by the end of May.

The 2023 award recipients include:

Air Force ROTC Distinguished Graduate

Presented to the top 10% of commissioning cadets each year. The criteria are based on leadership, followership, GPA, fitness score and involvement in the cadet wing.

Arista Couture, Annaleigh Runion

Air Force ROTC Award for Academic Excellence

Presented to the commissioning senior who achieved the highest cumulative grade point average in all his or her academic coursework at The Citadel.

Emily Lund

Lt. Gen. John W. Rosa Award

Presented to a senior cadet who best exemplifies the Air Force core values of integrity, service and, excellence and who embodies the fighting spirit of the indomitable warrior-airman.

Charles Corte

American Legion College Award

Presented to a senior cadet who has demonstrated the qualities of military leadership, discipline and citizenship. Key attributes of those chosen are service to others, dedication to values and honor to self and the country.

Trevor Compton

Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States Award

Presented to a senior cadet who best exemplifies the finest traditions of The Citadel and best represents the college’s mission.

Joseph Justis

Athletic Officer of the Year Award

Presented to the athletic officer who, in the opinion of fellow athletic officers, demonstrates outstanding leadership in the administration of unit athletics.

Caleb Raab

Intramural Athletic Officer of the Year Award

Presented to the intramural athletic officer of the year, who personifies teamwork, dedication and perseverance towards raising the level of play in The Citadel’s intramural program.

Hayden Moore

Intramural Athlete of the Year Award

Presented to cadets who have shown outstanding performance in intramural competition demonstrating athleticism, sportsmanship and competitive spirit. Battalion and company athletic officers nominate the recipients each year.

Male: Jacob Johnson

Female: Mary Ballentine

Board of Visitors Trophy

Awarded annually to the cadet company that excels in physical effectiveness, one of the four pillars of the college.

Echo Company

Club Sport Captain of the Year

Presented in honor of Harry G. Hitopoulos, Class of 1952, and Citadel boxing coach from 1982 to 2006.  It is designated for the club sport captain who has provided exemplary leadership on and off the playing field and chosen by the club sports’ captains with the battalion and company athletic officers.

Nathanael King (Lacrosse)

The Brigadier Foundation President’s Award

Presented to a senior athlete who has contributed the most to The Citadel’s athletic program and the Corps of Cadets. Members of the graduating class vote for the award recipient each year.

Suzuka Yosue

Col. Floyd W. Brown Jr. Memorial Award

Presented annually to a senior cadet who has contributed to the success of cadet life and best exhibits the highest degree of customs and courtesies of a cadet, citizen and soldier.

Elijah Holder

Mark W. Clark Honor Committee Award for Exemplary Service

Presented to a member of The Honor Committee judged to have made the greatest contribution to the honor system throughout the school year.

Drew Johnson

Walter B. Clark Award

Presented to the cadet who achieves the highest overall standing at the Army ROTC advanced camp. Members of The Citadel’s Army ROTC instructor group established the award in 1977 to honor Col. Walter Ballard Clark’s service in the military and at The Citadel. Clark, Citadel Class of 1951, was a professor of military science and commandant of cadets from 1974 to 1977.

Wilhelm Birkholz

Congressional Medal of Honor Society Award

Presented annually to the graduating senior cadet considered the most outstanding in the performance of cadet and military activities who will be commissioned into the armed forces.

Madelyn Wojciechowski

Lt. Col. Harvey M. Dick Official United States Army Sword

Presented annually by the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution to the most outstanding cadet being commissioned in the U.S. Army. The sword is awarded in recognition of the superior academic and leadership skills that the recipient has demonstrated during four years as a cadet.

Taylor Merrell

Todd L. Dorney Award

Presented annually in memory of Army Lt. Todd L. Dorney, a 1980 Citadel graduate. The sword goes to a senior under Army ROTC contract who ranks in the top 10 percent of his or her class.

Caitlin Curmode

William Porcher Dubose Award

Presented annually by the General Organization of the United Daughters of the Confederacy to the first-honor graduate in memory of Cadet Dubose, a citizen soldier, first-honor graduate and ranking cadet in the Class of 1855.

Emily Lund

Capt. Ryan Hall Leadership Sword

Presented annually to the rising senior Air Force contract cadet who has excelled in academics and leadership. The recipient exemplifies the values and attributes of Hall, which include integrity, loyalty, strength of character, honor, dedication, leadership and service before self. Hall, Citadel Class of 2004, was killed Feb. 18, 2012 while in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The sword will be carried throughout the cadet’s senior year, until it is again passed on to another deserving Air Force cadet.

Kenyaz Boston

Wade Hampton Saber

Presented annually by the South Carolina Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy to a senior cadet who demonstrates outstanding leadership and made the greatest contribution to The Citadel while a cadet.

Brandon Johnson

Commandant’s Leadership Excellence Award

Awarded to a senior cadet for exceptional leadership, within the corps of cadets. Representing the total team effort across the cadet leadership in the corps and the commandant’s staff, this standout student embodies leadership by example in the barracks, across campus and in the classroom.

Patrick Cherry

Carlisle Norwood Hastie Award

Presented annually to the graduating senior cadet who was selected by classmates as showing the most tact, consideration and courtesy to fellow cadets.

Patrick Cherry

Hemingway Award

Presented to the senior who throughout his or her cadet career made the greatest contribution as a Christian cadet on the athletic field and to the spiritual life of the Corps of Cadets. It is named for Marine Corps Lt. Col. Thomas E. Hemingway, Citadel Class of 1960.

Zoey Conrad

Lt. Col. Leigh Hochreich Memorial Fund Award

Presented annually to a senior who best displays strong character, patriotism, love of fellow man, loyalty and devotion to The Citadel.

Dylan Christmas

Maj. William Marks Hutson Award

Presented annually at The Citadel to a junior cadet selected for outstanding leadership ability, academic standing and devotion to duty. The award is presented in memory of Maj. William M. Hutson, U.S. Air Force and Citadel Class of 1939, who was killed in service in World War II.

Sullivan Newsome

John Paul Jones Award

Presented to a Navy ROTC midshipman second class who has demonstrated leadership excellence and military bearing personifying the high ideals and principles which motivated and sustained our naval forefathers. The Citadel professor of naval science selects the recipient of the sword. The Charleston Commandery Naval Order of the United States sponsors the award.

Connor Erwin

Brig. Gen. James E. Mace Leadership Award

Presented annually to a senior cadet who will commission in the military and demonstrates outstanding leadership in the day-to-day running of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets. The cadet must exhibit unwavering love for The Citadel along with the leadership traits of honor, self-discipline, courage, patriotism, high moral standards and service to fellow cadets. The award is named after a former commandant of cadets and 1963 Citadel graduate.

Madelyn Wojciechowski

Lt. Dan Malcom Jr. Memorial Sword

Recognizes a cadet for leadership and dedication while a member of The Citadel Naval ROTC. The sword is presented in memory of 1st Lt. Dan Malcom Jr., Class of 2001, who was killed in 2004 in Iraq.

Isaac Patterson

Gen. George C. Marshall Award

Presented annually to a senior cadet being commissioned in the Army. The recipient must be the top graduating senior in the cadet battalion, must have completed the Leadership Development and Assessment Course and have demonstrated the leadership and scholastic qualities that epitomize the career of Gen. George C. Marshall.

Wilhelm Birkholz

D.S. McAlister Cadet Activities Award

Presented annually to the senior cadet who has made the greatest contribution to the Department of Cadet Activities.

Christopher Shorkey

Cadet Medal of Merit Award

Presented by the adjutant general of South Carolina to an outstanding senior cadet who exemplifies the traits of leadership, scholastic achievement, conduct and participation in cadet and college activities.

Thomas Blake Giles

CNO Distinguished Midshipman Graduate

This award was established to honor those naval reserve officers training corps midshipmen who demonstrate the highest standards of leadership, scholarship and military performance.

Jordan Kish

Military Order of Foreign Wars of the U.S. Gen. Charles P. Summerall Award

Presented to a senior cadet scheduled for commissioning in the military who has excelled in the ROTC program, leadership and the study of military history.

Dyce Duckworth

Robert G. Miller Memorial Sword

Presented to a graduating Navy midshipman or officer candidate who has excelled in a Navy Battalion leadership position, devoted his or her life to public service and is in the top 25 percent of his or her graduating class.

Jordan Kish

Capt. H. Carl Josephson Sword

Presented by the Charleston Council of the Navy League to the most outstanding cadet being commissioned in the U.S. Navy. The sword is awarded in recognition of superior academic and leadership skills demonstrated during four years as a Citadel cadet.

Kallan Stephens

Brig. Gen. William Lee Smith Sword

Presented by the Charleston Council of the Navy League to the most outstanding cadet being commissioned in the U.S. Marine Corps. The sword recognizes superior academic and leadership skills demonstrated during four years at The Citadel.

Christian Chekroun

The Naval Submarine League/Frederick B. Worder Award for Outstanding Achievement

Presented to one naval ROTC student who has not only excelled in academics and military performance but is the number one student who has been selected to serve in the submarine community as a naval officer. 

Robert Bernzott

Col. Joseph E. Perkins Honor Committee Award

Presented annually to a member of the Honor Committee in recognition of invaluable service to the Corps of Cadets by upholding and promoting the high ideals of The Citadel honor system.

Samuel Sharnas

Ruben B. Pitts III Memorial Award

Given in memory of Cadet Reuben B. Pitts III, Class of 1963, to the junior cadet selected by his or her classmates as showing the greatest concern for the well-being of others.

Caroline Bates

Society of the Daughters of the American Colonists Silver Bowl Award

Presented to the graduating cadet who has contributed to the idea of teamwork, morale, and service to others at The Citadel and in the community.

Elissa Reckdenwald

Special Forces Association Award of Excellence

Presented to a contracted freshman or sophomore cadet in one of the ROTC departments who displays scholastic excellence, military proficiency, leadership qualities and dedication to mission.

Abigail Kanewske

Star of the West Medal

Presented to the best drilled cadet in the Corps of Cadets. The award has been presented since 1886.

Coleman Bland

Widder Award

Recognizes the distinguished military student in the Army ROTC who has best exhibited the qualities of devotion to duty, exemplary conduct, military and academic excellence and unquestionable character. The award is presented annually in memory of Capt. David Widder, a 1959 Citadel graduate who was killed in Vietnam while serving in the Army.

Logan Treiber

William G. Willard Jr. Award

Presented to a junior cadet selected by the senior cadet leadership for exemplifying the qualities of integrity, devotion to duty and service to The Citadel.

Grace Cooper

Lila K. Whetstone Women in Leadership Excellence Award

Recognizes a young junior woman in the Corps of Cadets who excels in academics in fitness, serves the Corps of Cadets with courage and humility, is dedicated to helping others through community involvement and is actively engaged in the training and development of her fellow cadets.

Grace Cooper

Undergraduate of the Year Award

Presented to graduating seniors selected by the business administration faculty as the most outstanding majors in the school.

David Seymour

Col. Charles E. Hirshey Award

Recognizes the most outstanding graduate in teacher education. The award is named for Col. Charles Hirshey, Ph.D., who served as head of The Citadel’s Department of Education from 1969 to 1979. He was a pioneer in education in the Lowcountry and a founding member of the current Citadel Graduate College.

Catherine DeBuisseret

Col. Louis Shephard LeTellier Award

Presented to the member of the graduating class attaining the highest academic grade point ratio in civil engineering.

Jackson Stancell

Kevin Haddad

Peter Gaillard Memorial Award

Recognizes an exceptional electrical and computer engineering senior cadet based on scholastic attainment, leadership and participation in extracurricular activities. The award is presented in memory of an outstanding 1948 graduate of The Citadel’s electrical engineering department.

Blake Garwood

Leidos Courage Award

Presented to an upperclassman in the college’s National Security and Intelligence Program who demonstrates an act of courage, exhibits The Citadel’s core values, embodies the values and ethical character of a principled leader, exemplifies service before self in actions and deeds and serves as a role model in his or her academic and personal endeavors.

Elissa Reckdenwald

Francis Marion Cup

Presented to a graduating senior cadet who has done exemplary academic work in American history courses. The Rebecca Matte Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution sponsors the award.

Brendan Sullivan

Joseph P. Riley Jr. Award

Presented to the graduating senior in the school of humanities and social sciences who best represents the commitment to academic excellence, the breadth of intellectual interests and the dedication to public service exemplified by the life and career of Joseph P. Riley Jr. Riley is a Citadel Class of 1964 graduate, 1968-1974 state legislator, 1975-2016 mayor of Charleston and current endowed chair of American government and public policy professor at The Citadel.

Elissa Reckdenwald

Swain Family School of Science and Mathematics Outstanding Cadet Award

Recognizes the superior academic achievement by an undergraduate student majoring in one of the disciplines housed in Swain Family School of Science and Mathematics.

Andrew Davis

Swain Family School of Science and Mathematics Outstanding Veteran Student Award

Recognizes the superior academic achievement by an undergraduate student majoring in one of the disciplines housed in Swain Family School of Science and Mathematics.

Benjamin Knight

Dr. Francis Eugene Zemp Award

Presented to the senior cadet in the field of pre-med with the highest academic average.

Andrew Davis

Thomas Francis McGarey Award

Given annually by Mrs. Miriam M. Favorite in memory of her father, Thomas Francis McGarey, Citadel Class of 1914. It is presented to the senior cadet with the highest scholastic ranking in the field of natural science.

Kennedy Fravel

Honorable Falcon Black Hawkins Jr. Award

Recognizes the veteran student at The Citadel who, like Falcon Black Hawkins Jr., demonstrated patience, wisdom, humility, academic achievement, servant leadership and sound judgment while always setting an example as a person of integrity. Hawkins, Citadel Class of 1958, was a dedicated U.S. district court judge for South Carolina and served as chief judge from 1990 to 1993.

Austin Lash

Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards

This award is presented annually through the New York Southern Society to a student and faculty member in recognition of high thought and noble endeavor.

Caleb Raab

George Williams, Ph.D.

James A. Grimsley Jr. Award for Undergraduate Teaching Excellence

This award, established 35 years ago, recognizes the outstanding performance by a member of the faculty in service to undergraduate students. The winner is chosen by the senior class from nominations by students and faculty members.

Kevin Skenes, Ph.D.

Cadet Palmetto Award

The Palmetto Medal Award recognizes exceptional performance reflecting great credit on The Citadel and the state of South Carolina. Established by the Board of Visitors, the award is presented to those whose service to the college or state is particularly noteworthy. Except for honorary degrees, the Palmetto Medal is the highest honor awarded by The Citadel.

Elissa Reckdenwald