Photo: Cadets folding an American flag during a parade in March, before The Citadel campus was closed

As each spring semester closes, The Citadel recognizes some of the outstanding cadets and active duty students at the college through a series of awards. The Awards Convocation 2020 could not be held, but the achievements of these students are still being celebrated.

The 2020 award recipients include:

Air Force ROTC Award for Academic Excellence – James Quimby, Physics, USAF, Pilot

The Air Force ROTC Award for Academic Excellence recognizes a commissioning senior who achieved the highest cumulative grade point average in all his or her academic coursework at The Citadel.

Lt. Gen. John W. Rosa Award – James Quimby, Physics, USAF, Pilot

The Lt. Gen. John W. Rosa Awards is 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.

American Legion College Award – Patrick Hesse, Mathematics, USN, Pilot

The American Legion College Award is 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.

Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States Award – Samuel Santiago, Mechanical Engineering, U.S. Coast Guard

The Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States Award is given to a senior cadet who best exemplifies the finest traditions of The Citadel and best represents the college’s mission.

Athletic Officer of the Year Award – Sheriff Bangura, Computer Science, USA

The Athletic Officer of the Year Award is presented to the athletic officer who, in the opinion of fellow athletic officers, demonstrates outstanding leadership in the administration of unit athletics.

Intramural Athletes of the Year Award –

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• Bryson Butts, Biology. “Bryson is one of the best all around intramural athletes to evert step on this campus.”
• Damirelys Perez, Psychology. “An outstanding athlete who earned her way to the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association Scholastic All-American and participated in six intramural sports.”

The Intramural Athlete of the Year Award is 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.

Board of Visitors Trophy – Delta Company

The Board of Visitors Trophy is awarded annually to the cadet company that excels in physical effectiveness, one of the four pillars of the college.

The Brigadier Foundation President’s Award – Caricia Rodriguez, Nursing

“Cadet Caricia Rodriguez has embodied what it means to not only be a Citadel Cadet, but also a cadet athlete.”

The Brigadier Foundation President’s Award recognizes 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.

Col. Floyd W. Brown Jr. Memorial Award – Hunter McGee, Accounting, USAF

The Col. Floyd W. Brown Jr. Memorial Award is 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.

Mark W. Clark Honor Committee Award for Exemplary Service – Preston Bell, Political Science, Army National Guard

The Mark W. Clark Honor Committee Award for Exemplary Service recognizes a member of The Honor Committee judged to have made the greatest contribution to the honor system throughout the school year.

Walter B. Clark Award – Vincent Candela, Mechanical Engineering, USA, Aviation

The Walter B. Clark Award is 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.

Congressional Medal of Honor Society Award – Brady Lucas, Business Administration

The Congressional Medal of Honor Society Award is 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.

Lt. Col. Harvey M. Dick Official United States Army Sword – Kenslee Padgett, Exercise Science, USA

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

Todd L. Dorney Award – Carson Adams, Accounting, Army National Guard, Aviation

The Todd L. Dorney Award is 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.

William Porcher Dubose Award – Hunter McGee, Accounting, USAF

The William Porcher Dubose Award is 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.

Capt. Ryan Hall Leadership Sword – Christian Seidler, Civil and Environmental Engineering, USAF

The Captain Ryan Hall Leadership Sword is 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.

Wade Hampton Saber – Richard Snyder, Accounting, USA

The Wade Hampton Saber is given 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.

Carlisle Norwood Hastie Award – Richard Snyder, Accounting, USA

The Carlisle Norwood Hastie Award is presented annually to the graduating senior cadet who was selected by classmates as showing the most tact, consideration, and courtesy to fellow cadets.

Hemingway Award – Gage Russell, Secondary Social Studies Education

The Hemingway Award is given 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.

Lt. Col. Leigh Hochreich Memorial Fund Award – Hannah Jalbert, Intelligence and Security Studies, Chinese, USA

The Lt. Col. Leigh Hochreich Memorial Fund Award is presented annually to a senior who best displays strong character, patriotism, love of fellow man, loyalty and devotion to The Citadel.

Maj. William Marks Hutson Award – Carson Adams, Accounting, Army National Guard, Aviation

The Maj. William Marks Hutson Award is 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. 

John Paul Jones Award – Roman Kokowsky, Spanish and French, USN

The John Paul Jones Award recognizes 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.

Brig. Gen. James E. Mace Leadership Award – Adam Niehoff, Political Science, USMC

The Brig. Gen. James E. Mace Leadership Award is 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.

Lt. Dan Malcom Jr. Memorial Sword – James Mundy, History, USMC

The 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.

Gen. George C. Marshall Award – Paul Rhyne II, Biology, USA, Aviation

The Gen. George C. Marshall Award is 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.

D.S. McAlister Cadet Activities Award – Sabastian Parker, Mechanical Engineering, NIWC

The D.S. McAlister Cadet Activities Award is presented annually to the senior cadet who has made the greatest contribution to the Department of Cadet Activities.

Cadet Medal of Merit Award – Andrew Newton, Mechanical Engineering, USN

The Cadet Medal of Merit Award is 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.

Military Order of Foreign Wars of the U.S. Gen. Charles P. Summerall Award – Anna DiNovo, Psychology, USA Reserves

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

Robert G. Miller Memorial Sword – Jeremy Green, Mechanical Engineering, USN, Flight School

The Robert G. Miller Memorial Sword is given 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. 

Capt. H. Carl Josephson Sword – Ronald Weimar, Electrical Engineering, USN (Selected for Naval Post Graduate School / Burke Scholarship Program, 2025)

The Capt. H. Carl Josephson Sword is 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.

Brig. Gen. William Lee Smith Sword – Dillon Ortiz, Criminal Justice, USMC

The Brig. Gen. William Lee Smith Sword is 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.

Pallas Athene Award (National AROTC Award) – Breana Broad, Business Administration, USA Reserves

Since 1983, the Pallas Athene Award has been presented annually by the Women’s Army Corps Veterans’ Association to the outstanding Army Senior ROTC Pr5ogram women cadets in each of the four ROTC Regions.

South Carolina Society of the Order of Founders and Patriots Award – James Mundy, History, USMC

The South Carolina Society of the Order of Founders and Patriots Award is given to the cadet who has best shown, through his or her superior historical scholarship, an exceptional understanding of and respect for the sacrifices of our founding forefathers and revolutionary patriots. 

Col. Joseph E. Perkins Honor Committee Award – Trace Guy, Mechanical Engineering, USAF, Flight Training

The Col. Joseph E. Perkins Honor Committee Award is 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. 

Ruben B. Pitts III Memorial Award – Jesse Crook, Nursing, USA

The Ruben B. Pitts III Memorial Award is 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.

Society of the Daughters of the American Colonists Silver Bowl Award – Brennan Zeigler, Business Administration, USA National Guard

The Society of the Daughters of the American Colonists Silver Bowl Award is 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.

Special Forces Association Award of Excellence – Angela Lance, Intelligence and Security Studies, USA

The Special Forces Association Award of Excellence is 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.

Widder Award – Paul Rhyne II, Biology, USA, Aviation

The 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.

William G. Willard Jr. Award – Caleb Williams, Mechanical Engineering

The William G. Willard Jr. Award is 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.

Lila K. Whetstone Women in Leadership Excellence Award – Joanna Winborn, Mechanical Engineering

The 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.

Undergraduate of the Year Award – Hunter McGee, Accounting, USAF

The Undergraduate of the Year Award is presented to graduating seniors selected by the business administration faculty as the most outstanding majors in the school.

Col. Charles E. Hirshey Award – Gage Russell, Secondary Social Studies Education

The 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.

Col. Louis Shephard LeTellier Award –

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• Liam Kelley, Civil and Environmental Engineering
• James Jennings, Construction Engineering

The Col. Louis Shephard LeTellier Award is presented to the member of the graduating class attaining the highest academic grade point ratio in civil engineering.

Peter Gaillard Memorial Award – Julianna DeSalle, Electrical Engineering

The 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.

Leidos Courage Award – Mark Vowels, Intelligence and Security Studies, USMC

The Leidos Courage Award is 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.

Francis Marion Cup – Austin Nations, History, USMC

The Francis Marion Cup is awarded 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.

Joseph P. Riley Jr. Award – Sébastien Offredo, Political Science and French

The Joseph P. Riley Jr. Award is 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.

Swain School of Science and Mathematics Outstanding Student Award – John DeStefano, Biology

The Swain School of Science and Mathematics Outstanding Student Award recognizes superior academic achievement by an undergraduate major from the School of Science and Mathematics’s discipline.

Dr. Francis Eugene Zemp Award – John DeStefano, Biology

The Dr. Francis Eugene Zemp Award is presented to the senior cadet in the field of pre-med with the highest academic average.

Honorable Falcon Black Hawkins Jr. Award – Daniel Adams, Mechanical Engineering, USN

The 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.