Photo: Cadets at the 2019 Joint ROTC Awards Ceremony

Despite a closed campus, more than 100 men and women in the South Carolina Corps of Cadets are being recognized for their academic and military leadership and excellence

During their time at The Citadel, the ROTC departments provide military-contract cadets with officer training, to allow them to begin their military careers as officers after graduation. Through the departments, which include Air Force ROTC, Army ROTC, Marines ROTC and Navy ROTC, The Citadel is one of the nation’s proven producers of top military leaders.

Annually, the departments nominate their finest cadets and active duty students for awards. The award recipients are normally honored as a group in McAlister Field House. Even though the ceremony was canceled due to COVID-19, The Citadel wants to give these outstanding cadets the recognition they deserve.

“While the situation with COVID-19 has affected some of the most meaningful events for the Class of 2020, it has not affected what makes these events so meaningful,” said Citadel president Gen. Glenn Walters, USMC (Ret.). “They way they’ve handled the changes this semester have only highlight just how much credit these cadets deserve.”

This year’s award winners are:

Air Force Association Cadet Medal

Presented a junior cadet in recognition of outstanding achievement in leadership and academic standing in the Air Force ROTC.

Christian Seidler – Air Force

American Legion Military Excellence Award

Presented to Army, Marine, Navy and Air Force cadets who have demonstrated military excellence.

Brennen Zeigler – Army
Scott Thompson – Navy
Robert Howard – Marine Corps
Trent Martindale – Air Force

American Legion Scholastic Excellence Award

Presented to Army, Marine, Navy and Air Force cadets who have demonstrated scholastic excellence.

Samuel Eckert – Army
John Pippins – Navy
Samuel Poulin – Marine Corps
James Quimby – Air Force

American Veterans of WWII, Korea and Vietnam Award

Presented to ROTC cadets for diligence, discharge of duty and willingness to serve God and country.

Joshua Roides – Army
Jonathan Urbanic – Navy
James Lipscomb – Marine Corps
Caleb Mosley – Air Force

Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA)

Recognizes ROTC students who have demonstrated good moral character, academic excellence and potential to serve as officers in the United States Armed Forces.

Christian deJong – Army
Aaron Gilberto – Navy
Alexei Severnyak – Marine Corps
Marshall M. McKee – Air Force

Association of the United States Army Award (AUSA)

Presented annually to the cadet who epitomizes the Army values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.

Tanner Kennaw – Army

Association of the United States Army Military History Award

Presented to a cadet who has demonstrated a strong interest in and acumen regarding the study of military history. The award is a joint project of the Association of the U.S. Army, in conjunction with the US Army Center of Military History.

Paul Bauknight – Army

AT&T Veterans University ROTC Leadership Award

Presented to ROTC cadets who have displayed the ability to solve problems outside the box by using innovative thinking and carrying it through to execution.

Hannah Jalbert – Army
Garrett Sebold – Navy
Hunter Calkins – Marine Corps
Kevin Hall – Air Force

Daughters of the American Revolution Award (DAR)

Presented to one outstanding cadet from each ROTC unit who demonstrates the qualities of dependability and good character, leadership ability and a fundamental and patriotic understanding of the importance of ROTC training.

Jordan Neeley – Army
Andrew-Russel Newton – Navy
Jacob Fritz – Marine Corps
Trent Martindale – Air Force

Chief of Naval Operations Distinguished Midshipmen Graduate Award

Honors one graduating midshipman at each NROTC Unit and midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy who demonstrate the highest standards of leadership, academic and military performance. 

Jeremy Green – Navy

Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America Award

Recognizes outstanding upperclassmen who have demonstrated the qualities of leadership and high scholastic average, and who are highly active in student affairs.

Michael Makowski – Army
Trevor Compton – Navy
Jonathan Cribb – Marine Corps
Kathryn Christmas – Air Force

Department of the Army Superior Cadet Award

The Department of the Army provides this award annually to the outstanding ROTC cadet in each year of military science at The Citadel that is in the top 25 percent of their ROTC class and academic class.

Brendan Sullivan – Army
Grant Speer – Army
Etienne Fonteneau – Army
Matthew Salazar – Army

Major General Robert Frederick Leadership Award

Presented to a cadet who successfully graduates from the Leader Development and Assessment Course, is compliant with the Army ROTC contract and exhibits exceptional leadership ability and potential.

Jacob Choppa – Army

General Westmoreland Award

The General Westmoreland Award is presented to an airborne qualified cadet at The Citadel by The 82nd Airborne Division, Lowcountry Airborne Chapter.

Paul Rhyne – Army

Marine Corps Association Award

Presented to a Marine option midshipman in recognition of high endeavor and superior accomplishment during four years of study at The Citadel as a Marine option student.

Hunter Calkins – Marine Corps

Marine Corps League Leadership Award

Presented to outstanding Marine and Navy seniors that have excelled in the areas of leadership, academics and military performance.

Andrew Becker – Navy
Kathryn Lattimore – Navy
James Mundy – Marine Corps
SSGT Mark Vowels – Marine Corps

Military Officer Association of America ROTC Medal (MOAA)

Presented to outstanding cadets or midshipmen in their next-to-last year in the program who has demonstrated exceptional potential for military leadership.

Heath Baker – Army
Peter Tillman – Navy
Joseph Field – Marine Corps
Taurus Brown – Air Force

Military Order of the World Wars Award (MOWW)

Presented to one member in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th class from each branch of service for their diligence in demonstrating military excellence and outstanding accomplishments during the year.

Wilhelm Birkholz – Army
Fin Willman – Army
Matthew Wall – Army
Ernest James – Navy
Paul Oelkers – Navy
Jason Flowers – Navy
Christian Chekroun – Marine Corps
Anthony Schwend – Marine Corps
Brock Mehl – Marine Corps
Mary Ballentine – Air Force
Taryn Hall – Air Force
James Walker – Air Force

National Defense Transportation Association Award (NDTA)

Recognizes a senior cadet who demonstrates outstanding leadership qualities, academic achievement, and aptitude for military service.

Darrian Wyble – Army
Logan Scronce – Navy
GYSGT Charles Martin – Marine Corps
Jesse Havener – Air Force

National Defense Industrial Association Award (NDIA)

Presented to a cadet who has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities.

Richard Honeycutt – Army
Matthew Byrnes – Navy
Andrew Desjardins – Marine Corps
Cole Gambill – Air Force

National Sojourners Award

Recognizes cadets in each ROTC department who have a potential for outstanding leadership and have encouraged and demonstrated the ideals of Americanism by deed and conduct.

William Rathke – Army
Isaac Al-Tamimi – Navy
Jeremy Gentle – Marine Corps
Joanne Winborn – Air Force

Naval Submarine League Award

Presented to the top Navy ROTC graduate volunteering for the Submarine Force.

Ronald Weimar – Navy

Navy League Honors Award

Presented to the top academic performers of the personnel within the Enlisted Commissioning Programs of the Navy ROTC department.

Patrick Hesse – Navy
SSgt Yann Lamicq – Marine Corps

Pallas Athene Award

Presented to a female Army cadet who showcases scholastic excellence and is outstanding in her class.

Breana Broad – Army

Reserve Officers Association Award

Presented to cadets who have demonstrated outstanding competence in the arts and sciences of national defense.

Michael Dulin – Army
James Kober – Army
Vincent Candela – Army
Hayes Oruitt – Navy
Nicholas Piacentini – Navy
Patrick Ryan – Navy
Dustin Nguyen – Marine Corps
Sean Reen – Marine Corps
Austin Nations – Marine Corps
Aaron Daninger – Air Force
Lillian Layden – Air Force
Jackson Buda – Air Force

Society of the Daughters of the War of 1812

Presented to cadets who have significantly demonstrated and encouraged the ideals of Americanism by both deed and conduct.

Madelyn Wojciechowski – Army
Nicole Spohn – Navy
Regina Miles – Marine Corps
Noah Hammond – Air Force

Society of the War of 1812 Award

Presented to cadets in the 3rd class who have done the most to demonstrate and encourage the ideals of Americanism by both deed and conduct.

Angela Lance – Army
Matthew Weaver – Navy
Noah Park – Marine Corps
Jacob Duresky – Air Force

Sons of the American Revolution Award (SAR)

Presented to the outstanding Army, Marine, Navy, and Air Force cadets based on military excellence and scholarship in their ROTC studies and activities.

Kyle Goodwin – Army
Thomas Giles – Navy
GYSGT Dustin Miller – Marine Corps
John Orville-Eamiguel – Air Force

Society of American Military Engineers (SAME)

Recognizes outstanding engineering students of the Military Reserve Officers Training Corps.

Cameron Cobb – Army
Phillip Wellons – Navy
William Mathis – Marine Corps
James Quimby – Air Force

Special Forces Association Medal of Excellence

Presented to a standout freshman or sophomore cadet who has shown scholastic excellence and military proficiency in keeping with the ideals of U.S. Special Forces.

Luke Meetz – Army
Emily Perkins – Navy
David Stringer – Marine Corps
Luke Eafano – Air Force

Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Award

Presented to outstanding cadets who have made significant contributions to demonstrate and encourage patriotism through participation in activities on campus or in the community.

Nicholas Fricchione – Army
 Ethan Powers – Navy
Cody Green – Marine Corps
William Jacobs – Air Force

USAA Spirit Award

Presented to students in each ROTC department that best display the traits and characteristics that embody the spirit of service to others.

Hannah Collee – Army
Andrew Brabazon – Navy
Jerry Walker – Marine Corps
Kevin Brown – Air Force

Veterans of Foreign Wars Award (VFW)

Presented annually to seniors or juniors in each ROTC department who has achieved an outstanding academic record.

Richard Snyder – Army
Denis Kuchta – Navy
Adam Niehoff – Marine Corps
Mitchell Dobin – Air Force