Members of the class of 2007 become official cadet-recruits at the swearing-in ceremony.

Dear Parents,

           Welcome to another academic year. Since my last letter, more than 300 of your cadets graduated, becoming members of the long gray line. Forty percent of those graduates received commissions in the armed forces where they will serve their country well; the others are pursuing post graduate work or careers in their chosen fields. As the class of 2003 forges into the world to become the leaders that The Citadel prepared them to be, members of the class of 2007 have begun their fourth class training. Of the record 2,113 young men and women who applied for admission to the college, 638 became members of the Corps of Cadets. There are 43 women in the new class and 63 African Americans. Their average SAT score is 1106 and their average high school grade point average is 3.30.

           With this semester just under way, I would like to recap for you some of the highlights of the spring and summer. Your cadets have been busy, and their various activities are impressive.

In the spotlight

           Cadet Frank Llaneza was awarded the First Honor Graduate Scholarship Medal, which is presented annually to the graduating cadet with the highest grade point average. Voted on by the first class, the John O. Willson Ring is presented to the member of the graduating class who is the finest, purest, and most courteous member. Cadet Robert Sturdy earned this distinction. The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award was established by the New York Southern Society in 1925 and has been presented at The Citadel since 1933. The bronze medallions are awarded in recognition of "high thought and noble endeavor" as exemplified in the life of the late Sullivan, a lawyer who lived from 1826 to 1887. The award was presented to Col. Grant Staley of the department of modern languages and to Cadet Iain Boyd.

           The Board of Visitors awarded Cadet Richard Neikirk the Palmetto Medal for his leadership as regimental commander and his excellent academic and military record. Cadet Neikirk was also awarded the Wade Hampton Saber. Cadet Paul Swaim received the MacArthur Cadet of the Year Award for academic and military excellence and his proven leadership ability. Cadet Peter Mallory received the Capt. Carl H. Josephson Navy Memorial Sword as well as The Citadel Medal of the Society of Cincinnati for exemplifying the best qualities of soldier and citizen. Cadet Adam Burch was awarded the Brig. Gen. William Lee Smith Marine Corps Sword. Cadet Derek St. John was awarded the Air Force Association Watch and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society Award. Cadet Paul Steketee received the Col. Floyd W. Brown Jr. Memorial Award. Cadet Jared Perdue received the Thomas E. Hemingway Award. Cadet Damasio Davila was awarded the Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States Award. Cadet Le Trung Nguyen was presented the Reeves-White Medal. Cadet Ryan Funke received the Cadet Medal for Valor for distinguishing himself when he saved the life of a fellow cadet by administering the Heimlich maneuver. Cadet John Hyatt was presented the Ackerman Leadership in Community Service Award.

The Star of the West competition for the best-drilled cadet is held annually the week of graduation.

           Cadet Brandon Conwill accepted the Commandant’s Cup on behalf of Hotel Company for accumulating the highest score in drill competitions, parades, unit readiness, and discipline. Cadet Richard Jacob received the J.D. Sehorne Trophy on behalf of the first platoon of Hotel Company, which won the Regimental Platoon Drill Competition. Cadet Cameron Yaste won the Star of the West Medal for best-drilled cadet. Cadet Justin Tobias was awarded the Society of the Daughters of American Colonists Silver Bowl for his conduct and discipline record. He was also awarded a scholarship to Massachusetts Institute of Technology for graduate studies in civil and environmental engineering and a scholarship from Tau Beta Pi, the National Engineering Honor Society. The Gen. William Moultrie Sons of the American Revolution Army Sword was awarded to Cadet Nicholas Sinclair in recognition of his superior academic and leadership skills. Cadet Robert Fiorille was awarded the Capt. Benjamin W. Sammis Class of '96 Semper Fidelis Sword. The award was presented by Capt. Sammis’ parents in memory of their son who was killed in action during the war in Iraq.

           Education professor Maj. Judy Lehr and Cadets Brenton Brown, Ryan Hester, Jermaine Joyner, and Eric Kirsch gave a presentation on creating compassionate leaders in the classroom at the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development international meeting in San Francisco. The session was selected for national distribution. Cadet Brown was also awarded the Outstanding Student Teaching Award by the South Carolina Association of Teacher Educators, and Cadet Bethany Amico was awarded a $1,000 scholarship by the members of Delta Kappa Gamma Alpha Rho as the outstanding female education student in South Carolina.

           Cadet Joshua Robinson received the national Gabriela Mistral Award for his academic achievements in Spanish and his dedication to the ideals of the Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society. This distinction is awarded annually to approximately eight students nationwide by the society’s national president. Cadet John Alexander was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study European banking at Goethe University in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany’s financial and commercial capital. Cadet Alexander is the third cadet majoring in German in two years to be awarded a Fulbright.

In academic life

           Six history majors served as interns throughout the academic year at national and state centers and at historical sites in the Charleston area. Cadet Dallas Shults worked as an interpreter at the Joseph Manigault House, describing to visitors the history of one of Charleston’s most celebrated houses. Cadet Iain Boyd worked with Father Sandy Key and Father Doug Peterson in writing a history of St. Alban’s Chapel, the Episcopal student parish. Sgt. William Gavigan, a Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP) student, worked with ACE Basin Adventures on projects involving the ACE Basin Wildlife Preserve. Cadet Craig Kitchings served as an intern with the law firm of Phillips and Kitchings in Ludowici, Ga., assisting with depositions and researching courthouse records. Cadet Joshua Underwood completed two internships, working with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society at the Medal of Honor Museum on board the U.S.S. Yorktown in Charleston, cataloging personal papers of Medal of Honor recipients. He also spent four weeks during the summer at the Military History Institute at the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Penn., where he worked with artifact preservation, identification and research in preparing potential military history exhibits. Cadet Adam Whitsett worked with the office of Congressman Henry Brown, Jr. in North Charleston, obtaining service medals for World War II veterans that they might not have received after their service.

	English professor Capt. Licia Calloway talks with Cadet Justin Shaw after class.

           Cadets Kyle Harms, Jonathon Lance, Doug Miller, and Brad Witham represented The Citadel at th annual McGill University Model United Nations program in Montreal. Cadet William Swett presented a paper at the annual meeting of the South Carolina Undergraduate Social Science Symposium at the University of South Carolina-Aiken. His paper examined the Patriot Act and civil rights protection for accused terrorists.

           Cadets Adriano Macerola and Jim Senter participated in a workshop at the 2003 Southeastern Writing Centers Association Conference in Charlotte. The Daniel Library featured the art of Cadets Tom Caldwell, Mike Ellisor, and Song-Huah Jeang. The students created examples of various art techniques they learned in their chemistry of art course with biology professor Maj. Suzanne Jones. Cadet Ellisor also presented a paper at the Pittsburgh National Conference for Analytical Chemists. Cadets Thomas Rachelski, Joe Rohe, and Joshua Wells published the seventh edition of the Gold Star Journal. The academic journal featured papers written by Cadets Jeffrey Cunningham, Clay Middleton, Nathan Potter, Nicholas Sinclair, and Joshua Wells. The college literary magazine, The Shako, was published by Cadets Angie Gabella, Nathan Potter, Thomas Rachelski, Kirk Rhodes, and Rachel Rogers. Contributors included Cadets Nathan Braxton, C-J Bersabe, Chris Bookout, Stacey Davis, Ryan Flanagan, Eric Kirsch, A.S. Thacker, and Brian Wilson.

           Cadets Brandon Dias, Wittaya Innakkool, Pisut Muangsamai, and Wasuta Renkjumnong won second place in the annual Siam-SEAS Math and Computer Science Jeopardy Competition held at Clemson University. The projects for the Second Annual Undergraduate Research Conference were on display in the Prioleau Room of the Daniel Library. Cadet Matt Verdin won first place for his project on the expression of all-trans retinol dehydrogenase 10 (RDH10) to determine the enzymatic properties of the recombinant protein. Cadet Joseph Niemiec won second place for his project on Gauss gun design and construction. And Cadet Michael Ellisor won third place for his project on isolation of Maitotoxin-like compounds from Gambierdiscus toxicus. Other cadets participating were Cadets Jacoby Davis, Thomas Caldwell, Sean Glas, Adam Hill, Drane Oliphant, Steven Shillinglaw, Brian Williams, and Adrian Ybarra.

           Eleven cadets went to Ecuador during Maymester to live with families and attend classes taught by native instructors at the Academia Latinoamericano de Espanol. In their free time, they crossed the equator, rode horses in the Andes mountains, visited with exotic tribes, walked in the rain forest, and climbed part of an active volcano. Directed by Col. Grant Staley, the participants included Cadets Mark Coyne, Yi-Heng Dung, Perry Eubank, John Hyatt, Johnny Fryar, Whitney Lee, Jason Pitstick, Larry Poole, Jamie Spencer, John Stevens, and Trent Walker.

           As an intern with the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre in Canada this summer, Cadet Jonathan Doiron was assigned to a course on civil military relations in multinational peacekeeping operations. Cadets George Taylor and Zachary Kimble studied for eight weeks this summer at the Goethe Institute in Prien, Bavaria; Cadet Taylor, on a Citadel Summer Scholarship, Cadet Kimble on the modern language department’s German Studies Summer Stipend and a grant from Charleston's Deutscher Bruederlicher Fund Scholarship. Cadet Ryan Bachman took part in Georgetown University's Summer in Trier, and Cadet Jeff Cunningham spent the month of July as editorial assistant to the director of the Leo Baeck Institute in London, the archive of exiled German Jewry. Cadet Andrew Brooks spent his summer in New York at the Latin Institute studying classical languages on a Citadel Summer Scholarship, and Cadets Viann Bolick and Mark Evans were awarded Citadel Summer Scholarships to study at the Summer Study Institute at Oxford University in the United Kingdom. Cadet Bolick was enrolled in the history, politics, and society program while Cadet Evans studied pre-law.

           Six cadets were awarded Star of the West Fellowships as part of The 2003 Citadel Summer Scholars Study Abroad Program. Cadet Raymond Foltz met with government relations and lobbying experts and learned the economics of politics in Washington at the Bryce Harlow Institute on Business and Government Affairs. Cadet Garrison Groh spent seven weeks at the Argentina Instituto de Lengua Espanola para Extranjeros in Buenos Aires in an intense study of Spanish with a focus on Argentinean literature, business, and media. Cadet Luke Moore completed an internship with the Charleston Education Network, learning about the future of education reform, policy making and policy strategy and implementation. Cadet Deon Nelson studied expatriate writers at the American University of Paris, gaining a better appreciation and understanding of the expatriate movement through immersion in French society. Cadet Thomas Rachelski, taught English at the Kosiuszko Foundation in Warsaw, Poland, and served as an intern with the Polish Ministry of Economy, Labor and Social Policy. And Cadet Eric Sulser studied French cultural history and communication skills at the American University of Paris. Funding for Star of the West Fellowships is provided by a generous grant from the Star of the West Foundation.

           Maj. Alix Darden and Capt. Kevin Crawford, professors in biology and chemistry respectively, began a luncheon program with undergraduate cadets who were conducting research during the summer. Cadets participating were Sermpun Lhamlhak, Keane Phillips, Joseph Siegel, Matt Verdin, and Adrian Ybarra.

In cadet activities

           Cadets Joseph Adams and Keith Laws represented The Citadel at the Virginia Tech Conference of Military Colleges and Service Academies. Cadets Marina Jurcic and Ryan Bachman represented The Citadel at the Texas A&M Military Weekend. Topics centered on leadership in the 21st century with a series of roundtable discussions. Cadets Keane Phillips, Viann Bolick, Le Trung Nguyen, and Shawna Hartman represented The Citadel at the National Character and Leadership Symposium at the United States Air Force Academy where speakers discussed leadership and character issues. Cadets John Hyatt and Fitzlee McEachin represented The Citadel at the South Carolina Campus Safety Conference at Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C.

           Cadets and college faculty and staff donated 951 pints of blood in the 2002-2003 academic year. Cadets also participated in the Red Cross aphaeresis donations (platelets) and continued to be the Lowcountry’s third largest donor of blood and platelets.

           The Bulldog-Bullpup program, under the leadership of Cadet Shawn Cook, continued to grow and gain recognition throughout the Charleston community. The program provides a supportive network for young boys and girls who need cadets as mentors and positive role models. All program activities were well attended. Cadets invited their bullpups to Halloween, Christmas, and Easter parties as well as athletic games.

           The Citadel's Tau Iota chapter of Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society, was named an Honor Chapter for the 11th consecutive year for outstanding activities during the 2002-03 academic year. The Citadel's chapter was ranked second in the country out of 516 chapters. Cadet Paul Swaim served as president of The Citadel chapter; Cadet Joshua Robinson was vice president, and Cadet David Ponce was secretary-treasurer.

           The Citadel was the host of the 27th Military School Band Festival. Approximately 100 musicians from military high schools and colleges across the country participated in the festival, which culminated in a final concert in Mark Clark Hall.

           The history department led by professor Col. Bo Moore and cadet history majors hosted The Citadel Conference on the Civil Rights Movement in South Carolina. The four-day conference featured prominent historians from around the country.

           English professor Lt. Col. James Rembert led a group, which included eight cadets and two graduates, through the Wambaw Swamp for a six-and-a-half-hour hike to demonstrate U.S. Army Ranger Training. The cadets who took part on the hike were Angie Gabella, Joel Johnson, Jonah Martin, Joe Niemiec, Kyle Packard, Chris Petersen, James Reynolds, and Rachel Rogers.

           Alpha Company cadets participated in a focus group to determine research habits of cadets. Led by library professor Maj. Betsy Carter, this was the second year of a four-year study. Cadets Will Bowers and Tony Campigotto were instrumental in facilitating the study.

In community service

	The Regimental Band is always in great demant to perform at community functions.  Cadet John Wagner, playing the sousaphone, is a junior from Raleigh, N.C.

           The Regimental Band and Pipes stayed visible with performances that included the Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Charleston St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Grace Church Kirkin of the Tartan, the annual Massing of the Colors ceremony, the Annual Spring Concert, and the MCI Heritage Concert.

           The department of biology co-sponsored a program, Discovering Medical Science-Mini Medical School, with the Medical University of South Carolina Center for Health Care Research. The cadets who participated included Andrew Armstrong, Andrew Bonner, Courtney Carnegie, Navreet Kohli, Amanda Orson, Bryan Taylor, and Matt Verdin. Biology professor Capt. Patricia Glas along with cadets and faculty members from the math, chemistry, and biology departments assisted with the Post and Courier Math and Science Challenge. The annual event challenges middle school students in math and science problem solving.

           Eighteen cadets led by faculty advisor Capt. Licia Calloway and club president Cadet Clay Middleton traveled to New Orleans for the annual Gospel Choir spring tour. The highlight of the tour was their performance on the NewOrleans.com stage of the French Quarter Festival.

           Approximately 90 cadet business majors served as volunteer teachers in the Junior Achievement Elementary Education program, tutoring local elementary students. At the same time, cadets from the accounting program were helping people prepare income tax returns with the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. Other cadet involvement in community service included projects like the Junior League Whale of a Sale, the National Alzheimer’s Walk, the Metsker Fundraising Banquet, the Silent Witness Program, the Coastal Carolina Fair, National Homeless Awareness, and Scottish Heritage Sunday. In all, cadets performed more than 33,000 hours in community service for the 2002-2003 academic year.

In athletics

           Cadet Jason Williams accepted the Board of Visitors Trophy on behalf of Hotel Company for winning the Regimental Intramural Championship—the fourth straight title for Hotel Company. Delta Company finished in second place followed by India, November, and Lima. Cadet Jackson Bowers of Delta Company was awarded the Athletic Officer of the Year Award by fellow athletic officers for his leadership his company.

           The Multisport Club sent a triathlon team composed of Cadets Christopher Gaitens, Kyle O’Donohoe, and Philip Mayr along with MECEP Staff Sgt. William Gavigan to the USA triathlon National Collegiate Championships. The college placed 26th overall.

           The highlight of the year’s club sports program was the pistol team’s second place finish at the College National Championships at Ft. Benning. The Citadel finished second behind the Naval Academy with strong performances from MECEP Staff Sgts. Freddy Morales and Geoffrey Newton and Cadets Chris Barker and William Murray. Staff Sgt. Newton won the 50-meter free pistol and finished second in standard pistol event; he also received All-American honors along with Staff Sgt. Morales and Cadet Murray. Dr. George Sexton, who has coached the team as a volunteer for 30 years, was honored as the Distinguished College Coach and awarded Outstanding Service to College Shooting Sports.

           Basketball forward Cadet Michael Joseph became the 22nd cadet to surpass the 1,000-point plateau in his college career in a game against Furman. Point guard Cadet Kevin Hammack posted 128 assists throughout the season to rank third on the college single season list. Cadet forward Max Mombollet led the team in scoring and rebounding 10 times. He also posted three double-doubles and sank 17 of 19 free throws against Western Carolina to rank third on the college single game list.

           The rifle team finished second in the Southeastern Air Rifle Conference after capturing the title in 2002. With 29 conference wins to only five losses, the team finished 15 and 11 in NCAA competition. The Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association named five cadet shooters to the All-America team: Sarah Deuschle, Jason Dickinson, Matt Fussell, Encarna Keating, and Boyd Pritchard.

           The tennis team hosted the Southern Conference tournament for the second year. Cadet Warren Woolfolk won Southern Conference Player of the Week honors and All-Conference accolades. With incredible determination, the team defeated four consecutive Southern Conference opponents for the first time in more than a decade. Cadet John Williams, who earned a 3.78 grade point average, earned All-Academic honors by the conference.

           In track and field, Cadet Alex Prince won the 2003 Outdoor Southern Conference championship title in the 400-meter dash and earned an NCAA regional spot with a time of 47.29 seconds. The men’s 4 x 400 relay team brought home the team’s second title with a time of 3:12.18, while the second place 4 x 100 squad ran a time of 41.37. The distance runners swept the 3,000-meter run at Coastal Carolina while the women had their best meet at the Furman Invitational with two first-place finishes and a college record in the 4 x 400-meter.

           The men’s indoor track and field team ended the season with 51 points, the most points scored at an indoor championship by a Citadel team. Cadet Quentin Armstrong earned all-league accolades with a third place finish in the shot put—the third of his career. The women’s squad broke the college record in the 4 x 400 relay by five seconds, and all team members posted personal records in their respective events.

Cadet Ryan McClester proves to be a formidable opponent at the NCAA championships.

           The wrestling team finished the season with a record of 13-3 and 3-2 in the Southern Conference. Cadets Keith Clifton and Billy Linane won the Southern Conference title in their weight classes. Four team members won bids to the NCAA Championships in Kansas City: Cadets Clifton, Linane, Sean Markey, and Ryan McClester.

           In baseball, four cadets were named to the 2003 All-Southern Conference Team following the tournament in May. First baseman Cadet Chip Cannon and third baseman Cadet Chip Ard were honored as the first-team selections while relief pitcher Cadet Matt Hammer and outfielder Cadet Brook Dantzler were both listed as second-team honorees. Outfielder Cadet Trent Weathers was voted the Southern Conference’s Freshman of the Year after batting .303 and stealing 25 bases while starting 56 of the scheduled 57 games.

In closing

	Weekends at The Citadel begin with Friday afternoon dress parade.

           As you can see, your cadets are getting a fine education and staying very busy. Unfortunately, the cost of that education has risen. This year’s rise in tuition fees did not come without very careful consideration on the part of our administration. Costs have been cut where possible, but we elected to increase fees rather than compromise the value of your cadet’s education. I hope that you will understand, and I know that you will see the long-term rewards.

           Norwood and I enjoyed seeing many of you Parents’ Weekend, and we look forward to seeing you again soon.