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THE CITADEL
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| OFFICE
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THE PRESIDENT |
Tele: (843) 953-5012 FAX: (843) 953-5287 |
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Dear Parents, I begin this letter with considerable pride as I describe just a fraction of the tremendous activities in which cadets are involved. I hope you will share my feelings about the successful accomplishments your sons and daughters have made as members of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets. The 1999-2000 academic year got off to a favorable start in August with 639 students-the largest freshman class in a decade-reporting for fourthclass training. Of those students, 37 were females and 115 were minorities. They represented 42 states and 11 countries. As the rest of the Corps returned to the college, classes began as well as the usual gust of activities that accompanies cadet life. Cadets selflessly gave an incredible 3,193 hours of their time to community service projects. In addition, they were involved in academic activities, military training, athletic competition, and musical performances. I'd like to take a moment to tell you about some of the highlights of the semester. In academic life U.S. News & World Report ranked The Citadel first, up from second last year, in "best college values" among regional colleges and universities in the South. The college also ranked third in the category of "top regional public schools" for the third consecutive year. High marks were given for academic reputation, cost, graduation and retention rates, and student/faculty ratio. This is the seventh consecutive year that The Citadel earned a slot in the survey among best buys and the 14th time the college was ranked in the prestigious college guidebook. Citadel biology professor Alix Darden and the five cadets taking her molecular genetics class-Cadets Andrew Ferrell, Joshua Hermsen, Wesley Jones, Mathew Locklair, and Brandy Perry-are forging into uncharted territory. Captain Darden, who was granted a South Carolina Research Initiative for $62,000 by the S.C. Commission on Higher Education, is investigating DNA and protein which are important in eye function. As their research progresses, she and her students will attempt to clone DNA that has not been previously cloned. Cadet Sharon Hacker has been conducting her own research. A participant in MUSC's Summer Undergraduate Research Institute, she presented her findings in a talk entitled "PKC Regulation of Collagen Accumulation" at MUSC Student Research Day in November, winning first place in the undergraduate research presentations. History professor Captain Keith Knapp was awarded a grant from the National Program for Advanced Study and Research in China which will fund six months of research in China for a project entitled "Filial Piety Sanitized: The Changing Images of Filial Sons from 100 to 1400 AD." In psychology Cadets Nick Agle, John Carrozza, Brian Cowart, Eileen Guerra, Anthony Keller, Jonathan Lyman, and Sam Maldonado participated in the South Carolina Psychological Association's Psych Bowl competition held at Columbia College. The cadets performed well and advanced to the second round of competition. Political science professor Major Terry Mays and two groups of cadets toured Old Fort Dorchester State Park, learning how archaeological finds can help interpret earlier cultures. At the annual Conference of South Carolina Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, Cadets Aaron Haigler and Tim Wilson presented a project on creating a wellness center at The Citadel. At the same conference in the All-Stars Competition (a competition of knowledge and skill among health and physical education departments across South Carolina), the two Citadel teams stole the show, taking first and second places. In the first place team were Cadets Mandy Garcia, Matt Phillips, Theo Rivera, Drew Silver, Tavy Smalls, Tim Wilson, and Melissa Zahrn. Cadets Gabe Fleming, Peaches Hudson, Morgan Lynn, Eric McClary, Trey McGriff, Matt McMillan, and Pat Parada made up the second team. Cadets Fleming and Mario Richardson were nominated as the department's National Association of Sport and Physical Education Majors for the academic year and will be recognized during the National Convention of the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance in March. For the first time ever, civil and environmental engineering cadets qualified for the National AISC/ASCE Steel Bridge Competition. Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP) student Staff Sgt. Eddie Alexander and Cadets Dwight Dempsey, Nick Hampton, Dave Heaton, and Shawn McCleskey traveled to Anchorage, Alaska to represent the college in the competition against colleges and universities across the nation. Cadets Trip Page and Sterling Shelton are currently conducting their senior research projects with the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments, gaining real world experience collecting data and making traffic studies on a variety of Charleston area roadway improvement projects. Under the supervision of Captain Jeff Davis, Cadets Noah Barnhill, Greg Cooley, Nick Hampton, Drew Smith, and Russ Touchberry spent a week of their summer working on a research project with Clemson University to evaluate pavement marking used on South Carolina roads. In the spotlight On December 17, then Staff Sgt. Christiana Spies, USMC, became the first female graduate to be commissioned into military service. Now a second lieutenant, she is also the first African-American woman and the first female MECEP student to graduate from the day program. Six out of seven biology major applicants have already been accepted into medical/dental school-Cadets Andrew Ferrell, Joshua Hermsen, Wes Jones, Tripp Leitner, Sellors Meador, and Brooks Taber. Regimental Commander Cadet Colonel Kenny Bath was awarded the Exchange Club of Charleston Scholarship for $4500 for this academic year. The scholarship is awarded to a South Carolina resident active in community service projects with a 3.0 or higher grade point average (GPA). The Citadel was well represented at the South Carolina Student Legislature, an organization which gives college students a voice in state government. Cadet Jason Klinowski served as lieutenant governor; Cadet Fred Marcinak, president pro tempore of the Senate; Cadet Matt Hiers, chairman of the Agriculture Committee; and Phillip Reynolds, vice-chairman of the Education Committee. Cadet Marcinak was elected governor for the year 2000. During homecoming weekend, Cadet John Arnette was presented with the Himelright Scholarship for his outstanding performance as a civil engineering student. Honors Program Cadets Fred Austin, Sean Dennis, and Dion Trahan appeared on CNN's Burden of Proof on December 8. Cadet Allyn Brooks-LaSure became the first recipient of The Citadel Cyberspace Club scholarship when he received a check for $1,150 from the club's president, alumnus Skip Wharton, '69. And two cadets were recognized for their heroism with the Cadet Medal for Valor: Cadet Paul Eitel risked his life to save a victim trapped in a vehicle after an automobile accident and Cadet Ryan Proctor saved the life of a woman who was choking. In cadet activities and on campus Parents' Weekend (October 15-17) was an enormous success. More than 300 firstclass cadets received their rings on Friday afternoon. Cadet awards were presented at Friday and Saturday parades. Cadet Winchester Stiens received the Widder Award for devotion to duty, exemplary conduct, military and academic excellence as determined by the cadets in the Army ROTC program. Cadet Justin Brown received the Todd L. Dorney Award for his performance as a senior under Army ROTC contract. Cadet Christopher Cook received the Col. Walter Ballard Clark Award which recognizes the cadet with the highest overall standing among cadets at the Army ROTC Advanced Camp. Cadet Jamie Khan accepted the Murray D. Bonoitt Award for November Company for the highest freshman class retention rate. Cadet Charles Hodges accepted the Pearlstine Award for Palmetto Battery for the highest freshmen GPA. Cadet Ryan Battles accepted the President's Cup for Echo Company for the best all-around company and the Regimental Commander's Bowl for fourthclass cadets who have excelled in drill, physical training, and fourthclass knowledge. Cadet Roscoe Page, India Company, accepted the Summerall Cup for the company with best academic achievement. Hotel Company led by Cadet Keith Saunders won the Kelly Cup for the best-drilled fourthclass squad. After parade on Friday, the Cadet Chorale performed in Summerall Chapel. The Ring Ceremony was held in McAlister Field House followed by the Hop. On Saturday, the barracks were open with the Pipe Band playing; academic departments held open house; there was a soccer game against Anderson College, a volleyball game against Lander University, and football game against Furman. In late October the psychology department in conjunction with the Advocacy Coalition for People with Disabilities held the annual Halloween Buddy Dance-approximately 400 guests attended this event. In political science Captain John Kuzenski was awarded the Pi Sigma Alpha Honor Society Best Chapter Advisor Award and received a $1000 prize and a certificate of recognition. The Fine Arts Series has gotten off to a good start-the Goettingen Boys Choir's performed on October 27 in Summerall Chapel and Jabali Afrika, an African folk music band, performed on November 9 in Mark Clark Hall Auditorium. In Grimsley Hall on November 17, noted astronomer Mauro Giavalisco discussed the formation of galaxies, the evolution of stars, and other discoveries that have changed our understanding of the universe. The Citadel chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineering received a Certificate of Commendation, which is awarded to the top 15% of the chapters nationwide, as well as the Outstanding Community Service Award, which was awarded to only five chapters. The Reverend Sanford Key traveled to Washington, D.C. with Cadets John Bruggink, Cory Chinn, Brandon Dawalt, Paul Fortelka, Megan Gentry, Michael McCauley, and Travis Moore to take part in a special service at Washington National Cathedral in which some 600 South Carolinians were present for South Carolina State Day. And just before the Christmas holidays, the Corps of Cadets presented the annual Christmas Candlelight Service in Summerall Chapel. In community service The Corps has been very active in community service. They were featured in the September 2 issue of the Post & Courier kicking off Governor Hodges' anti-litter campaign. They've assisted with a number of worthy projects, including the American Diabetes Race, the Veteran's Hospital's Stand Down Against Homelessness, the Charleston Great Human Race, and the Junior League's Whale of a Sale which benefits many deserving organizations. Cadets, faculty, and staff donated more than 600 pints of blood to the Red Cross during the fall semester. The Post & Courier's Elsa McDowell applauded Cadet Chris Bray and his fellow cadets in her column for their kindness to a mother and her children during the evacuation for Hurricane Floyd. Cadet Bray stayed close to the family throughout the many hours they were trapped in the evacuation traffic, taking them soft drinks and using his cell phone to get traffic information. Sharon Smith-Mathewes, a counselor at Northbridge Psychiatry wrote commending the fine work of cadets involved in the Bulldog/Bullpup Program, a Citadel mentoring program for children in the Lowcountry. In particular, she praised Cadet Andrew Cooper for his positive influence on an eight-year-old boy: ". . . I find myself amazed at the generosity and love that is being given to these children. This has helped to engender happiness and hope in this otherwise despondent child. He now has a desire to one day grow up and attend your fine school and proceed with a successful life. Without your program chances of this happening were not nearly as favorable due to his current circumstances. I am quite sure this benefit has been felt by all the other pups, presently as well as those in the past." The Citadel chapter of Psi Chi Honors Society held a food drive, collecting more than 200 pounds of food supplies to donate to Crisis Ministries Homeless Shelter. In December they held another drive, collecting clothing and toiletries. The campus chapter of the Society of Physics Students won the 1999 Blake Lilly Award, a national award given for outstanding education outreach programs. The award was presented to The Citadel chapter in recognition of the physics model rocket program which invites elementary and middle school students to the college to learn about physics and to launch model rockets built in their science classes. As always, the Regimental Band has been filling the Lowcountry with music. Some of their performances include the Marine Corps birthday party, the USS North Hampton Reunion, the Veteran's Day Parade in Union, the Veteran's Day Observance at the Cathedral of Saint, and the Kirkin of the Tartan at Grace Church. Cadets are always willing to lend a hand, or in the case of Cadet Robert Ritz, selflessly donate the $100 he had saved for his Christmas vacation to the Angel Tree project. The Citadel family annually takes on more than 250 names and buys Christmas gifts for local children in need. Cadets got into the spirit of Christmas raising more than $2000 in gifts for the children, making The Citadel the largest single contributor to the project. Athletics In men's cross country, Cadet John Gubitosi placed sixth at the Charleston Classic. Sophomore Cadet Richard Hamlin placed 11th individually to lead The Citadel's men's cross country team to a third place finish at the South Carolina State Collegiate Cross Country Championships in October at Fort Jackson. Both the men's and women's cross country teams finished 10th at the Southern Conference Championships. The Citadel's top individual runners were Cadet Mandy Garcia (47th in the women's competition) and Cadet Andrew Cawood (24th in the men's competition). Cadet Kenyon Doyle established a new college record for the 200-meter dash while Cadet Catrina Moore set the new Citadel standard in the shot put when the indoor track and field team competed in the Clemson Open on December 4 and the ETSU Invitational on December 11. Freshman quarterback Cadet Drew Johnson made an impressive first start in The Citadel's game against Furman, rushing for 138 yards and two touchdowns while passing an additional 41 yards. In the 59th game between The Citadel and VMI (homecoming weekend), Cadet Maurice Murphy scored the game-winning touchdown with 5:15 remaining in the contest to win the Silver Shako. Cadets Carlos Frank and Dean Kelley were named The Citadel football team's Offensive and Defensive Player-of-the-Year at the program's annual banquet in December. Cadet Kelley finished second on the team in tackles with 129 total tackles while Cadet Frank earned All-Southern Conference honors for the third consecutive season. In an exciting game the volleyball team garnered their first-ever win when they defeated Columbia College. Freshman Cadet Nicole Mantu-who had a successful season on the volleyball court, leading The Citadel in kills, hitting percentage and digs-was named to the all-tournament team at the Winthrop invitational in Rock Hill, S.C. At the UMBC Soccer Kickoff Tournament in Baltimore, Cadet Johnnie Keen was named to the all-tournament team. He also earned All-Southern Conference honors in men's soccer for the second consecutive year. The Citadel hired Megan Hoban as its new women's soccer coach. The basketball team traveled extensively in December-first to San Francisco to play in the North Western Mutual Classic and then on to Laie, Hawaii, to play in the Pearl Harbor Classic. The Citadel has soared into the 21st century better than ever, an amalgam of progress tempered by tradition. Truly The Citadel's greatest asset, the Corps of Cadets, embodies the principles upon which the college was founded. Your sons and daughters are the college's ambassadors of good works in all that they do-in the classroom, on the playing field, in the Corps, and in the community. They are young leaders making an impact on campus, in their hometowns, in the Lowcountry, and, ultimately, their country. They are a breed apart. Norwood and I hope to see you Corps Day Weekend (March 16-19) when The Citadel celebrates its 157th birthday so that you can see for yourself some of the extraordinary events in which your cadets are involved. |
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Sincerely, John S. Grinalds
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