The Gold Star Journal Celebrates 30 Years
Celebrating student scholarship and creativity, The Citadel hosted the annual Gold Star Journal Academic Conference to mark the 30th anniversary of The Gold Star Journal. This year’s edition was dedicated to retired U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Glenn M. Walters, ’79, president of The Citadel, for his leadership and service to the institution.
From more than 50 research submissions and 150 artistic works, the student editorial staff selected outstanding pieces for publication and presentation before an audience of approximately 300 members of the campus community. Founded in 1996 by Suzanne T. Mabrouk, Ph.D., the journal and its annual conference continue to highlight cadet intellectual curiosity through scholarly and creative work paired with public presentation. The event serves as a longstanding tradition that underscores academic excellence across the institution and provides students an opportunity to communicate their ideas beyond the classroom.
At the March 31 conference in Capers Hall, authors discussed their featured papers. This year’s lineup included:
- Oliver Allen, 2026, MAT Secondary English, Discussion-Based Learning: The Solution to Generative AI.
- Palmer Caroll, 2028, Nursing, How COVID-19 Fueled America’s Pornography Epidemic.
- Paul Cozart, 2027, Intelligence and Security Studies, Inside China’s Intelligence Playbook.
- Anthony DiSalvo, 2028, Intelligence and Security Studies and Political Science, Because It Hurts Too Much Not to Believe.
- Jesus Garcia, 2027, Computer Science and Cyber Operations, The Ethics of AI Implementation in Businesses.
- Vansh Motiani-Rincon, 2027, Political Science and Spanish, Afghanistan: The Land of Cash.
- Jaret Price, 2027, MA Military History, The Grammar of Grief.
Artwork and photography by student artists were featured throughout the conference:
- Gabriel Finley, 2026, Supply Chain Management, Blue Ridge.
- Sadie Grove, 2026, Intelligence and Security Studies, Playing in the Water.
- Wei Shan Lu, 2027, Math, Reflection and Ice and Traditional House.
- Corbin Menz-Gentzow, 2026, Construction Engineering, Back in Time, Lost on the Beach, Crossing Nature.
- Brooke Novak, 2029, Marketing and Business Development, Blue Angels 5 and 6.
- Constance Toldo, 2026, Exercise Science, Eternal Sunshine, King of the Coast, The Last Light of Summer, Sunset’s Best Friend, and Whispering Serenity.
- James Wilson, 2028, Business Management, Baptism at Renewal Falls.
The 2025-2026 editorial staff included Cadets Noah Miller, Kanjanika Kincaid, Luke Frazier, Olena Fedinova, Patrick Burns and Philip Stracke, along with graduate student Mary Fairfull.
