More than 80 men and women from the Reserved Officer Training Corps (ROTC) in the South Carolina Corps of Cadets are being recognized for their academic and military leadership and excellence.

The Citadel ROTC departments provide cadets with officer training during college 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. This spring, more than 100 cadets are expected to commission to all branches of the military.

Annually, the departments nominate their finest cadets and active duty students for awards. This year’s award recipients were honored on Thursday, March 29 in McAlister Field House. The award winners are:

American Legion Military Excellence Award

The American Legion Military Excellence Award is presented to Army, Marine, Navy and Air Force cadets who have demonstrated military excellence. 

Army: Christopher Niepsuj

Navy: Christian Meyer

Marine Corps: James Greer

Air Force: Austin Currie

American Legion Scholastic Excellence Award

The American Legion Scholastic Excellence Award is presented to Army, Marine, Navy and Air Force cadets who have demonstrated scholastic excellence.

Army: Timothy Behnke

Navy: Randall Clark

Marine Corps: David Mitchell

Air Force: G. Dillon Graham

American Veterans of WWII, Korea and Vietnam Award

The American Veterans of WWII, Korea and Vietnam Award is presented to ROTC cadets for diligence, discharge of duty and willingness to serve God and country.

Army: Nicole Brogan

Navy: Charles Anderson

Marine Corps: James Greer

Air Force: Noah Hammond

Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association Award

The Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association Award recognizes ROTC students who have demonstrated good moral character, academic excellence and potential to serve as officers in the United States Armed Forces.

Army: Matthew Wilder

Navy: Jonathan Plant

Marine Corps: Noah Harvey-Fonvil

Air Force: Tai Lum

Association of the United States Army Award

The Association of the United States Army Award is presented annually to the cadet who epitomizes the Army values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.

Nathaniel Scoggins

Association of the United States Army History Award

The Association of the United States Army History Award is 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.

Christian Machesky

AT&T Veterans University ROTC Leadership Award

The AT&T Veterans University ROTC Leadership Award is 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.

Army: Monica Paulk

Navy: Logan Barber

Marine Corps: Bradon Hickey

Air Force: Chad Hickey

Daughters of the American Revolution Award

The Daughters of the American Revolution Award is 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.

Army: Joshua Brown

Navy: Mitchell Felt

Marine Corps: Jordan Eberle

Air Force: Jared Turnage

Chief of Naval Operations Distinguished Midshipmen Graduate Award

The 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. 

James Andrus

Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America Award

The 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.

Army: Brayden Hembree

Navy: Jeremy Green

Marine Corps: David Mitchell

Air Force: Dillon Ludwigsen

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.

Tanner Kennaw

Paul Rhyne

Mark Miele

Dalton Weintraub

Major General Robert Frederick Leadership Award

The Major General Robert Frederick Leadership Award is 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.

Zackery Esierman

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.

Army: Jospeh Pappagallo

George C. Marshall Award

The George C. Marshall Award is presented to the top fourth-year Army cadet who demonstrates leadership and scholastic qualities as that of Gen. Marshall.

Robert Wiegand

Marine Corps Association Award

The Marine Corps Association Award is 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.

Brody McGrath

Marine Corps League Leadership Award

The Marine Corps League Leadership Award is presented to outstanding Marine and Navy seniors that have excelled in the areas of leadership, academics and military performance.

Navy: Christian Meyer

Navy: Randall Clark

Marine Corps: Jonathon Radu

Marine Corps: Paul Rispoli

Military Officer Association of America ROTC Medal

The Military Officer Association of America ROTC Medal is presented to outstanding cadets or midshipmen in their next-to-last year in the program who has demonstrated exceptional potential for military leadership.

Army: Nicolas Brace

Navy: Cedric Barnes

Marine Corps: Dana Duggan

Air Force: Patrick Clancy

Military Order of the Purple Heart Leadership Medal

The Military Order of the Purple Heart Leadership Medal is presented to cadets selected by their ROTC departments based solely on their demonstrated leadership excellence.

Army: Nicholas Sloan

Navy: Patrick Ryan

Marine Corps: Juan Alday

Air Force: Luke Osburn

Military Order of the World Wars Award

The Military Order of the World Wars Award  is 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.

Army: Aaron Van Maanen

Army: Matthew Ransom

Army: Matthew Coppola

Navy: Peter Tillman

Navy: John Pippins

Navy: Katherine Walker

Society of the Daughters of the War of 1812 Award

The Society of the Daughters of the War of 1812 Award is presented to cadets who have significantly demonstrated and encouraged the ideals of Americanism by both deed and conduct.

Army: Catherine Hill

Navy: Sarah Kardohely

Marine Corps: Adam Hannah

Air Force: Marcus Milhouse

Society of the War of 1812 Award

The Society of the War of 1812 Award is 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.

Army: Lucas Moran

Navy: Andrew Becker

Marine Corps: Hunter Calkins

Air Force: James Quimby

Sons of the American Revolution Medal

The Sons of the American Revolution Medal is presented to the outstanding Army, Marine, Navy, and Air Force cadets based on military excellence and scholarship in their ROTC studies and activities.

Army: James Shields

Navy: Joseph Scerbo

Marine Corps: Joshua Moore

Air Force: Samuel Dalenburg

Society of American Military Engineers Award

The Society of American Military Engineers Award recognizes outstanding engineering students of the Military Reserve Officers Training Corps.

Army: Walter Metcalfe

Air Force: Andrew Burckhalter

Special Forces Association Medal of Excellence

The Special Forces Association Medal of Excellence is 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.

Army: Christian Shave

Navy: William Hesse

Marine Corps: Hunter Calkins

Air Force: Matthew Dittrich

Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Award

The Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Award is presented to outstanding cadets who have made significant contributions to demonstrate and encourage patriotism through participation in activities on campus or in the community.

Army: Richard Dekold

Navy: Logan Barber

Marine Corps: Alec Reddy

Air Force: David Days

USAA Spirit Award

The USAA Spirit Award is presented to students in each ROTC department that best display the traits and characteristics that embody the spirit of service to others.

Army: Jonathan Westmoreland

Navy: Alec Sharpe

Marine Corps: Paul Rispoli

Air Force: Rachel Quinn

Veterans of Foreign Wars Award

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Award is presented annually to seniors or juniors in each ROTC department who has achieved an outstanding academic record.

Army: Noah Fleckenstein

Navy: Andrew Shugan

Marine Corps: William Colyer

Marine Corps: Joseph Field

Marine Corps: Adam Niehoff

Marine Corps: Nicolas Cucinotta

Air Force: Cody Mahen

Air Force: Caleb Moseley

Air Force: Trent Martindale

Air Force: Blayne Hayes

National Defense Industrial Association Award

The National Defense Industrial Association Award is presented to cadets who have demonstrated superior leadership qualities.

Army: Cameron Boeckel

Navy: Jon Buckland

Marine Corps: Samuel Abernathy

Air Force: Christopher Bellanova

National Defense Transportation Association Award

The National Defense Transportation Association Award is presented to cadets who demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities, academic achievement, aptitude for military service, meritorious achievement and noteworthy service in the promotion of preparedness for the national defense of the United States.

Army: Abigail Murn

Marine Corps: Michael Brister

Air Force: Jacob Woodard

National Sojourners Award

The National Sojourners Award is presented to an outstanding cadet in each ROTC unit who demonstrated and encouraged the ideals of Americanism within the Corps of Cadets.

Army: Stephan Kulick

Navy: James Cunningham

Marine Corps: Dana Duggan

Air Force: Richard Blanchard

Naval Submarine League Award

The Naval Submarine League Award is presented to the top Navy ROTC graduate volunteering for the Submarine Force.

Scott Sam

Navy League Honors Award

The Navy League Honors Award is presented to the top academic performers of the personnel within the Enlisted Commissioning Programs of the Navy ROTC department.

Navy: Alexander Nagel

Marine Corps: Jacob Anderson

Pallas Athene Award

The Pallas Athene Award is presented to a female Army cadet who showcases scholastic excellence and is outstanding in her class.

Paige Herbst

Reserve Officers Association of the United States Award

The Reserve Officers Association Award is presented to cadets who have demonstrated outstanding competence in the arts and sciences of national defense.

Army: Jennifer Pozzani

Army: Christopher Armstrong

Army: Christian Sears

Navy: Andrew Newton

Navy: Keelan Kane-Yearman

Navy: Alexander Nagel

Marine Corps: William Mathis

Marine Corps: Nicolas Cucinotta

Marine Corps: Robert Olsen

Air Force: Jackson Buda

Air Force: Kendred Manceaux

Air Force: Stephen Cleary