Outstanding Graduates 2026

Aiden Elder is an extraordinary senior at The Citadel completing a double major in Exercise Science and Chemistry while maintaining a perfect 4.00 GPA. A consistent
Gold Star and Dean’s List honoree, Aiden has earned numerous academic distinctions, including the President’s Award and departmental “Student of the Year”
recognitions. His academic excellence is matched by intellectual independence and a sustained commitment to research. Aiden is a recipient of a SURE Institutional
Research Grant, where he examined relationships between motor competence, physical fitness, and behavioral outcomes. He also conducted chemistry research
analyzing heavy metal concentrations in white-tailed deer hair samples to support ongoing investigations by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. His research has been presented at major academic venues, including the SoCon Undergraduate Research Forum and the Citadel Academy of Science & Mathematics Awards Banquet. Within the Corps of Cadets, Aiden serves as 3rd Battalion Senior Academic Officer, overseeing the academic welfare of approximately 450 cadets, and
was elected Honor Representative on the Honor Court. His service extends internationally through 190 hours of medical service in Kenya and locally through volunteer work at MUSC. Following graduation, Aiden will matriculate at the Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine. He embodies scholarship, servant leadership, and principled character at the highest level.

Mariah Lowry is an exceptional student in the evening undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Nursing program housed within The Citadel Graduate College. Maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA, her academic excellence has earned her the Outstanding Student Award and the Swain Nursing Program Scholarship. Faculty commend her intellectual rigor, humility, and dedication to scholarly inquiry. In addition to her academic demands, she works as a Patient Care Technician on the Surgical Progressive Care Unit at Roper St. Francis Hospital, where she developed compassionate, patient-centered care skills. Mariah undertook an independent, IRB-approved systematic literature review examining the relationship between epidural analgesia and cesarean delivery rates. She has volunteered extensively with MUSC’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Crescent Hospice, the Preservation Society of Charleston, and Reading Partners SC. Balancing rigorous academics, clinical employment, family responsibilities, and service to her community, she represents the resilience, compassion, and scholarly excellence that define an Outstanding Nursing Student. She is grateful for the mentors, patients, and colleagues who have shaped her journey and looks forward to continuing to learn and serve as a Registered Nurse.

Gregory Kaczorowski is an outstanding veteran student and emerging leader in computer and information sciences whose service-driven discipline and technical expertise have made a significant impact at The Citadel. Building on a distinguished background in military and supervisory roles, Greg brings maturity, accountability, and a mission-focused mindset to every academic and professional setting. As a Research Assistant on The Citadel’s UnboxingCT project since May 2025, Greg has played a vital role in advancing a statewide educational technology initiative that helps teachers bring computational thinking into K–12 classrooms. He has designed the behind-the-scenes digital systems that allow educators to safely submit classroom data, instructional reflections, and lesson artifacts for research and improvement—work that now supports more than 100 teachers. His technical leadership has also enabled the development of automated tools that summarize and organize large volumes of teacher feedback, transforming processes that once took weeks into workflows completed in minutes. Equally notable is Greg’s human-centered approach to problem-solving. He worked closely with educators to improve usability, resolve access issues, refine data-entry processes, and ensure the platform met real classroom needs. His transition from military service to advanced academic research reflects resilience, purpose, and a continued commitment to serving others through technology and education. Greg represents the very best of veteran leadership and scholarly impact.

Phillips Daniels is a Biology graduate of The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, where he earned a 3.96 GPA while competing as a catcher for The Citadel Baseball team. His academic achievements include multiple Dean’s List and Gold Star honors throughout his college career. During his time at The Citadel, Phillips developed extensive leadership experience, including serving as the 2nd Battalion Academic NCO, where he helped oversee the academic success of more than 500 cadets and created a tutor placement program. He also represented the Biology student body through the Swain School of Math and Science Dean’s Circle, working with the dean’s office to improve student life and review curriculum. Phillips expanded his interest in healthcare through the Atlantis Shadow Abroad Program in Lisbon, Portugal, where he observed oncologists, ophthalmologists, and orthopedic surgeons in clinical and surgical settings. Beyond academics, he has demonstrated a commitment to leadership and service through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Charleston Miracle League, and other volunteer initiatives. His experiences reflect a strong foundation in leadership, communication, teamwork, critical thinking, and service to others.

Jack Cooper is a graduating senior at The Citadel, where he is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Cyber Operations and Computer Science and holds a 3.97 GPA. A recipient of the Department of Defense Cyber Service Academy Scholarship, Jack has distinguished himself through exceptional academic performance, cybersecurity research, and leadership. As a researcher in The Citadel’s CHARIoTS Lab, he has investigated vulnerabilities in industrial control systems and critical infrastructure security, including collaborative research with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Jack serves as President of the Citadel Cyber Club and Vice President of the Citadel Cyber Team, helping lead the team to its first-place finish at the 2025 Palmetto Cyber Defense Competition. He has also consistently excelled in national cybersecurity competitions and has presented his research at conferences hosted by Virginia Tech and Virginia Military Institute. Beyond his own accomplishments, Jack is committed to developing future cybersecurity talent through his work mentoring the Ashley Ridge High School JROTC CyberPatriot team. His academic excellence, leadership, research, and dedication to service have established him as an outstanding emerging professional in the cybersecurity field.

Everett Babcock is a graduating senior at The Citadel, where he is pursuing dual degrees in Finance and Mathematics with a concentration in Data Analytics and holds a 3.95 GPA. A member of The Citadel Honors Program and a six-time recipient of Gold Stars and Dean’s List honors, Everett has distinguished himself through academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, and a strong commitment to leadership. His senior capstone research explores the use of cross-validation and its application to model selection in small experimental datasets, demonstrating his strengths in statistical analysis and independent research. Beyond the classroom, Everett serves as Vice President of Operations and Compliance for The Citadel’s Student Managed Investment Fund, helping oversee a $2 million portfolio, and has gained professional experience through internships with SouthState Bank and UBS Financial Services. As Company Commander of Charlie Company, he leads 114 cadets and has held several other significant leadership positions within the South Carolina Corps of Cadets. Everett’s ability to combine academic achievement, analytical expertise, and dedicated leadership exemplifies The Citadel’s commitment to developing principled leaders.

Ilsa Cisneros is a senior nursing student at The Citadel, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a 3.76 GPA and more than 500 hours of clinical experience in acute care, pediatrics, and community health settings. Through clinical rotations at MUSC and the VA Hospital, she has developed strong skills in patient assessment, medication administration, wound care, and collaborative, patient-centered care. Ilsa also serves as the Regimental Religious Officer for the South Carolina Corps of Cadets, leading spiritual and wellness initiatives for approximately 2,300 cadets while supporting morale, ethics, and interfaith engagement. Her commitment to service extends internationally through community outreach in France and clinical service in an underserved community health clinic in Honduras. Faculty describe Ilsa as focused, compassionate, professional, and deeply committed to her patients, emphasizing her ability to treat each individual with warmth, dignity, and respect. Through her academic achievement, clinical dedication, leadership, and compassion, Ilsa exemplifies both the spirit of nursing and The Citadel’s core values of honor, duty, and respect.

Mitchel Huott is a senior at The Citadel pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Physics, where he has distinguished himself through academic achievement, research, leadership, and service. His multi-year research in atmospheric physics focuses on using computational and machine-learning methods to identify secondary eyewall formations in tropical cyclones, work supported by nearly $20,000 in research funding. Mitchel has also completed an NSF-funded research experience in machine learning at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and participated in a Navy research program studying solar radio wave bursts. His academic accomplishments include membership in Sigma Pi Sigma, two Outstanding Physics Major Awards, and recognition for an outstanding paper in the International Physics Competition. Beyond the classroom, Mitchel has served as K Company Academic Officer, President of the Society of Physics Students, a Citadel cheerleader, and captain of the Citadel Judo team. Selected for the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Program, Mitchel will continue his commitment to science and service as a physics instructor at Nuclear Power School following graduation.

Destinee Waddy is a graduate student at The Citadel pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching while serving as a Graduate Research Assistant in the Department of Health and Human Performance. Her research experience includes leadership roles across several major initiatives examining motor skill competence, military performance, hydration, physiological outcomes, and physical education, with responsibilities spanning data collection, analysis, research documentation, and manuscript preparation. Her scholarly work includes published and submitted research, building upon an academic foundation in Exercise Science from Winthrop University. In addition to her research, Destinee is a physical education teacher and coach whose athletes have achieved success at the state and national levels, including a state championship in the boys’ triple jump and a sixth-place finish at the USATF U20 Nationals. She is also deeply committed to community service, volunteering as a youth track coach and mentor and speaking to high school students about education, athletics, and resilience. Recognized for her scholarship, leadership, and service, Destinee will continue her academic journey in a PhD program at the University of South Carolina.

J. Tobias Wood is a graduate student at The Citadel pursuing a Master of Science in Computer and Information Sciences with a specialization in cybersecurity after earning dual bachelor’s degrees in Cyber Operations and Computer Science, maintaining a 4.0 GPA throughout both programs. His graduate research focuses on AI-based deepfake detection, where he is developing a novel framework to improve the accuracy and robustness of systems designed to identify AI-generated human faces. Tobias has also built a large-scale research dataset of real and synthetically generated face images and conducted extensive experiments using modern deep-learning and computer-vision techniques. Beyond research, he has served as a research assistant, SOC analyst, CyberPatriot mentor, and intern with Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic, gaining experience in machine learning, network analysis, vulnerability assessment, and red-team activities. He has held leadership roles with The Citadel Cyber Team and Cyber Club, where he has trained and mentored students while competing in numerous regional and national cybersecurity competitions. Recognized with Gold Stars, the Department of Defense Cyber Service Academy Scholarship, and Outstanding Computer Science Student honors at every undergraduate class level, Tobias is distinguished by his technical expertise, intellectual curiosity, leadership, and commitment to cybersecurity research.