SRU Army ROTC cadets earn honors at awards ceremony
From left, Col. Joseph Richey, professor of military science and head of Slippery Rock University's Army ROTC program, presents a saber to Tyson Miller, a senior safety management major from Tyrone, as part of Miller receiving the Sgt. Lacey Christley Award at the SRU ROTC Award Ceremony, April 25, at the Slippery Rock Township Municipal Building.
April 26, 2019
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — Cadets from Slippery Rock University's Army ROTC program were recognized for their outstanding achievements at the SRU ROTC Award Ceremony, April 25, at the Slippery Rock Township Municipal Building. The event was sponsored by the Slippery Rock Veterans of Foreign Wars Lacey Christley Post 6231.
"This is a great event that honors the cadets who we work with," said Damian Hambley, commander of Post 6231 and the Slippery Rock American Legion Post 393. "They help us out and we consider it our duty to honor them."
Members of both the VFW and American Legion attended the event and helped present awards to the SRU cadets.
"Our cadets do a lot of work inside and outside of our program, but it is not always seen by others," said Jake Beretta, a junior homeland security major from Harrison City, who helped organize the ceremony on behalf of SRU's ROTC battalion. "This event gives our cadets a chance to be recognized for what they do by our cadre, professors, leaders of the institution and the community."
The following cadets were presented awards:
• Jordan Confer, a sophomore computing major from Howard, was presented the Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America Award, which recognizes a cadet in the top 25% of his or her class and who demonstrates excellence in military history.
• Jonathan Durban, a sophomore safety management major from Prospect was awarded the National Sojourners Award, which recognizes an outstanding cadet who demonstrates and encourages American ideals.
• Becca Drake, a sophomore homeland security major from Somerset, was presented the General Society of the War of 1812 Outstanding Student Award, which recognizes a cadet for outstanding academic achievement and distinguished attainment in ROTC.
• Matthew Montanaro, a senior homeland security major from Coraopolis, was presented the USAA Spirit Award, which recognizes a cadet who best displays the traits and characteristics that embody the spirit of service to others.
• Austin Reep, a junior philosophy major from Butler (bronze medal) and Gunner Coleman, a senior exercise science major from Slippery Rock (silver medal, were presented the Reserve Officers Association Award, which honors a cadet(s) in the top 10% of the SRU ROTC class who demonstrates outstanding qualities of leadership.
• Logan Thrush, a senior homeland security major from Brookville, was presented the Association of the United States Army ROTC Medal, which recognizes a cadet in the top 10% of the SRU ROTC class and in the top 20% of the academic class.
• Jacob Berger, a senior communication major from Georgetown, was presented the American Veterans Award, which recognizes a cadet who demonstrates diligence, duty and a willingness to serve God and country.
• Ryan Silver, a junior homeland security major from Blue Point, New York, was presented the Sons of the American Revolution Award, which recognizes a cadet for good standing scholastically and militarily with a high degree in leadership.
• Dawson Ambrose, a junior homeland security major from Slippery Rock, was presented the American Legion ROTC Military Excellence Award, which recognizes a cadet in the top 25% of the class in academic and ROTC subjects who demonstrated outstanding qualities in military leadership, discipline, character and citizenship.
• Beretta was presented the American Legion ROTC Scholastic Excellence Award, which recognizes a cadet in the top 10% of the class in academic subjects, top 25% of the ROTC class and who demonstrate qualities of leadership.
• Sean Aston, a sophomore criminology and criminal justice major from Avenel, New Jersey, was presented the Veterans of Foreign Wars Award, which recognizes a cadet with good academic and military standing.
• Pauline Matthew, a junior criminology and criminal justice major from New Cumberland, was presented the Military Officers Association of America ROTC Medal, which recognizes a cadet with good academic standing, high moral character and a high level of loyalty to school and country.
• Adam Beck, a freshman criminology and criminal justice major from Mercer (bronze medal); Ian Bain, a sophomore political science major from Seneca (silver medal); and Hali Olson, a senior safety management major from Brookville (gold medal), were presented the Military Order of World Wars Award, which recognizes a cadet who demonstrates the greatest improvement in ROTC and scholastic studies.
• Nicholas Appleby, a senior homeland security major from Eldred, was presented the Military Order of Purple Heart Leadership Medal, which recognizes a cadet who has a positive attitude toward ROTC and country and who holds a leadership position within the cadet battalion.
• Brayden Black, a junior political science major from Marion, was presented the Sgt. York Award, which recognizes a cadet who does the most to support the ROTC program.
• Dillon Pusateri, a freshman political science major from Bethel Park; Anthony Rosati, a sophomore safety management major from Aliquippa; and Dylan Colcombe, a junior health and physical education major from Irwin, were presented the Department of the Army Superior Cadets Awards, which recognize cadets in the top 25% percent in both ROTC and academic standings and who demonstrates outstanding officer potential.
• Appleby; Tyson Miller, a senior safety management major from Tyrone; Austin Shakespeare, a senior homeland security major from Foothill Ranch, California; Emily Dooley, a senior homeland security from Walden, New York; and Zane Wolf, a senior safety management major from Slippery Rock, were recognized as Distinguished Military Students, for being in the top one-third of the ROTC class and top half of the academic class.
• Appleby, Miller, Dooley and Kathleen Seasock, a senior health science-public health major from Burgettstown, were named Distinguished Military Graduates. This award recognizes cadets in top 20% of the national ROTC class based on the Order of Merit List.
• Miller was presented the Sgt. Lacey Christley Award, which recognizes a top senior cadet based on status as battalion commander. The award included a saber given on behalf of the VFW Post 6231 commemorating the post's namesake.
• Miller was presented the George C. Marshall Award, which recognizes a cadet for good standing academically and militarily.
Awards were also given to the top cadets in the military science class ranking based on their ranking on the national Order of Merit List. They included: Miller (senior), Thrush (junior), Reep (sophomore) and Nathan Marchand, a freshman management major from Hermitage.
To see additional images from the event, click here.
MEDIA CONTACT: Justin Zackal | 724.738.4854 | justin.zackal@sru.edu