5/7/01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Lt. Col. Michael DePuglio, head, UNI Department of Military Science, (319) 273-6178
Vicki Grimes, Office of University Marketing & Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The achievements of University of Northern Iowa Army ROTC cadets were honored during a recent awards ceremony on the UNI campus.
The Department of the Army Superior Cadet Decoration Award was presented to: Cadet Mariah Schweitzer, Grandview; Cadet Thomas Slykuis, Knoxville; Cadet Joshua Boesen, Waterloo; and Cadet Sherry Hutchinson, Decorah. This award is presented annually to the outstanding ROTC cadet in each year of military science instruction. To be eligible for this award, recipients must be a regularly enrolled ROTC cadet, be in the top 25 percent of both ROTC and academic class standing, and have demonstrated officer potential. Schweitzer also received the Cadet of the Semester Basic Award and the Platinum Medal Athlete Award. Hutchinson also received Cadet Honors.
The George C. Marshall Award was presented to Cadet Christopher Cornish from Storm Lake. This award is given annually to the most outstanding fourth-year military science cadet who has demonstrated superior leadership and scholastic abilities. He attended the Annual George C. Marshall National Security Convention at the Virginia Military Institute. Cornish also received the Air Defense Commanding Generals Award and the Dean's List Award.
The recipient of the Governor's Cup Award was Cadet Seth Hall from Cedar Falls. This award is presented to the most outstanding Military Science IV cadet in each ROTC program throughout Iowa. The winner of this award must have demonstrated a superior level of leadership ability. Hall also received the Dean's List Award.
Cadet Virginia Lindsay, from Traer, received the Association of the United States Army Commendation Award. This award is given on the basis of the cadet's contribution to advancing the standing of the military science department through leadership. The award consists of a medal and certificate.
The Association of the United States Army also gave the AUSA Military History Award, by presenting two books to an outstanding cadet for excellence in the study of military history. The recipient of this award was Cadet Jason Miller from Bettendorf. Miller also received Cadet Honors. The AUSA Certificate was presented to Wade Corell, from Strawberry Point.
The Reserve Officers' Association Award was presented to cadets in each level of the Army ROTC program. The recipients must be enrolled in ROTC, have indicated a desire to continue in the ROTC program and obtain a commission, be in the top 10 percent of their ROTC class and have demonstrated outstanding qualities of leadership, moral character and high aptitude for military science.
The recipients were: Ryan Hartwig, from Storm Lake; Jeana Rang, from Dubuque; and Jason Boesen, from Waterloo. Hartwig also received the Shugart-Gorden Selfless Service Award and the Gold Medal Athlete Award. Boesen also received the Gold Medal Athlete Award. Rang also received Cadet Honors and the Platinum Medal Athlete Award. Hartwig and Boesen also received the Dean's List Award.
The American Legion Awards are presented to cadets at each institution for general military
excellence and scholastic excellence. The recipients of this award must be in the top 25 percent of their class in academic and ROTC subjects and have shown outstanding qualities in military leadership, discipline, character and citizenship. The recipient of the American Legion Scholastic Excellence Gold Award was Cadet Steve Moeller, from Bettendorf, and the American Legion General Military Excellence Gold Award recipient was Cadet Jamie Duncan, from Iowa Falls. Duncan also received the Dean's List Award. The recipient of the American Legion Scholastic Excellence Award was Cadet Corey Huinker, Ossian, and the American Legion General Military Excellence Award recipient was Cadet Kathy Dykstra, from Monroe. Dykstra also received the Cadet of the Semester Advanced Award, Cadet Honors and the Platinum Medal Athlete Award. Huinker also received the Gold Medal Athlete Award and the Dean's List Award.
Cadet Joshua Bastman, from Spencer, was presented with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Award. This award is given annually to a cadet at each institution who has excelled in military science or an ROTC programmed activity; is in good standing, academically and militarily; and has demonstrated achievement and concentrated effort in military and academic subjects and/or demonstrated capability and diligence in a related activity of the ROTC program.
Cadet Michael Minard, from Elkader, and Cadet Melanie Meyer, from Kellogg, were presented with the National Sojourners Award. This award is presented to a cadet (or cadets) at each institution who has contributed the most to encourage and demonstrate Americanism within the corps of cadets on campus. The recipient must be a sophomore completing the second year of military science training, who has indicated a commitment to enter the advanced course, or a junior completing the third year of military science; be in the top 25 percent of the academic class; have encouraged and demonstrated the ideals of Americanism by deed and/or conduct; and have demonstrated a potential for outstanding leadership. Minard also received the Robert L. Hibbs Leadership award and the Platinum Medal Athlete Award. Meyer also received the Air Defense Commanding Generals Award, Cadet Honors, and the Platinum Medal Athlete Award.
Cadet Heather Guck, from Fairfield, received the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Award. This award is presented annually by the DAR to an ROTC cadet at each institution for outstanding ability and achievement. The recipient must be in the top 25 percent of the ROTC and academic classes; have demonstrated qualities of loyalty and patriotism, dependability and good character, and adherence to military discipline; and have leadership ability and a fundamental and patriotic understanding of the importance of ROTC training. Guck also received the Gold Medal Athlete Award.
The recipients of the Military Order of the World Wars Award were: bronze (freshman) pendant winner Cadet Stacy Lyons, from Independence; silver (sophomore) pendant winner Cadet Charlie Davis, from Muscatine; and gold (junior) pendant winner Cadet Jason Ludwig, from Hudson. The recipients of these awards must: be in good standing in all military aspects and scholastics at the time of their selection; have shown marked improvement in military and scholastic grades; and have indicated by grades, extracurricular activities or individual endeavor, a desire to serve his or her country. Davis also received the Dean's List Award.
The Society of the War of 1812 Award was presented to Cadet Paul Horner, Clinton. This award is presented annually to one outstanding cadet from each host institution and the recipient must be in good academic standing and of high moral character.
The Retired Officers' Association Award (TROA) was presented to Cadet Paul Godson, from Hudson. The TROA ROTC medal recognizes outstanding ROTC cadets who show exceptional potential for military leadership. In addition to good academic standing and high moral character, the recipient must show evidence of a high order of loyalty to his or her ROTC unit, college and country, and demonstrate exceptional potential for military leadership.
The American Veterans of World War II (AMVETS) Award was presented to Cadet Frank Cortez, from Knoxville. This award is made annually to a cadet for diligence in the discharge of duty and the willingness to serve. The recipient must be a full-time undergraduate student enrolled in the ROTC advanced course, and in good standing in all military aspects and all scholastic grades.
The Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) Award was presented to Cadet Erick McFerren, from Independence. The award is presented to a meritorious cadet enrolled in the first year of either the four- or two-year program, who shows a high degree of merit with respect to leadership qualities, soldierly bearing and excellence.
Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America Award was presented to Cadet Leslie Shafer, from Davenport. This award is presented annually to an ROTC basic course cadet who has excelled in a specific military science course or related activity. Recipients must: be enrolled as either an MS I or MS II cadet; be in the top 25 percent of their ROTC class; have accomplished a degree of excellence in military history, American history or a related course; and have demonstrated similar or related accomplishments reflecting the ideals of patriotism.
Other individuals receiving Cadet Honors, not previously mentioned, were: Chris Keenen, from Dubuque; Danielle Cooper, from Cedar Rapids; Stacy Lyon, from Independence, Kevin Weber, from Cedar Falls; and Rebecca Doyle, from Oakdale, Minn. Cooper also received the United Services Automobile Association Spirit Award, given to a cadet who best embodies the concept of service to his/her unit and community, the army and the nation.
Recipients of the Dr. M.B. Smith Award for Military Excellence were Adam Kilgore, from Ankeny; Dayton Ericson, from Cedar Falls, Allan Heteen, from Coon Rapids, Minn.; and Dustin Kay, from Cedar Falls.
Civilian individuals received acknowledgement from the Department of the Army for their key roles in supporting and promoting Army ROTC at UNI. The Commander's Award for Public Service was presented to: James O'Connor, UNI media relations director; Susan Joslyn, UNI associate professor of health promotion and education; Christopher Denison, UNI informal recreation and aquatics coordinator; and, Charles Means, UNI associate vice president for academic affairs. The Patriotic Civilian Service Award went to: Kenneth Atkinson, UNI assistant professor of religion; Jolene Kleve, UNI ROTC student employee from Clermont; and, Annie Dailey, UNI assistant volleyball coach. The Department of the Army Certificate was presented to Rebecca Kline and Lisa Smith, reporters for the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier, and Special Recognition was given to the 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry Iowa Army National Guard.
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