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Pictured as part of the Department of Army Superior Cadet Awards are MSG Todd Robertson, CDT Sarah Abercrombie, CDT George Lasley, CDT Michael Shriber, CDT Sam Nesbit and LTC Richard Helling.
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Pictured as part of the American Legion awards is James Percy, commander of McDonough County American Legion Post 6, CDT Sarah Abercrombie, CDT Gunner Griffin, CDT Annaliese Coyne and LTC Richard Helling.
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Pictured as part of The Daughters of the American Revolution Award are Sarah Curtis and CDT Shelby DePriest.
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Pictured as part of the Sons of the American Revolution Award are Brigadier General (R) Louis L. Myers and CDT Kenneth Davis.
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Pictured as part of the Reserve Officers' Association Award is LTC Richard Helling and bronze medal winner CDT Austin Koontz.
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WIU ROTC Present Annual Awards This Week

April 7, 2017

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MACOMB, IL – The U.S. Army's Leatherneck Battalion of Western Illinois University's Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program held its annual awards ceremony Tuesday afternoon.

The first award presented was the Department of Army Superior Cadet Awards, presented to cadets in the military science class who are recognized for outstanding leadership and academic performance throughout the school year.

This year's winners were:

• Senior class: Cadet Sarah Donnelly, a forensic chemistry major from London Mills, IL.

• Junior class: Cadet George Lasley, a law enforcement and justice administration (LEJA) major from Swansea, IL

• Sophomore class: Cadet Michael Shriber, an LEJA major from Mount Prospect, IL

• Freshman class: Cadet Samuel Nesbit, an LEJA major from St. Charles, IL

Other awards presented Tuesday included:

• The Association of the United States Army Awards for junior and senior cadets who excelled in military studies and the study of military history.

- AUSA Gold Medal: Cadet Shelby DePriest, a senior art major from Olathe, KS

- AUSA History Award and Book: Cadet Jasmyne Taylor, a senior LEJA major from Sycamore, IL

• The Veterans of Foreign Wars Award for the senior cadet who demonstrated outstanding qualities of academics, military leadership and capability and diligence in ROTC: Cadet Michael Prikazsky, a senior LEJA major from LaGrange Park, IL

• The Military Order of the Purple Heart for the junior cadet who has maintained a 3.0 or better GPA and has the most improvement in leadership and military skills: Cadet Gunnar Griffin, a junior foreign languages and cultures major from East Peoria, IL

• American Legion Awards for cadets who demonstrate outstanding qualities of academics, military leadership, self-discipline, character and citizenship:
For Academic Excellence:
- Gold Medal: Cadet Nathaniel Johnson, a senior LEJA major from Geneseo, IL
- Silver Medal: Cadet Griffin

For Military Excellence:
- Gold Medal: Cadet Aaron Troyer, a senior LEJA major from Roseville, IL
- Silver Medal: Cadet Annaliese Coyne, a junior LEJA major from Eola, IL


• The Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Award for scholastic excellence and demonstrated Americanism in supporting the U.S. as a member of ROTC: Cadet Anjelica Strack, a senior physics major from Stronghurst, IL

• The National Sojourners Award for a sophomore cadet who has contributed the most to encourage and demonstrate national pride within the Corps of Cadets and on campus: Cadet Jacob Poore, a sophomore business major from Macomb, IL

• The American Veterans of WWII, Korea and Vietnam Award (AMVETS) award for cadets who have shown the most diligence in discharge of duty and willingness to serve God and country:

Senior: Cadet Brianna Hooker, a psychology major from Sycamore, IL
Junior: Cadet Shannon Norris, an LEJA major from Rockford, IL
Sophomore: Cadet John Busby, an LEJA major from Dekalb, IL
Freshman: Cadet Sam Reynolds: an elementary education major from Springfield, IL


• The American Legion Auxiliary Awards: for senior and junior cadets who demonstrate outstanding qualities of military leadership, self-discipline, character and citizenship:
- The Military Excellence Award: Cadet Benton Winscott, a senior history major from Montgomery, IL
- The Scholastic Excellence Award: Cadet Sarah Abercrombie, a senior LEJA major from Plainfield, IL


• The National Society of the Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America award for a freshman or sophomore cadet who is in the top 25 percent of their class and displays excellence in military science, professional development and enrichment activities: Cadet Ryan Harris, a freshman computer science major from East Moline, IL

• The Military Officers Association of America Award for a junior cadet who displays exceptional potential in military leadership: Cadet Jonathan Heftrig, a senior LEJA major from Marengo, IL

• The Reserve Officers' Association Award presented to cadets who have demonstrated outstanding qualities of leadership, moral character and high aptitude for military service:
- The Gold Medal Award: Cadet Shekema Springfield, a senior LEJA major from Markham, IL
- The Silver Medal Award: Cadet Francisco Aquino, a junior LEJA major from Waukegan, IL
- The Bronze Medal Award: Cadet Austin Koontz, a sophomore LEJA major from Johnsburg, IL


• The United States Automobile Association (USAA) Spirit Award to the senior cadet who best represents the concept of service to the community or ROTC unit: Cadet Abercrombie

• The Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War Award to the senior cadet who possesses the leadership qualities, military bearing, scholarship and overall excellence: Cadet Benjamin Meyers, a senior political science major from Plainfield, IL

• The Sons of the American Revolution Award to the junior cadet who has excelled in military science, professional development and enrichment activities: Cadet Kenneth Davis, a LEJA major from Macomb

• The Society of the War of 1812 Award to the sophomore cadet for academic performance and demonstration exceptionally high moral character: Cadet Matthew Boucher, an LEJA major from Hollowayville, IL

• The Daughters of the American Revolution Award to a senior who has demonstrated the qualities of loyalty and patriotism, dependability and good character, adherence to military discipline and a fundamental and patriotic understanding of the importance of leadership learned through ROTC training: Cadet DePriest

• The WIU Ranger for the School Year 2016-2017 award in honor of former Cadet Eddie Fogleman, who was active in the WIU Ranger Club and was killed in action in Vietnam while serving with the 101st Airborne Division: Cadet DePriest

• The ROTC State Scholarship Award:
- Cadet Brett Peters, a sophomore LEJA major from Carpentersville, IL
- Cadet Essence Lloyd, a sophomore LEJA major from Joliet, IL
- Cadet Robert Oberg, a sophomore LEJA major from Pleasant Prairie, WI
- Cadet Jeena Hardy, a freshman nursing major from Dolton, IL
- Cadet John Weygand, a freshman history major from Ottawa, IL
- Cadet Jordan Green, a freshman LEJA major from Streator, IL
- Cadet James Corralejo, a freshman LEJA major from Dekalb, IL
- Cadet Marco Rodriguez, a senior LEJA major from Cicero, IL
- Cadet Konrad Sowizral, a sophomore LEJA major from Saint Charles, IL
- Cadet Jacob Lowman, a sophomore political science major from Nauvoo, IL


• The ROTC Dean's List Award for cadets who maintained a semester GPA of 3.6-4.0 and are selected for the Dean's List:
- Cadet Abercrombie
- Cadet Aquino
- Cadet Kamil Baldyga, a senior LEJA major from Palos Hills, IL
- Cadet Mark Bangert, a senior LEJA major from Dunlap, IL
- Cadet Edwin Bennett, a sophomore supply chain management major from East Peoria, IL
- Cadet Coyne
- Cadet Nancy Davila, a senior LEJA major from Gages Lake, IL
- Cadet Donnelly
- Cadet Allison Eichorst, a freshman nursing major from Plainfield, IL
- Cadet Emily Ejmana, a freshman LEJA major from Woodridge, IL
- Cadet Russell Fehns, a junior LEJA major from Port Barrington, IL
- Cadet Luke Glynn, a freshman LEJA major from Plainfield, IL
- Cadet Griffin
- Cadet Hooker
- Cadet Johnson
- Cadet Maraquita Jones, a senior LEJA major from Chicago, IL
- Cadet Lasley
- Cadet Daniel Lincicum, a freshman LEJA major from Cary, IL
- Cadet Devin Lionberger, a senior athletic training major from LaHarpe, IL
- Cadet Lowman
- Cadet Andrew Martin, a sophomore LEJA manor from Springfield, IL
- Cadet Norris
- Cadet Sean O'Donnell, a sophomore LEJA major from Clarendon Hills, IL
- Cadet Prikazsky
- Cadet Jacob Reynolds, a freshman LEJA major from Minooka, IL
- Cadet Shriber
- Cadet Nicholas Shupryt, a sophomore LEJA major from Oak Forest, IL
- Cadet Matthew Simmons, a senior LEJA major from Glenwood, IL
- Cadet Taylor
- Cadet Troyer
- Cadet Hannah Wallace, a senior exercise science major from Cullom, IL
- Cadet Weygand
- Cadet Daja Williams, a freshman nursing major from Chicago, IL
- Cadet Michael Zack, a junior LEJA major from Darien, IL
- Cadet Victor Zepeda, a senior LEJA major from Fox Lake, IL

For more information about WIU's ROTC program, visit wiu.edu/rotc.


Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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