SRU Army ROTC cadets recognized at Spring Awards Ceremony

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Cadet receiving an award

Jared Titley, a Slippery Rock University senior cadet from the U.S. Army ROTC program, was presented the Sgt. Lacey Christley Award at the program’s Spring Awards Ceremony, April 28, at the Slippery Rock Township Building. The award includes a saber given on behalf of the VFW Post 6231 commemorating the post's namesake.

April 29, 2022

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — Cadets from Slippery Rock University's Army ROTC program were recognized for their outstanding achievements and leadership at the Frontier Battalion's 2022 Spring Awards Ceremony, April 28, at the Slippery Rock Township Building. The Frontier Battalion consists of cadets from SRU and Clarion University.

"Our cadets have displayed outstanding leadership and achieved tremendous success in and out of the classroom during their time at SRU," said Lt. Col. Jennifer Martin, professor of military science and head of SRU's ROTC program. "This ceremony was a wonderful time to reflect on their achievements and we thank them for all they do to advance our ROTC program. We also appreciate our community partners for supporting our program and these awards, including those from the local VFW and American Legion, as well as Slippery Rock Township for hosting the event."

The following cadets were presented awards:

  • Maya French, a senior political science major from Portersville, was awarded the Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America Award. This award recognizes a cadet in the top 25% of his or her class and who demonstrates excellence in military history.
  • Andrew Gaudish, a senior criminal justice major from Slippery Rock, was presented the National Guard Association Award, given to the cadet with the highest standing in his or her class who is entering into or who is already in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. The award also recognizes accomplishments as a student, as well as positive attitude and motivation.
  • Ryan Sproat, a sophomore homeland security major from Prospect, was presented the National Sojourners Award. This award recognizes a sophomore or junior cadet who is in the top 25% of the academic class and demonstrates and encourages American ideals.
  • Paul Budi, a sophomore homeland security major from Medina, Ohio, was named the General Society of the War of 1812 Outstanding Student, which recognizes a sophomore cadet who displays the highest level of leadership and patriotism, demonstrated aptitude to lead peers and subordinates, as well as having a GPA in the top 20% of the institution's class and top 10% of the ROTC program.
  • Brandon Martell, a senior interdisciplinary programs major from Sharon, was presented the USAA Spirit Award, given to the cadet who best exemplifies the concept of service to unit, community and nation.
  • Budi (bronze medal) and Jackson Novak (silver medal), a junior homeland security major from Slippery Rock, were awarded the Reserve Officers Association Award, which honors cadets in the top 10% of the ROTC class who demonstrates outstanding qualities of leadership. The gold medal was a cadet from Clarion.
  • Lucas Monzo, a junior homeland security major from Harrison City, was presented the AUSA ROTC Leadership and Academic Achievement Award, which recognizes cadets in the top 10% of the ROTC class and top 25% of the academic class.
  • Nicholas Gorton, a safety management major from Warren, was presented the AUSA Military History Award, which recognizes cadets for excellence in study of military history in ROTC units.
  • French was awarded the National Defense Industrial Association Award, which recognizes cadets in the top 50th percentile in the academic class and top 20% in the ROTC course evaluation.
  • Shane Johnson, a senior marketing major from Edinboro, was awarded the AMVETS Award, which recognizes cadets for diligence in duty and willingness to serve God and country.
  • Reese Larson, a sophomore homeland security major from Saegertown, and Dillon Pusateri, a senior political science major from Bethel Park, were awarded the American Legion ROTC Military Excellence Award, which recognizes cadets in the top 25% of the academic class and ROTC.
  • Novak was awarded the American Legion ROTC Scholastic Excellence Award, which recognizes SRU cadets in the top 25% of the academic class and ROTC.
  • Nathaniel Richwine, a sophomore finance major from Enola, and Roxanne Skowronski, a freshman early childhood special education major from Ontario, California, were presented the VFW Award. This award recognizes cadets who have a good standing academically and militarily.
  • Ryan Davis, a junior safety management major from Harrisville, was presented the Military Officer's Association of American ROTC Medal. This award recognizes cadets with a good academic standing, moral character, high order of loyalty to his or her unit, school and country.
  • Justin Gibson, a freshman mechanical engineering major from Mount Laurel, New Jersey (bronze); Nathan Maggi, an information systems major from McKees Rocks (silver); and Reese Johnson, a safety management major from Bradford (gold), were awarded the Military Order of the World Wars Award. This award recognizes cadets who have shown the greatest improvement in ROTC and scholastic studies.
  • Karalyn Adams, a senior communication major from Meadville, was awarded the Miliary 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.
  • Allison Guy, a sophomore exercise science major from Oakdale, was presented the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry award. This award recognizes cadets who encourage and demonstrate patriotism on campus by deeds or conduct and are in the top 25% of the ROTC program in academic standing.
  • Nicholas Bailey, a sophomore communication major from Ridley Park, was presented the Sgt. York Award, which recognizes a cadet who does the most to support the ROTC program.
  • Larson; Nicholas Wile, a freshman criminology and criminal justice major from Greensburg; and Nathan Morgan, a senior safety management major from New Columbia, were awarded 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.
  • Morgan; Donald Boley, a senior corporate security major from Carlisle; Nathan Marchand, a senior management major from Hermitage; and Justin Matteo, a senior homeland security major from Drums, were recognized as Distinguished Military Students, for being in the top one-third of the ROTC class and top half of the academic class.
  • Boley, Marchand and Gaudish were awarded the Distinguished Military Graduates Award. This award recognizes cadets in the top 20% of the national ROTC class based on the Order of Merit List.
  • Jared Titley, a senior homeland security major from Butler, was presented the Sgt. Lacey Christley Award, which recognizes a top senior cadet. The award included a saber given on behalf of the VFW Post 6231 commemorating the post's namesake.
  • Marchand was presented the George C. Marshall Award, which recognizes a cadet for completing advanced camp, leadership and scholastic qualities that epitomize the famous World War II army general.
  • The top cadets in each of the classes were recognized: Maggi (MS II) and Marchand (MS IV). The top MS I and MS III cadets were from Clarion.
  • Gaudish won Cadet of the Year as the battalion's top cadet.  

For more information about SRU's Army ROTC program, visit the Military Science Department webpage.

MEDIA CONTACT: Alex Conn | 724.738.4854   | adc1012@sru.edu

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