GMC News
Georgia Military College ROTC Cadet Receives National-Level Award
(Milledgeville, GA) May 1, 2003 – An Army ROTC cadet from Georgia Military College recently joined senior U.S. government officials at a National Security Seminar April 15th through April 18th in historic Lexington, Virginia.
Christopher J. Rispoli earned the opportunity to participate in the event by being the top Army ROTC cadet at GMC. While in Lexington, he had the opportunity to directly interact with the key leaders in attendance and discuss a variety of issues directly bearing on national security. Rispoli assembled an impressive list of accomplishments while still in college. In addition to having served in a number of leadership roles in the Army ROTC unit, he volunteers with the Big Brothers Program.
In an internationally broadcast speech from last year’s event President George W. Bush noted the importance of the Seminar and commended the cadets selected for this honor. “I want to congratulate the winners of the George C. Marshall ROTC Award, the more than 260 young men and women who represent the best of our country and the best future for the United States Army. You stand out among the nearly 30,000 young Americans who are today enrolled in the Army ROTC; the officers who will serve in the military of the future, and one day lead it. A majority of the Army’s current officers started out in ROTC. For nearly 90 years this great program has developed leaders and shaped character. Those looking for idealism on the college campuses of America will find it in the men and women of the ROTC. ROTC’s traditions and values are a contribution and a credit to every college and every university where they’re found,” said Bush.
“President Bush’s attendance at last year’s event underscores the importance of this opportunity for our top cadets to interact with senior military and governmental officials. Events like this are of critical importance to their development as leaders” said Maj. Gen. John T.D. Casey. Casey, who commands the Army ROTC program, personally participated in the seminar. “The Army ROTC program provides the best leadership training in the world. We are all extremely proud of the scholar-athlete-leaders selected to participate in the Marshall Seminar. At times like these, it is comforting to know that our Army will have leaders like this joining its ranks.”
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