GMC News

The ROTC department at Georgia Military College held their annual Military Ball and Awards Ceremony on May 6th 2006 at the Milledgeville County Club.

LTC Tony Haager, Professor of Military Science at Georgia Military College, Georgia College and State University, and Mercer University, presided over the event which was attended by over 160 cadets, cadre, faculty and staff members of the three universities. COL Jack Anderson, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculties of Georgia Military College, and COL Bruce Georgia, Professor of Military Science at North Georgia College and State University, were honored guests. Numerous students were recognized during the evening. Following is a list of those students and the awards they received.

1. Lucas DeStevens, Mercer University, received the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association Award. DeStevens was recognized as the top Signal Corps Cadet in the nation.

2. The Department of the Army Superior Cadet Award is awarded to an individual in each of the GMC Military Science classes who is in the top 25% of their ROTC class and academic class and has demonstrated potential for being a future Army Officer.

The MS 100 level award winner was Jared Smith, GMC.
The MS 200 level award winner was Joshua McCoy, Mercer University.
The MS 300 level award winner was Paul Austin, GMC.
The MS 400 level award winner was Lucas DeStevens, Mercer University.

3. Matthew Ivery, GMC, won the George C. Marshall Award which is given each year to the most outstanding MS IV who has excelled at Advanced Camp and who has demonstrated those leadership skills that epitomize the career of General George C. Marshall. The award winner is selected to participate in a seminar in Lexington, VA dealing with the general subject of the national security of the United States.

4. Richard Sexton, Mercer University, won the Association of the United States Army Award which is presented each year to an MS III cadet in the top 10% of the Military Science class, top 25% of the academic class, and who has contributed the most toward advancing the standing of Military Science Department at his or her school.

5. The Reserve Officer\’s Association recognizes one cadet in each Military Science class from MS II through MS IV. The cadet earning the award must be in the upper 10% of his/her class, have indicated a desire to continue in the ROTC program and obtain a commission, and have demonstrated outstanding qualities of Leadership, Moral Character and a High Aptitude for Military Service.

This year\’s recipient of the Bronze Medal was Charles Wilson, GMC.
This year\’s recipient of the Silver Medal was Avery Summers, Mercer University.
This year\’s recipient of the Gold Medal was Matthew Ivey, GMC.

6. The American Legion Award for Military Excellence is presented to one cadet in each Military Science class of the Advanced Course. The cadet must be in the top 25% of his/her Military Science and academic class and have demonstrated outstanding qualities in military leadership, and citizenship.

The Silver Medal was awarded to Brian Faloona, GMC.
The Gold Medal was awarded to Jason Glow, Mercer University.

7. The American Legion Award for Scholastic Excellence is awarded to one cadet in each class of the Advanced Course. The cadet must be in the top 10% of his/her academic class, top 25% of his/her military science class have demonstrated qualities of leadership and participated in related student activities.

The Silver Medal was awarded to Michael Vaught, Mercer University.
The Gold Medal was awarded to Lucas DeStevens, Mercer University.

8. Kenneth Quirk, GMC, received the Veterans of Foreign Wars which recognizes one cadet annually from each institution that has demonstrated achievement and concentrated effort in military and academic subjects and demonstrated capability and diligence in ROTC related activities.

9. Frank Lawson, GMC, received the American Veterans of World War II Award which is presented to one member of the Advanced ROTC Program for diligence in the discharge of duty and willingness to serve both God and Country.

10. Thomas Ruo, Mercer University, received the National Sojourners Award which is presented annually to one cadet in the MS II or MS III level who did the most to demonstrate and encourage Americanism within the Corps of Cadets and on campus. The cadet must be in the top 25% of his/her academic class and have demonstrated a potential for outstanding leadership.

11. Charles Moore, Mercer University, and 2003 graduate of GMC Prep School, received the Sons of the American Revolution Award which is given once a year to one cadet in the MS I or MS III class who is in good military and academic standing and shows a high degree of merit with respect to the qualities of soldierly bearing and all around excellence in the ROTC Program.

12. The Military Order of World Wars presents medals to three cadets in the MS I through MS III levels who are outstanding in military studies during the entire school year.

The MS 100 level award winner was Stephanie Standard, GMC.
The MS 200 level award winner was Nicole Edwards, GMC.
The MS 300 level award winner was William Hill, Mercer University.

13. Heather Stacey, GMC, received the Daughters of the American Revolution Award which is presented to one cadet in the MS II or MS IV class who is in the top 25% of his/her military and academic class and has demonstrated qualities of loyalty and patriotism, dependability and good character, adherence to military discipline, leadership ability, and a fundamental and patriotic understanding of the importance of ROTC training.

14. Megan Kane, Mercer University, received the Daughters of the Founders and Patriots of America Award which is presented annually to one cadet enrolled in the ROTC Basic Course. The cadet must be in the top 25% of his or her Military Science class, have accomplished by diligence or endeavor a high degree of excellence in military history, have demonstrated potential for good leadership, and have demonstrated similar or related accomplishments reflecting the ideals of patriotism.

15. Brandon Hoeksema, GMC, received the Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States Award which is presented once a year to one cadet per institution in the Advanced Course who has shown potential in area of military leadership, moral character, and discipline.

16. Alan Pitchford, Mercer University, received the Association of the United States Army Military History Award which is presented once a year to a cadet who has shown excellence in the study of military history.

17. Clifford Burns, GMC, received the Military Officers\’ Association of America Medal which is presented annually to an MS III cadet who is good academic standing has shown exceptional potential for military leadership, is of high moral character, and has shown a high order of loyalty to his/her ROTC unit, college and country.

18. Melissa Smith, GMC, received the Society of the War of 1812 which is an award presented to an MS II who is in good academic standing and is of high moral character.

19. Conrado McGraw, GMC, received the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Award which is presented to one MS IV cadet who is in the top 1/2 of his or her academic class, has maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher in ROTC, participated actively in athletics and campus activities, demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities, and was rated in the upper 20% of his/her platoon at Advanced Camp in the previous summer.

20. Jessica Gillespie, GMC, received the USAA Spirit Award which is presented annually to recognize the ROTC student who gives selfless service to his or her fellow cadets, displays an exceptional attitude towards the ROTC program, Ga. Military College and the community. This student displays the traits and characteristics that embody the spirit of service.

21. The Distinguished Military Student Award is given each year to the top third of the MSIV class. These cadets must possess outstanding qualities of leadership and high moral character, demonstrate initiative and leadership capabilities through his or her participation in campus activities, and have completed the Leaders Development Assessment Course. The Distinguished Military Students for school year 2005-2006 were: Lucas DeStevens, Jason Glow, Brian Faloona, Jessica Gillespie, Matthew Ivey, Conrado McGraw, Nathaniel Ramos, and Heather Stacey.

22. Lucas Destevens, Mercer University, received the Distinguished Military Graduate which is awarded and sent to the PMS by the Commanding General of Cadet Command. Cadet must be in the top 20% of the national Order of Merit List of the cadets accessed across the nation. During the 2006 Accessions Board, this cadet ranked #45 of 3,338 cadets.

23. The Order of the Centurion is awarded to those cadets who meet the following standards: Possess a grade point average of 3.0 or higher, ZERO Bullring Hours, Score 270 or above on the Army Physical Fitness Test, the Army’s Fit to Fight Standard, complete a 12 mile road march with rucksack in less than three hours, the Army’s fit to fight and Expert Infantryman’s standards. The following cadets earned the Order of the Centurion: Jared Smith, Henry Robertson, and Clifford Burns.

24. The Corps of Cadets is required to participate in a regularly scheduled Physical Training Program. Periodically, cadets are administered an Army Physical Fitness Test which consists of push-ups, sit-ups and a 2 mile run. The following cadets achieved the highest physical fitness test score for their Military Science Level:

MS I – Ron Woods, with a score of 307
MS II – Henry Robertson, with a score of 320
MS III – Avery Fulp, with a score of 328
MS IV – Justin Cajero, with a score of 339.

25. The \”Top Dawg\” award is presented to the cadet who achieved the highest overall physical fitness test score for the Georgia Military College Corps of Cadets. This year\’s \”TOP DAWG” was Justin Cajero.

Additionally, awards were presented to the GMC Military Science Department Staff.
Ginger Baugh received the Commander’s Award for Public Service.

Daniel Isham received the Achievement Medal for Civilian Service.

Janet Epps received the Commanding General’s Coin for Excellence.