On May 5, 19 Spartans embarked on their military careers in the U.S. Army. The event was held on the MSU campus and attended by over 200 friends, family and alumni.

Remarks made by Maj. Jason O. DeGeorge, Military Science Department Chairperson

I would like to recognize and honor our MSU Army ROTC cadets for an incredible year of achievement and advancing our program’s mission to develop scholars, athletes and leaders for our nation. They are exemplars of a powerful alchemy: The U.S. Army’s Warrior Ethos as embodied in the Soldier’s Creed and the Spartan ethos of individual strength, collective power and extraordinary impact.

The U.S. Army Cadet Command mission is to partner with universities, high schools and communities across America to select and develop leaders of character for lifelong service to our Nation. I would like to highlight a specific line out of that mission statement: leaders of character for a lifetime of service to our Nation. That line is important and I believe it speaks directly to what this organization’s cadre and staff strive to instill in our cadets. 

There is no doubt that this group of cadets embodies the spirit of both great officers and great citizens. They are the future leaders of not only the Army, but of Fortune 500 companies, schools, hospitals and governments. They are the engineers designing and building our cities, the future titans of business who possess the strategic vision to lead companies in the 21st century and the nurses treating and comforting our children. They are exceptional in every way. 

I want to share some facts with you about this group of cadets:  

• Average years to graduation: 4.15  
• Average GPA: 3.29  
• Four distinct extracurricular groups recognized by the university: Ranger 1, Pathfinder, Marksmanship and Color Guard  
• Four national and international competition teams: The Army Ten-Miler Team, Best Ranger Team, Marksmanship Team and the Sandhurst Competition Team  
• Helped organize and participated in the Alex’s Great State Race, which raised $46K for the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities  
• They are involved in the local community, having orchestrated the university’s Veterans Day Ceremony and having visited assisted living centers in the local area to honor veterans  
• They established our organization’s “Read With a Hero” program in partnership with East Lansing’s Pinecrest Elementary School  
• They have an enduring partnership with the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to support leadership education and academic diversity to assist with exposing inner-city high school students to science, technology, engineering and math academic disciplines 

But I still believe it is impossible for me to accurately—or even adequately—describe the level of exceptionalism these cadets have reached through words alone. Therefore, I encourage you to take the time to engage with them on a personal level: ask them about their ambitions; pay attention to their competence and confidence; but, most of all, be aware of their humble responses and unquestionable selfless service. Only then will you be able to observe the exceptionalism that we get to experience daily, and you will understand why we as a staff are so proud.

2017 MSU Army ROTC Commissionees

Abigail L. Aitken. Branch: Military Police, Component: Active Army, Undergraduate Degree: Criminal Justice

Rachel M. Baker. Branch: Chemical Corps, Component: Army Reserve, Undergraduate Degree: Biosystems Engineering

Thomas J. Ball. Branch: Military Intelligence, Component: Army National Guard, Undergraduate Degree: Agribusiness Management

Zachary T. Delph. Distinguished Military Graduate, Branch: Infantry, Component: Active Army, Undergraduate Degree: Psychology

Jacob H. Kramer. Branch: Engineer, Component: Active Duty Army, Undergraduate Degree: Civil Engineering 

Cameron D. Maciejewski. Branch: Military Police, Component: Army Reserve, Undergraduate Degree: Criminal Justice 

Robert T. Morrison. Branch: Quartermaster, Component: Army National Guard, Undergraduate Degree: Supply Chain Management 

Emma K. Niemeyer. Branch: Medical Services Corps, Component: Army National Guard, Undergraduate Degree: Advertising 

Brandon M. Oswald. Distinguished Military Graduate, Branch: Medical Services Corps, Component: Army National Guard, Undergraduate Degree: Microbiology 

Hannah C. Piper. Distinguished Military Graduate, Branch: Educational Delay, Undergraduate Degree: Animal Science 

Joshua S. Popp. Branch: Transportation, Component: Army National Guard, Undergraduate Degree: Russian 

Kyle S. Rash. Branch: Engineer, Component: Army National Guard, Undergraduate Degree: Construction Management 

Emma C. Reddy. Branch: Quartermaster, Component: Army Reserve, Undergraduate Degree: Environmental Geosciences 

William E. Romine. Distinguished Military Graduate, Branch: Infantry, Component: Active Army, Undergraduate Degree: Criminal Justice 

Joseph E. Rottman. Branch: Infantry, Component: Active Army, Undergraduate Degree: Criminal Justice 

Nora M. Schultz. Branch: Adjutant General, Component: Army Reserve, Undergraduate Degree: Arabic 

Jacob M. Shultz. Branch: Field Artillery, Component: Active Army, Undergraduate Degree: International Relations 

Emilee K. Tripp. Branch: Field Artillery, Component: Active Army, Undergraduate Degree: Russian 

Austin O. Wolfe. Branch: Aviation, Component: Active Army, Undergraduate Degree: Criminal Justice