Sources: Air Force Lt. Col. Ed Meyer, 785-532-6600, edmeyer1@k-state.edu;
and Army Lt. Col. R. Scott Bridegam, 785-532-6754, bridegam@k-state.edu
Hometown connection: Junction City, Leavenworth, Manhattan, Topeka and Wichita, Kan.; Warsaw, Ind.; Essexville, Mich.; Humboldt and Ralston, Neb.; Allen and Farmers Branch, Texas; and Vancouver, Wash.
News release prepared by: Beth Bohn, 785-532-2535, bbohn@k-state.edu
Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011
Ready to serve: Air Force, Army ROTC cadets earn commissions
MANHATTAN -- Commissioning ceremonies Friday, Dec. 9, at Kansas State University will provide 14 new second lieutenants for the U.S. military. The new officers are also receiving their bachelor's degrees from the university at commencement ceremonies Saturday, Dec. 10.
The ceremony for the university's Army ROTC Wildcat Battalion will be at 10 a.m. in Forum Hall at the K-State Student Union. Six cadets will earn their commissions. The guest of honor and commissioning officer will the Col. William Clark, garrison commander at Fort Riley. A reception will follow in the 2nd Lt. Lora Marietta Classroom in Gen. Richard B. Myers Hall. Three of the cadets will be honored as distinguished military graduates for being among the top 20 percent of the more than 5,400 Army ROTC cadets nationwide to commission this year. The honor is based on academic standing, fitness level and leadership acumen.
The commissioning ceremony for Detachment 270, the university's Air Force ROTC unit, will be at 2 p.m. in Forum Hall. Eight cadets will earn their commissions. Retired Lt. Col. Bradley L. Hebing will be the speaker. Hebing was head of K-State's department of aerospace studies from 2007-2009. He currently serves as an Air Force combatives program instructor at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama.
Cadets to be commissioned include:
* Albert Glover, bachelor's candidate in social sciences, Junction City. Glover will be commissioned in the Military Police Corps and serve with the U.S. Army Reserve. He is the son of Albert and Debra Glover.
* David Thomas, bachelor's candidate in computer engineering, Leavenworth. He will serve in cyberspace operations at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi. He is the son of Daniel Thomas and Ric and Crystal Middlekamp.
* Stephanie Jones, bachelor's candidate in criminology and digital arts, Manhattan. Jones will serve in the office of special investigations at Los Angeles Air Force Base in California. She is the daughter of Steve and Claudia Jones.
* Morgan Hamilton, bachelor's candidate in criminology, Topeka. Hamilton will be commissioned in the Ordnance Corps and serve with the Kansas Army National Guard. He is the son of Stuart and Cheryl Hamilton.
* Benjamin Kretzer, bachelor's candidate in business administration, Wichita. Kretzer will begin aviation training at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida. He is the son of John and Carolyn Kretzer.
* Cameron Shike, bachelor's candidate in fisheries and wildlife conservation, Wichita. Shike will begin aviation training at Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida. He is the son of Randall and Lisa Shike.
* Nathan Thibault, bachelor's candidate in kinesiology, Wichita. Thibault will serve in airfield operations at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. He is the son of Tom and Karen Thibault.
From out of state:
* Kyle Messmore, bachelor's candidate in agricultural business, Warsaw, Ind. Messmore will begin aviation training at Pensacola Air Force Base in Florida. He is the son of Dennis Messmore.
* Tyler Davenport, bachelor's candidate in finance, Essexville, Mich. Davenport will begin aviation training at Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida. He is the son of Joel and Jeanette Davenport.
* Cassandra Dutcher, bachelor's candidate in animal sciences industry-production management, Humboldt, Neb. Dutcher, a distinguished military graduate, will be commissioned in the Army Transportation Corps and will serve with the Kansas Army National Guard. She is the daughter of Andrew and Brenda Dutcher.
* Matthew McGath, bachelor's candidate in social sciences, Ralston, Neb. McGath will begin aviation training at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida. He is the son of David and Marian McGath.
* Esteban Carrera, bachelor's candidate in marketing, Allen, Texas. Carrera, a distinguished military graduate, will be commissioned in the Army Signal Corps with a branch detail in the infantry. He will serve on active duty. He is the son of Jesus and Jessie Carrera.
* Bryce Knott, bachelor's candidate in social sciences, Farmers Branch, Texas. Knott will be commissioned in the Field Artillery Corps and serve with the Kansas Army National Guard. He is the son of Mike and Fanchon Henneberger.
* Benjamin Novak, bachelor's candidate in mechanical engineering, Vancouver, Wash. Novak, a distinguished military graduate, will be commissioned in the Army Armor Branch and serve on active duty. He is the son of William and Elizabeth Novak.
