ROTC commissions new officers from four military branches
LAWRENCE – Members of the Army, Air Force, Naval Reserve and Marines ROTC programs at the University of Kansas, as well as officer candidates, were commissioned in a joint ceremony. Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little attended the event to recognize the students.
The six Navy-option and two Marine-option NROTC students were commissioned by Brig. Gen. John Simmons, Commanding General of Training Command, Quantico, Virginia, at the ceremony, which was May 19. More than 200 people attended the event.
Commissioning was the culmination of a long training path for these former midshipmen. “I can't wait to get out to the fleet,” said ENS Reston Bishop, one of the newly commissioned officers, from Springfield, Missouri.
During his commencement address, Simmons expressed words of encouragement, and he discussed leadership and the future responsibilities of the officers. He described the oath and offered words of wisdom garnered over his vast career experience.
Simmons administered the oath of office to the group of new officers from all four military branches simultaneously.
Commanding officers presenting the commissions were Lt. Col. Storm Reynolds, professor of military science; Lt. Col. Brian Salmans, professor of aerospace studies; and Capt. David Schweizer, professor of naval science. The chancellor and Senior Vice Provost of Academic Affairs, Sara Rosen, were distinguished guests.
The newly commissioned officers are listed below by name, hometown and area of study:
Army:
2nd Lt. Andrew Acosta, Los Angeles, genetics
2nd Lt. Courtney Brungardt, Rossville, history and geography
2nd Lt. Dale Colegrove, Overland Park, mechanical engineering
2nd Lt. Lawrence Flanagan, Raymore, Missouri, finance and international business
2nd Lt. Andrew Grieve, Fort Collins, Colorado, psychology
2nd Lt. Seth Hemker, Maiden Rock, Wisconsin, nursing
2nd Lt. Stuart McConnell, Newton, film and media studies
2nd Lt. Deaven Miller, Gardner, missionary studies
2nd Lt. Jessica McCoy, Junction City, nursing
2nd Lt. Danny Portillo, Santa Ana, California, applied behavioral science
2nd Lt. Austin J. Simons, Lawrence, history
2nd Lt. Daniel Stork, Leawood, psychology
2nd Lt. Howard Ting, Galloway, New Jersey, biology
2nd Lt. Bobbi Walden, Lansing, business management
2nd Lt. Madeline Wilcox, Leavenworth, political science
Air Force:
2nd Lt. Katherine Benson, Woodbury, Minnesota, nursing
2nd Lt. Nathaniel Berndt, Wichita Falls, Texas, business management
2nd Lt. Megan Honeywell, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, nursing
2nd Lt. McKenna Hall, Lansing, communications studies
2nd Lt. Julian McCafferty, Lawrence, aerospace engineering
2nd Lt. Margaret Schuetz, Holton, biochemistry
2nd Lt. James Sellers, Benton, aerospace engineering
2nd Lt. Emily Thompson, Sandpoint, Idaho, aerospace engineering
2nd Lt. Tyler Underwood, Derby, mechanical engineering
2nd Lt. Yinglong Xu, Overland Park, aerospace engineering
2nd Lt. Hannah Young, Sedalia, Missouri, nursing
Navy:
Ensign Luis Berges, Julesburg, Colorado, aerospace engineering
Ensign Reston Bishop, Springfield, Missouri, mechanical engineering
Ensign Kuran Bricker, Overland Park, mechanical engineering
Ensign Cameron Flora, Sedgwick, mechanical engineering
Ensign Kyle Flynn, Denver, civil engineering
Ensign Robert Stanton, Wichita, electrical engineering
USMC:
- 2nd Lt. Lucas Frickey, Clearwater, exercise science
- 2nd Lt. Edward Stimac, Kansas City, Kansas, accounting and information systems
KU is one of only 50 universities in the nation offering an ROTC program that represents all branches of the military. KU’s ROTC program also trains cadets from Baker University, Haskell Indian Nations University, Mid-America Nazarene University, University of Saint Mary, Washburn University and Benedictine University.