ROTC Islander Battalion Cadets Receive Awards

More than 20 students from the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Army ROTC Islander Battalion were honored during an awards ceremony Wednesday, May 2 in the University Center. The program recognizes cadets who have excelled in both military and academic skills. The Islander Battalion is an ROTC program that trains and prepares college students to be commissioned military officers. To date, an estimated 150 Islander Battalion cadets have been commissioned as 2nd Lieutenants in the U.S. Army.

Awards are as follows: Mathew Anderson, Military Order of World Wars-Silver; Jesus Balli, Color Guard Award; Adrian Champion, General Society of the War of 1812; David Faciane, Military Officers’ Association of America, Bronze Army Physical Fitness Test; Oluwole Fadiya, Commanders Academic Award, Dean’s List Award; John Ferguson, Silver Army Physical Fitness Test; Nicholas Fuselier, American Legion - Scholastic Excellence, Dean’s List Award, Color Guard Award; Robert Guillen, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Superior Cadet-Military Science Junior, Association of the U.S. Army, Dean’s List Award; Jouhee Han, Cadet Honors Award; Amy Hecht, Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America, Platinum Army Physical Fitness Test, Color Guard Award; Ryan Hunke, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Superior Cadet-Military Science Freshman, Dean’s List Award, Gold Army Physical Fitness Test, Sergeant York Award, Color Guard Award, German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge-Gold; Brandon Jefferson, Most Improved Army Physical Fitness Test; Jason Justice, Scholar Award; Derek Knapp, Association of the U.S. Army-History; Tadeo Mar, Superior Cadet-Military Science Sophomore, Scholar Award; Glen Melin, Blue Star Mothers of America Inc.- Texas Coastal Bend Chapter, Scholar Award; Jorge Padilla, Daughters of the American Revolution, Dean’s List Award, Superior Cadet-Military Science Senior; Raquel Salas, Military Order of World Wars-Bronze, United States Automobile Association Spirit, Color Guard Award; Cody Smith, Color Guard Award; Joshua Snyder, Military Order of World Wars-Gold, Gold Army Physical Fitness Test; Anthony Tanner, American Veterans of Foreign Wars; Ryno Vanleeuwen, Color Guard Award, German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge-Silver; Otto Vindekilde, American Legion - Military Excellence, Cadet Honors Award, German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge-Gold.