Reserve Officer Training Corps to Commission 34 Students at May 15 UI Commencements
Tuesday, April 27 2004
April 26, 2004^MOSCOW – Thirty-four University of Idaho graduating students May 15 will not wear traditional caps and gowns, but formal military dress uniforms as they are commissioned as second lieutenants or ensigns after completing Reserve Officers' Training Corps requirements.^Most of the students have done double duty in their four years on campus. They not only are expected to meet certain academic standards, but achieve physical fitness, learn military skills and leadership, and are encouraged to have extracurricular activities, jobs or community service.^For example, Air Force Cadet Darin Fawcett has a family of several children and will earn his law degree. Or, Daniel Paul Erwin, who succeeded at ROTC, also earned a master's in molecular biology and Jennifer Kay Westberg, a master's in computer engineering.^Air Force Col. Yoshi Smith will administer the oath of office and present the color guard for his last time before retiring from a military career of 30 years. The colonel has served his last three years at UI and Washington State University. Major General T.C. Jones, director of plan and programs, will retire Col. Smith in a simple ceremony that afternoon. They both were stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane.^The following students have successfully completed ROTC at UI and will become:^Second Lieutenants, U.S. Army (Army Officer Education Program established 1893)^ Thomas Patrick Ambrosetti, Post Falls^ Bernard Francis Belloff, Idaho Falls^ John Michael Bergener, Idaho Falls^ Billy Bob Casiday III, Lewiston^ Matthew Paul Edwards, Spokane, Wash.^ Michael William Elfering, Moscow^ Daniel Paul Erwin, Spirit Lake^ Michael Anthony Farrell, Bainbridge, Wash.^ Micah Jon Helser, Salem, Ore.^ Christopher Daniel Lilley, Las Vegas, Nev.^ Melinda Lynne Musgrave, Kamiah^ Preston James Rutherford, Coeur d'Alene^ Thomas Ross Warren, Salem, Ore.^ Jennifer Kay Westberg, Willerine, Minn.^Ensigns, U.S. Naval Reserve (Officer Education Program established 1945)^ Nathan Vincent Beach, Coeur d'Alene^ Matthew George Dill, Maple Valley, Wash.^ Christopher Lloyd Johnson, Walla Walla, Wash.^ Mark Kazimierz Krozel, Phoenix, Ariz.^ Jesse Duane Lorenzen, Rapid City, S.D.^ Thomas Calvin Moore, Spokane, Wash.^ Clinton Emery Phillips, Ontario, Calif.^ Jason William Quay, Prescott, Ariz.^ Jacob Richard Turner, Billings, Mont.^ Michael Lamarr Windham, Manassas, Va.^Second-Lieutenants, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve^ Sarah Nell Conner, Roswell, N. M.^ Joshua Cliff Grimsley, Miami, Texas^ Nathan Michael Halpin, Boise^ Miguel Moreno, Newark, Calif.^ Daniel Douglas Pinkerton, Santa Paula, Calif.^ Stevan Douglas Reichert, Incline Village, Nev.^ Joe Allen Whitefield Jr., Colorado Springs, Colo.^Second Lieutenants, U.S. Air Force (Air Force Officer Education Program established in 1947)^ Darin Carl Fawcett, Bountiful, Utah^ Katherine Theresa Whitworth, Boise^ Tiffany Fae Broncheau, Post Falls^CONTACTS: UI Military Science programs: Army Lt. Col. Roger A. Arnzen, (208) 885-6528; Naval Capt. R. C. Plucker (208) 885-6333; Air Force Col. Yoshio Smith, (208) 885-6129, or Nancy Hilliard, University Communications, (208) 885-6567, hilliard@uidaho.edu^-30-^4/22/04-ROTC^^
About the University of Idaho
The University of Idaho helps students to succeed and become leaders. Its land-grant mission furthers innovative scholarly and creative research to grow Idaho's economy and serve a statewide community. From its main campus in Moscow, Idaho, to 70 research and academic locations statewide, U-Idaho emphasizes real-world application as part of its student experience. U-Idaho combines the strength of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. It is home to the Vandals. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu.