Cameron University’s George D. Keathley Department of Military Science presented awards and scholarships to members of the Comanche Battalion, Cameron’s Army ROTC Unit, during a recent ceremony.
The Comanche Battalion annually recognizes cadets for meritorious performance in the areas of military science, academics, physical fitness, personal achievement and leadership. Awards are sponsored by the Department of the Army, national and local societies, organizations, businesses and private individuals.
Colton Miller received the Lawton/Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce and Industry Award, presented annually to an outstanding Senior Cadet who has greatly contributed to the missions of Cameron University and the George D. Keathley Department of Military Science through outstanding professionalism and dedication to duty.
The Association of the United States Army Award is presented to a third-year cadet who has demonstrated academic excellence and contributed to advancing the standards of the department of military science. The award was presented to Byron Farnsworth.
Martin Gonzales received the Military Order of the Purple Heart Leadership Medal Award, which recognizes a cadet who holds a leadership position within the Cadet Corps, attains at least a 3.0-grade point average in all subjects and is active in both university and community affairs.
The Daughters of the American Revolution Award was presented to Tila Durham. The award recognizes a fourth-year cadet who is in the top 25 percent of cadets in ROTC and academic subjects and who demonstrates loyalty, patriotism, dependability, good character, military discipline, and leadership ability.
The Southwest Oklahoma chapter of the Military Officers’ Association of America Leadership Award, recognizing an outstanding third-year cadet who demonstrates exceptional potential for military leadership, was presented to Robyn Brown.
The Southwest Oklahoma chapter of the Military Officers’ Association of America Award was presented to Raymond DePhillips. The award recognizes a third-year cadet who shows exceptional potential for military leadership.
Xavier Davidson received the 2nd Lt. Tobias Alexander Scholarship. It is awarded to a full-time cadet who demonstrates superior leadership potential and maintains a 3.0 GPA or higher.
The Military Order of the World Wars Award, which recognizes cadets who intend to continue with the ROTC program with the intention of becoming officers, was presented to Jacob Pier, Jeran Rivera and Thomas Wade.
The Reserve Officer’s Organization of America Award is presented to cadets who demonstrate outstanding competence in the Arts and Sciences of National Defense. This year’s recipients are Benjamin Janoe, William Kane and Earnest Watson.
The Sons of the American Revolution Award was presented to Warren Jones. The award recognizes a cadet who demonstrates a high degree of merit with respect to leadership qualities, military bearing and excellence in ROTC studies and activities.
The United Services Automobile Association Spirit Award was presented to Dalton Peak. The award honors a third-year cadet who best displays the traits and characteristics that embody the spirit of service to others.
Trystian Thompson received the Special Forces Association Award of Excellence, presented to a cadet who distinguishes himself or herself in scholastic excellence and military proficiency, in keeping with the traditions and ideals of the U.S. Army Special Forces.
Raymond DePhillips was presented with the Oklahoma All Airborne Chapter Award, which recognizes the cadet who is in good academic standing and who demonstrates high moral character.
The American Legion Scholastic Excellence Award, presented to cadets who have demonstrated outstanding qualities of academic excellence, was bestowed upon Maximiliano Espinoza and Colton Miller.
Joshua Tripp and Earnest Watson received the American Legion General Military Excellence Award, presented to cadets who have demonstrated outstanding qualities in military leadership, discipline, character and citizenship.
The Bill and Betty Burgess Memorial Endowed Scholarship is awarded to a descendant of an NCO or currently served in the U.S. Armed Forces as an NCO or has indicated an intent to join the U.S. military by being a member of the CU ROTC program and possess a GPA of 3.0 This year’s recipient is Preston Drain.
Jeran Rivera received the LTC John Powell and Korya James Award Endowment Scholarship, presented to a cadet who graduated from Lawton High School, who demonstrates exceptional leadership qualities and maintains a GPA of 3.5.
Recipients of the Arch Lorentzen Grant were Dalton Peak and Brooke Wilhelm. The award is made possibly by the Archie and Sue Lorentzen Educational Endowment Fund at the Air Warrior Courage Foundation and recognizes academic excellence.
Ian Surrency and Shinta Brown received the E. Virginia Charlson Memorial Endowed Scholarship, which is presented to cadets who are pursuing a business degree and have a GPA of 2.75 or higher.
The B. Charles and LaDonna Spradlin Endowed Scholarship in Business, awarded to business majors, was presented to Trystian Thompson and Cadyn Young.
Colton Miller received the Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Randall L. and Carol A. Rigby Endowed Scholarship in Military Science, which is awarded to a full-time CU student who demonstrates an intent to join CU’s Army ROTC program in pursuit of an officer’s commission.
Dalton Peak and Chloe Lowe were honored with the Professor of Military Science Physical Fitness Cadet Award. It is presented to the male and female cadets who achieve the highest score on the Record Army Combat Fitness Test.
The Comanche Warrior Award, presented to the cadet who demonstrates excellence in motivation and commitment to the Comanche Battalion, went to Raymond DePhillips, Byron Farnsworth, Alex Heidlbrecht, Dalton Peak, Jeran Rivera and Joshua Tripp.
The Virginia K. and Robert L. Janda Scholarship is awarded to a cadet who demonstrates superior leadership potential and maintains at least a 3.0 GPA. Xavier Davidson received the scholarship.
The VFW Post 5263 Award was presented to Matthew Vasquez. The award recognizes an outstanding cadet who is studying military science, plans to serve in the military and maintains at least a 3.0 GPA.
The KCA Veterans Award is presented to an outstanding cadet who excels academically and who demonstrates military leadership and strong officer potential. It was awarded to Colton Miller.
The Cameron University George D. Keathley Department of Military Science Cadet of the Semester Award was presented to Thor Baima, Raymond DePhillips, Alex Heidebrecht and Colton Miller for demonstrating excellence, leadership and academic success in the Comanche Battalion.
Thor Baima, Raymond DePhillips, Alex Heidebrecht and Colton Miller were honored with the Superior Cadet Award, which is presented annually to an outstanding cadet who is in the upper 25% of the academic and ROTC, who shows military leadership and who demonstrates strong officer potential.
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STUDENTS LISTED BY HOMETOWN:
Bostic, N.C.: Jacob Pier
Elgin: Raymond DePhillips
Faxon: Warren Jones
Lawton/Fort Sill: Robyn Brown, Shinta Brown, Xavier Davidson, Maximiliano Espinoza, Byron Farnsworth, Preston Drain, Tila Durham, Martin Gonzalez, Alex Heidebrecht, William Kane, Chloe Lowe, Dalton Peak, Jeran Rivera, Ian Surrency, Thomas Wade, Brooke Wilhelm
Marlow: Thor Baima
Medicine Park: Trystian Thompson
Rattan: Benjamin Janoe
Yukon: Earnest Watson
PR#25-046
