ROTC awards more than $500,000 in scholarships
CHADRON – The Chadron State College Army ROTC program is growing in numbers and in scholarships. Since August 2016, 11 new cadets have been contracted and more than $500,000 in scholarships have been awarded from Cadet Command at Fort Knox, Kentucky, according to Capt. Nate Reicks, assistant professor of Military Science.
Five additional students are in the contracting process and six incoming students will begin the scholarship process in the fall. The two to four year scholarships range from $30,000 to $60,000 each.
The 2016-17 CSC ROTC scholarship recipients are Connor Besse of Denver, Colo., Carlos Calle of Groveland, Fla., Calvin DePriest of Omaha, Neb., Aaron Jones of Custer, S.D., Konery Klueber of Box Elder, S.D. Derek Lothspeich, Kalli Talbot, and Chase Thurness of Rapid City, S.D., Greg McCallum of Chadron, Skyler Sandoe of Medicine Valley, Neb., and Sam Vanderheiden of Norfolk, Neb.
This summer, several Chadron State cadets are preparing for mandatory and voluntary training.
“These events help cadets gain knowledge, experience, and leadership skills essential of Army officers,” Reicks said.
Cadets between their sophomore and junior years will attend Basic Camp, while those between junior and senior years will attend Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Volunteer training can vary from studying abroad, learning a foreign language, airborne or air assault school, and Cadet Troop Leader Training (CTLT).
“CTLT allows students to shadow an Active Duty officer and gain valuable insight on day to day operations as well as learn technical knowledge,” Reicks said.
Chadron State cadets’ summer training plans include: Connor Besse traveling to Ft. Hood, Texas to shadow an artillery officer, Justyn Curtis traveling to Ft. Bragg, N.C. to shadow an infantry officer, Sam Vanderheiden traveling to Ft. Carson, Colo. to shadow a field artillery officer, Jerrick Bowers, a pre-med student, traveling to the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center in Edgewood, Md. for a medical research internship, and Mitchell Parish traveling to Ft. Benning, Ga. for Airborne School.
Reicks said selected cadets will also gain regional recognition through events like Buddy Ranger at Kansas University and other competitions in Camp Ripley, Minnesota.
During the 2017-18 academic year, Reicks said plans are being made to send students to the Army Ten-Miler Race in Washington D.C., the Norwegian Foot March at University of Southern Indiana, and possibly the 26.2 mile Bataan Death March at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
Category: Campus News, Military Science Leadership