Widener University Dauntless Battalion commissions 14 ROTC cadets
CHESTER >> The Widener University Dauntless Battalion, Sunday afternoon, commissioned 14 ROTC cadets from Villanova, West Chester and Widener universities as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army.
Widener serves as the host institution for ROTC activity at the Abington and Brandywine campuses of Penn State, Cheyney, Immaculata, Neumann, Villanova and West Chester universities. These partnerships help make Widener’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program one of the largest in the region, with more than 100 active cadets this academic year.
Following the National Anthem and “The Soldier’s Creed,” Lt. Colonel Justin Shaffer, professor of military science, introduced keynote speaker, Brigadier General John R. Evans Jr.
Evans received his Army commission in 1988 as a distinguished military graduate from Appalachian State University.
Throughout his career, commendations and promotions were plentiful. Evans served three tours of duty with the 160 Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne). He served as deputy commanding officer of the Combined Special Operations Component Command – Afghanistan, and Chief of Staff of the Army Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institute in Washington, DC, among others,
His military awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star with three oak leaf clusters, Combat Action Badge, Master Aviator Badge, aster Parachutist Badge and Air Assault Badge, among others.
“From this day forward, for the rest of your Army careers, be it four years or forty, I will counsel you this above all else,” Evans said. “Seek humility. It is a path consisting of integrity. Immediately upon your commissioning your world will change. In the blink of an eye and the pinning of your lieutenant bars you will go from college student to Army leader. The minute after you pin your rank on, you will outrank 80 percent of the Army ... you will serve many presidents and many officers, but remember, your duty is to the United States Constitution. And through that document and the principles on which it was drafted, the people of the United States of America.”
Following the oath of office and pinning of rank, the Saber Award was presented to 2nd Lt. Samantha DeCapua.
The 14 cadets who were commissioned during the ceremony are: Samantha DeCapua (Widener); Anneliese Deussing (Widener); Meaghan Fabian (Villanova); Daniel Graham (Widener); Tyler Huhn (West Chester); Peter Lithen (Villanova); Michael McCormick (West Chester); Bradley Pointer Jr. (West Chester); Katelyn Reed (Widener); Jordon Saufley (Widener); David Shulz (Villanova); Sean Slusar (Widener); Haley Specht (Villanova); and Tamiya Wilfong (Widener).