Last
week I attended the 42nd Annual President’s Review and Awards Ceremony
for the U.S. Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Monarch
Battalion at Old Dominion University. I’m proud to share that four
Virginia Wesleyan cadets—members of the Marlin Detachment—were
recognized with awards at this event.
Congratulations to
Virginia Wesleyan junior Jake Morgan, who received the ROTC Recognition
Award; sophomore Gavin Fry, who received the Sons of the American
Revolution Award, the award for Outstanding Virginia Wesleyan Cadet, and
the Iron Man Award; junior Joseph Fairbanks, who received the American
Legion Award and the Outstanding Basic Course Cadet Award; and junior
Rolanda Taylor, who received the award for Outstanding Varsity Athlete.
The Army ROTC Marlin Detachment
operates as part of ODU’s Monarch Battalion. Through an elective
curriculum, participating students receive valuable tools, training, and
leadership experiences that not only may lead to military service but
also become assets in any career. Students also have access to an ROTC
grant of $1,000 that can be applied to tuition during their
freshman and sophomore years.
Many thanks to Amy Rush, who has
served as the advisor to our ROTC students since 2012. It gives me great
pride to know that Virginia Wesleyan is providing a top-notch
experiential education through our affiliation with ROTC.
