UC Air Force and Army ROTC Announce Spring Commissioning Ceremonies

The University of Cincinnati Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) will hold a commissioning ceremony for its spring graduates at 11 a.m., Friday, April 25, in the Great Hall of Tangeman University Center (TUC). The UC Air Force ROTC commissioning ceremony will be held at 1 p.m., Sunday, April 27, in the Great Hall of TUC.

The ceremony is held for ROTC cadets who address the high standards to be appointed a second lieutenant, including meeting the requirements of their degree program, their officer leadership training, medical qualifications and physical fitness.

During this solemn ceremony, the new officers traditionally receive their first salute in recognition of the authority of their office as bestowed by the U.S. president.

The following ROTC Army cadets will be commissioned as second lieutenants in the April 25 ceremony:

Regina Adams

– Adams was born in St. Louis and graduated from North Technical High School. She is graduating from the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH) with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. She will commission as an ordnance officer in the Ohio Army National Guard.

Jonathan Bourquin

– Bourquin is from Dayton, Ohio, and is a graduate of Carroll High School. He will graduate cum laude from the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He will commission as a field artillery officer in the Active Duty Army.

John Bovenzi

– Bovenzi is from Jackson Township, Ohio, and is a graduate of Mason High School. He is graduating from UC this spring with a bachelor’s degree in biology (A&S). He will commission as an Aviation Officer, flying Blackhawks in the U.S. Army Reserves. He will be stationed at the 8th/229th Aviation, stationed at Ft. Knox, Ky.

Christian “CJ” Eicher

– Eicher is from Roseville, Calif., and is a graduate of Olentangy High School. The UC Kolodzik Business Scholar is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in finance and a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the Carl H. Lindner College of Business (LCOB). He will commission in the Quartermaster Corps and will start his career as the platoon leader of a distribution platoon in the Ohio National Guard.

Shelby Goodin

– Goodin was born in Cincinnati and graduated from Clinton-Massie High School. She is graduating from UC magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the UC College of Nursing. She will commission as a nurse in the Active Duty Army.

Marissa Gracia

– Gracia was born in Los Angeles and is a graduate of Wayne High School. She will graduate from UC magna cum laude this spring with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Gracia will commission as a nurse in the Active Duty Army.

Seth Heeter

– Heeter is from Brookville, Ohio, and is a graduate of Brookville High School. He will graduate from UC with a bachelor’s degree in health sciences from the College of Allied Health and Sciences (CAHS). Heeter will commission into active duty as a Medical Service Officer and intends to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy.

Kelsea Killin

– Killin was born in Dayton and grew up in Enon, Ohio, and is a graduate of Greenon High School in Enon, Ohio. She will graduate from UC summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in health sciences (CAHS). She is a recipient of the Army’s Health Professions Scholarship and will begin medical school classes at Ohio University’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine this summer. After graduating medical school, she will serve as a U.S. Army doctor on active duty.

Elija “Toby” Ladipo

– Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, Ladipo was raised in Columbus, Ohio. He is graduating with bachelor’s degrees in psychology (A&S) and criminal justice (CECH). He will commission into the U.S. Army Reserves as a Signal Officer. His sister, Sarah, also is a cadet in UC’s ROTC Bearcat Battalion.

Mitchell Moser

– Moser is a graduate from Oak Hills High School and graduates from UC with a bachelor’s degree in finance (LCOB). He will commission as an Engineer Platoon Leader in the U.S. Army Reserve and will be part of the 979th Engineer Company, located in Lexington, Ky.

Khoa Nguyen

– Nguyen was born in Warner Robins, Ga., and is a graduate of Middletown Christian School. Nguyen will graduate from UC with a bachelor’s degree in operations management (LCOB). Khoa commissions as an Aviation Officer in the U.S. Army Reserves, and will be stationed with the 8th/229th Aviation in Ft. Knox, Ky.

John O’Neill

– O’Neill was born in Washington, D.C., and is a graduate of H.B. Woodlawn High School in Arlington, Va. He graduates cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice (CECH). O’Neill will commission as an Active Duty Infantry Officer.

Jacob Saint-Blancard

– Saint-Blancard was born in Bloomington, Ind., and is a graduate of Heritage Academy. He is graduating summa cum laude from UC with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish (A&S).He commissions as an Aviation Officer in the Active Duty Army.

Ryan Saint-Blancard

– Saint-Blancard was born in Kankakee, Ill., and is a graduate of Heritage Academy. He is graduating from UC with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish (A&S), a minor in organizational leadership, as well as a Spanish business certificate. He commissions as an Ordnance Officer in the Active Duty Army.

Nathan Schoonmaker

– Schoonmaker was born in Camp Springs, Md., and graduated from Chillicothe High School. He graduates cum laude from UC with a bachelor’s degree in biology (A&S). He will commission as a Field Artillery Officer with the Active Duty Army.

Jamme Schott

– Schott is a graduate of Anderson High School in Cincinnati and is graduating from UC with bachelor’s degrees in communication (A&S) and criminal justice (CECH). Schott commissions as an Infantry Officer in the Active Duty Army.

Justin Valentine

– Valentine was born in Dayton, Ohio, and is a graduate of Brookville High School. He is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice (CECH). He will commission as a Signal Officer in the National Guard and will be stationed with the 638th Support Battalion in Anderson, Ind.

The following Air Force ROTC cadets will be commissioned as second lieutenants in the April 27 ceremony:

Benjamin C. Blaney

– Blaney is from Newark, Ohio, and is earning a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS). His assignment will send him to Laughlin Air Force Base near Del Rio, Texas.

Nicklas A. Castle

– Castle is from Lancaster, Ohio, and is earning a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering (CEAS). His assignment will take him to Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas.

Matthew T. Izumi

– Izumi is from Mason, Ohio, and is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice (CECH). He is assigned to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.

Brandon R. Lieber

– Lieber is from Norwalk, Ohio, and is earning a bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering (CEAS). He has been assigned to Patrick Air Force Base in Florida.

Andrew J. Ly

– Ly is from Norwood, Ohio, and is earning a bachelor’s degree in health promotion exercise and fitness (CECH). He is assigned to Dyess Air Force Base in Texas.

Brenton A. Norden

– Norden is from Enon, Ohio, and is earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology (A&S). He is assigned to Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado.

Allison W. Rayome

– Rayome is from Turpin Hills (Cincinnati) and is graduating from A&S with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. She is assigned to Scott Air Force Base in Illinois.

Susan E. Stein

– Stein is from Louisville, Ky., and is graduating from CEAS with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering. She is assigned to Vance Air Force Base near Enid, Okla.

Michael J. Vollmer

– Vollmer is from Xenia, Ohio, and is graduating from CECH with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He is assigned to Fort Drum military reserve in Jefferson County, N.Y.

Seth Westfall

– Westfall is from Boardman, Ohio, and is graduating from CEAS with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering. He is assigned to Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas.

Anna Zmood

– Zmood is from Mason, Ohio, and is graduating from A&S with a bachelor’s degree in international affairs. She is assigned to Goodfellow Air Force Base in Texas.

• See: UC Readies for Record-Setting Commencement