During the 107th Chancellor’s Review this year, more than 70 scholarships were presented to cadets from the University’s two Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs. Cadets from the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force ROTC programs were acknowledged by more than 23 scholarship programs made available by supporting organizations as well as the generosity of esteemed supporters of the University’s military-connected initiatives.
From left to right, U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Michael Skarda, Chancellor Kent Syverud and U.S. Army Lt. Col. Matthew Coyne at the 107th Chancellor’s Review and Awards Ceremony.
U.S. Army ROTC Cadet Luke Bonenberger, a senior in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, and U.S. Air Force ROTC Cadet Emily Weaver, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, were both recognized with the top honors of the Harvey S. Smith Memorial Award for placing in the top 10 percent of their class and upper 25 percent of their school’s class ranking.
“It’s really awesome because it’s the full four years coming full circle. When you’re a freshman, looking up to the seniors, you hope to walk across the line one day hoping to be a distinguished military graduate,” says Bonenberger, who will be commissioned as a U.S. Army second lieutenant in the infantry in May. “It’s everything coming full circle and paying off for four years of hard work. It’s a great opportunity to be recognized and I really appreciate it a lot.”
Weaver, who will also be commissioned in May, will serve as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force after graduating. Weaver was also awarded the ROTC Cadet Endowed Scholarship, the American Legion William P. Tolley Scholastic Excellence Award and the Professor of Aerospace Studies Scholastic Achievement Award.
“It is an honor to be a recipient of the Cadet Endowed Scholarship. Receiving this award is a testament to the kind of support we have as cadets at Syracuse University,” Weaver says. “The generosity of awards such as this scholarship exemplifies the ways in which Syracuse University and its generous donors appreciate and reward military-connected students for the work we do both in and out of uniform.”
Cadets from both the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force ROTC were awarded the Dottle Family ROTC Scholarship, as well as the ROTC Cadet Endowed Scholarship, both made available through the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA) thanks to the philanthropy of supporters for the University’s military-connected initiatives.
The Dottle Family ROTC Scholarship, established by Paul Dottle and Valerie E. Dottle and their family, was awarded to eight cadets this year. The award was presented by Paul Dottle during the Chancellor’s Review to deserving future leaders in the University’s Army and Air Force ROTC programs in recognition of their hard work, dedication and commitment to service.
The eight recipients are: Isabella Gardea ’27, James Hrdy ’25, Byron Levi ’25, Bradley Miller ’25, Aizhan Moore ’25 Alejandro Parra ’24, Gabrielle Tetreault ’26 and Jose Venegas ’24.
The ROTC Cadet Endowed Scholarship, established in 2013 by retired U.S. Air Force Col. John L. Litzenberger ’72 and Barbara H. Litzenberger ’71, was presented to two ROTC cadets this year by John Litzenberger during the Chancellor’s Review. The scholarship is awarded each year to a deserving junior or senior ROTC cadet who is contractually committed to serving in the U.S. Army or U.S. Air Force. The two recipients this year are Giovanna Barsalona ’24 and Emily Weaver ’24.