News

Hometown Hero: AJ Florkowski

AJ graduated from Pennridge High School, excelling in soccer and playing on the U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team and was also recognized as a Parade All-American after his senior year of high school.

Stalwart Battalion Cadets Dominate Summer Training, Earn Top National Ranks

From a 4th-place fitness finish to five Recondo Badges, Syracuse’s Army ROTC program had a breakout summer.

Cadet Orrin Price and a soldier shaking hands.
Cadet Orrin Price, right. a soldier in the Vermont National Guard and undergraduate with the Falk College of Sport, earned the Governor’s Twenty tab after placing in the top 20% of shooters during the annual marksmanship competition.

The cadets and cadre of Syracuse University’s Army ROTC program are celebrating a summer of high-performance and accomplishments as the new semester kicks off.

Cadets attending different phases of Cadet Summer Training (CST) earned high distinctions at the individual level and as a unit, ultimately achieving 4th place on Army Fitness Test scores among 227 ROTC programs nationwide. On the individual level, six Syracuse cadets finished in the top 5% nationally, another seven in the top 15%, and 15 more in the top 50%.

“These results are a testament to the quality of our cadets, the work of our cadre and staff, and the tremendous support the University provides our program. The University’s investment is directly contributing to the development of some of the highest-performing future Army officers in the nation,” says U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jared Larpenteur, professor of military science and senior officer of the Stalwart Battalion. “We are extremely proud of what these cadets accomplished this summer and look forward to building on that momentum during the academic year.”

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Hometown Hero – Scott Wegener

United States Army Sergeant First Class (SFC) Scott Wegener was born in Lexington, Missouri, and he enlisted in the Army in July 2009. He completed Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and the 44 Charlie, Financial Management Technician course which is known today as the 36 Bravo Finance and Comptroller.  

SFC Wegener’s first duty assignment was as a Pay Technician with the 125th Financial Management Support Unit (FMSU) at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii from 2010 to 2013. In 2010, he deployed to Kirkuk Airbase, Iraq “FOB Warrior,” conducting disbursing operations and deployed again in 2012 to Kandahar, Afghanistan as the Command Group Aide for the 45th Special Troops Battalion. SFC Wegener’s next assignment was to the 176th Financial Management Company in Camp Humphreys, Korea where he worked in Customer Service, Debt Management, and as the Special Actions Non-Commissioned Officer (NCOIC).

From 2014-2016, he was assigned to the 230th Financial Management Detachment, serving in multiple roles as the Customer Service Section NCOIC, Squad Leader, and Operations NCOIC. Next, SFC Wegener was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina from 2016-2019, serving as the Senior Financial Management Analyst for the United States Army Security Assistance Training Management Organization (USA-SATMO). He moved to Korea a second time from 2019-2020, assigned to the 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command (ESC) as the as the NCOIC and Senior Budget Analyst for 19th ESC G8.

After his tour in Korea, SFC Wegener was assigned to Fort Jackson South Carolina where he worked in the Soldier Support Institute (SSI) as a Writer/Developer for the Finance and Comptroller School (FCS), writing for Advanced Individual Training (AIT) and Senior Leaders Course (SLC). He later served as the Small Group Leader (SGL) for the 36B Senior Leader Course with the additional duty as the 369th Adjutant General Battalion Equal Opportunity Leader. Most recently, SFC Wegener was assigned to 15th Corps Finance Battalion at Fort Hood, Texas where he served as the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment Sergeant and later the First Sergeant for the Headquarters and Headquarters Company.

Today, SFC Wegener is currently attending Syracuse University’s prestigious Defense Comptrollership Program, pursuing a dual masters at the Whitman School of Management for his MBA and Maxwell School for his Executive MPA.

Military hike with scott wegener
Scott Wegener in military uniform
Scott wegener by military vehicle

Syracuse University Remembers: 25 Years After 9/11

Campus community to honor victims and first responders with remembrance events, including an interfaith memorial service at Hendricks Chapel.

The Syracuse University community is coming together this week to mark 25 years since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Special events will honor those who lost their lives and recognize the sacrifices of our nation’s first responders and military-connected members who showed extraordinary courage in the face of unimaginable tragedy.

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, attacks at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and aboard United Airlines Flight 93 killed 2,977 people, including 30 Syracuse University alumni.

In observance of the day, Hendricks Chapel and the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA) are holding a memorial service starting at 8:46 a.m., the same time when hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the World Trade Center’s North Tower.

At precisely 8:46 a.m., there will be a moment of silence in the chapel, followed by a chime ringing 25 times in honor of those who died that day. At the conclusion of the service, 25 candles will be lit to remember the victims.

Here’s a complete rundown of the events happening on campus:

  • Sept. 11: Hendricks Chapel 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony, an interfaith memorial service, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. The event will be livestreamed and will include remarks from several of the chapel’s chaplains and performances from the Syracuse University Brass Ensemble and José “Peppie” Calvar, director of the Hendricks Chapel Choir and professor and assistant director of choral activities at the Setnor School of Music.
  • Sept. 11: Syracuse University Ambulance 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb and Walk, JMA Wireless Dome. Registration starts at 8 a.m., followed by an opening ceremony at 8:30 a.m. The climb starts at 8:46 a.m. and ends at noon.
    • Note: the Hendricks Remembrance Ceremony and the Syracuse University Ambulance Stair Climb and Walk will happen simultaneously starting at 8:46 a.m.

Hometown Hero: Varun Gollapudi

United States Army Staff Sergeant and Syracuse University Student Veteran Organization President, Varun Gollapudi was born and raised in San Jose, California.

Meet Syracuse Army ROTC’s New Commander

Lt. Col. Jared Larpenteur brings 19 years of Army leadership—and a personal affinity for Central and Northern New York— to his new role as professor of military science.

NVRC Hall of Honor Walk: Analice Baker

U.S. Navy Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class (MC2) Analice Baker’s military lineage runs deep in her family. Raised in Red Bank, New Jersey by a U.S. Army Airborne Ranger and a mother whose talents matched her intelligence, she grew up surrounded by family members who collectively spent decades in uniform. After four years in Army Junior ROTC at Buena High School in Sierra Vista, Arizona, MC2 Baker earned a degree in Design Management from Arizona State University before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 2021.

MC2 Baker completed U.S. Navy boot camp at Recruit Training Command (RTC), Great Lakes, Illinois. As a Mass Communication Specialist trained at the Defense Information School (DINFOS) in Fort Meade, Maryland, MC2 Baker joined the media department aboard the USS Carl Vinson, known as “America’s Favorite Carrier,” located at North Island, San Diego, California. On the Vinson, she led the photo department while managing print operations and heading the magazine team. MC2 Baker sailed with Carrier Strike Group ONE during Exercise Pacific Stellar and deployed as a part of Operation Rough Rider, earning two Navy Achievement Medals, and a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. In 2025, she re-enlisted aboard the same carrier for a second contract, becoming a career, Sailor.