The 132^nd Corps of Cadets Have Been Dismissed

Lexington, MO- “Think outside the margins to be successful,” stressed the Honorable Emanuel Cleaver on Saturday as he addressed high school and college graduates, newly commissioned officers, friends, family, faculty and staff of Wentworth Military Academy and College.

Emanuel Cleaver II is now serving his fourth term representing Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, the home district of President Harry S. Truman.  The Fifth District will include Lafayette County beginning in 2013.  Representative Cleaver was eloquently introduced by his former colleague and Wentworth alumnus, Congressman Ike Skelton.

Congressman Skelton spoke of his close friendship with Congressman Cleaver and his family before inviting him to the podium to give his commencement address to the crowd of over 500 in attendance.  “I always enjoy introducing a friend to a friend,” said Wentworth Alumnus, Congressman Ike Skelton. “He is great friend, not just to me, but to my family.” He described Representative Cleaver as caring and a great public servant.

Cleaver captured the audience’s attention with humor, charm, and emphasis, as he told personal stories of how his “thinking outside the margins” helped him to find success.

“Because I couldn’t stay inside the margins, I considered dropping out of school,” said the Honorable Cleaver. He then finished the sentence after a long pause, “…in the first grade!”

Cleaver went on to list many successful and famous people who found their success by “thinking outside the margins” or “thinking outside the box.”  The list included former Representative Ike Skelton, Harry S. Truman, Martin Luther King, and many others.

Diplomas were presented by Colonels William W. Sellers and Mike Lierman to 26 high school cadets and 42 college cadets and traditional college students.

Following the presentation of diplomas, Lieutenant Colonel Darren Fitz Gerald began the Commissioning Ceremony, in which 11 Wentworth college sophomores were commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the United States Army.  LTC Fitz Gerald spoke to the audience about the “Oath of Office” and what it means in detail. The speech was the final one for LTC Fitz Gerald who will be retiring as an Army Officer this summer and will become a full-time senior staff member of Wentworth Military Academy and College.

Among those commissioned were:

2LT Amber Aubertin of Ripon, California, will serve as a Transportation officer in the Kansas National Guard, and will attend UMKC, where she will study toward a Pharmacy degree.

2LT Michael R. Blackmon of Dallas, Texas, will serve as a Field Artillery officer in the Louisiana National Guard.  He will attend the University of Louisiana where he will study toward a Bachelor's Degree in History.

2LT Jacob D. Carlson of Ripon, California, will serve as an Engineer Officer in the Oklahoma National Guard.  He will attend Oklahoma State University, where he will study toward a Bachelor's Degree in Fire Science Safety & Protection Engineering Technology.

2LT Caitlan C. Colbert of West Plains, Missouri, will serve as an Adjutant General Officer in the Louisiana National Guard.  She will attend University of Louisiana-Lafayette where she will study toward a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology.

2LT Steven D. Heitmeyer of Andover, Kansas, will serve as an Ordnance officer in the Kansas National Guard.  He will attend Kansas State University where he will study toward a Bachelor's Degree in Management and Information Systems.

2LT Anthony G. Henely of Herington, Kansas, will serve as a Field Artillery Officer in the Kansas National Guard.  He will attend the University of Central Missouri where he will study toward a Bachelor's Degree in Pre-Physical and Pre-Occupational Therapy.

2LT Lucas V. Hobbs of Ripon California, will serve as a Military Police Officer in the California National Guard. He will attend California State University of Sacramento where he will study toward a Bachelor's Degree in Business.

2LT Jacqueline Keener of Faga'alu American Samoa, will serve as a Quartermaster officer with the Louisiana National Guard. She will attend Louisiana State University and study towards a Bachelor's Degree in the physician's assistant program.

2LT John Ramos of Tinian, Northern Mariana Islands, will serve as a Field Artillery Officer in the Louisiana National Guard. He will attend Louisiana State University where he will study toward a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering. 

2LT Daniel Razumovsky of Sacramento, California, will serve as a Chemical Officer in the Louisiana National Guard.  He will attend University of Louisiana at Lafayette where he will study toward a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice.

2LT Zane Westfall of St. Charles, Missouri, will serve as a Field Artillery Officer in the Kansas National Guard.  He will attend UMKC, where he will study toward a degree in History.

During the Commencement Weekend, a number of students and faculty members were recognized for their achievements.  Among the top awards given out were:

The Ike Skelton “Achieve the Honorable Award for the top all-around college cadet: Cadet Major Andrea Willis, of Paducah, Kentucky.

The Ted Messmore Honor Graduate for the college cadet who excels academically and in all facets of cadet life: Cadet Lieutenant Colonel John Ramos, of Tinian, Northern Marianne Islands.

The Jack Burr Award for loyalty, leadership and service: Cadet Major Steven Heitmeyer, of Andover, Kansas.

The James McBrayer Sellers Award for exemplary character, leadership and love for Wentworth: Cadet Command Sergeant Major Ethan Hannah, of Bentonville, Arkansas.

The Major General John Little Valedictorian Award for the top ranked cadet in High School academics: Cadet Staff Sergeant Payton Dobson, of Lawson.

The Ralph Conger Award for Sportsmanship: Cadet Command Sergeant Major Ethan Hannah, of Bentonville, Arkansas.

Wentworth President COL Bill Sellers presented the President’s Award to Captain Connie Green, Wentworth’s College English teacher who recently announced her retirement after a 45 year teaching career.  The Steve Oliver Family Faculty and Assistant Commandant Awards were given to Captain Linda Christianson and Chief Ed Stryker.  The Employee of the Year Awards were presented to Executive Assistant Becky Markley (staff) and Capt. Marjorie Griffin (faculty).

The Wentworth Commencement Exercises concluded with the traditional Flag Ceremony, in which all graduates kissed the United States flag while Auld Lang Syne was played by the marching band.  Once that ceremony was completed, Cadet Battalion Commander LTC John Ramos dismissed the 132^nd Corps of Cadets, the cadets tossed their hats in the air, and the school year reached its official end.

Wentworth, one of the oldest two-year colleges west of the Mississippi, was founded in 1880, and offers high school graduates the same courses in liberal arts and science that are available in the leading universities and colleges throughout the United States.  Wentworth Military College is a private, co-educational boarding and non-boarding two- year college.  A small group of students are additionally enrolled in a highly regarded United States Army ROTC Early Commissioning program at Wentworth.  Wentworth is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

The Major General John H. Little, Salutatorian Award

This award was established in May 2007 and is presented annually by Wentworth Military Academy in honor of Major Genneral John Little, Superintendent & President from 2002-2007.

The award is presented to the high school senior ranking 2nd in their graduating class. It respresents the outstanding dedication that Maj. Gen. Little dedicated to academic excellence and to the Academy's mission.

This year the Maj. Gen. John H. Little Salutatorian award was presented to Cadet Command Sergeant Major Ethan Hannah of Bentonville, Arkansas.

Cadet's Father Skyped in from Afghanistan to view son's Commissioning

On Friday afternoon, May 18th at Wentworth Military Junior College, Cadet Anthony Henely was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.  Officer commissioning ceremonies are fairly common at Wentworth, as they occur in May and December of every year, but this one was special.

Cadet Henely's father, Ronald, is a Major in the U.S. Army stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas and he deployed to Afghanistan in April of this year.  He was able to be part of the commissioning ceremony thanks to a live webcam connection to Afghanistan.  The time difference was close to 11 hours, meaning MAJ Henely had to get up around 2 AM to be part of the ceremony--but you could tell from the expression on his face he was more than happy to do it!  

Over 30 friends, family members, and staff and faculty filled the room for 2LT Henely's commission.  LTC Fitz Gerald administered the commissioning oath, while 2LT Henely's mother, Denise, and girlfriend, Aly Dunlap, pinned on his lieutenant shoulder boards.  CSM Frank Magana then presented the newly commissioned lieutenant with his first official salute.

Wentworth SROTC Cadets Visit Africa

The Cultural Understanding and Language Proficiency (CULP) Program is a foreign study program available to Cadets enrolled in Army ROTC.  Every year hundreds of Cadets travel the globe, spending up to three weeks immersed in foreign cultures, learning more about how other others around the world view the U.S. and, in the process, learning more about themselves.

The Army has recognized the need for young leaders to develop more cultural awareness and foreign language proficiency skills. Now more than ever, cultural awareness training is a vital component to the ROTC curriculum. Overseas immersion programs help educate future leaders in ways the classroom cannot.  This program exposes Cadets to everyday life in different cultures and intensifies language study, which helps produce commissioned officers who possess the right blend of language and cultural skills required to support global operations in the 21st Century.

This summer four Wentworth Cadets are participating in the CULP Program.  They will be traveling to the following African countries--Cadets Max Schneider and Jordan Spence: Tanzania, Cadet David Sun: Ghana, and Cadet Ryne Relford: Burkina Faso. 

Wentworth Sponsors Local Youth Soccer Team

Lexington United is a U12 co-ed soccer team participating in parks & recreation soccer with teams from Concordia, Richmond, Odessa, and Lexington.

The team is coached by Darren Fitz Gerald, who serves as the Professor of Military Science in Wentworth's Army ROTC Program.  This is his third season coaching youth soccer here in Lexington and all but two of the players on this season's team have played for him before.  

When the team learned of the Wentworth sponsorship for this season they asked for all black uniforms to mimic the away jerseys worn by the Wentworth mens college soccer team--whose games many of the Lexington United players attended last fall.

The team has enjoyed some success thus far, posting records of 6-0-3 (W-D-L), 4-0-2, and 4-1-1 since the spring of 2010.  This past spring their only loss was to Concordia 2-4 on the very first day of the season.  They went on to defeat two teams from Odessa 5-3 and 2-0, and split games with the two teams from Richmond, drawing 3-3 against one and winning 7-1 against the other.  By far their most exciting game this season was the "Battle of Lexington" played on April 30th, where they defeated their in-town rival 2-1 on a last-second penalty kick.

The players are looking forward to an increased level of competition in the coming fall soccer season, where they will move up to the U14 division.

UCM President Visits Wentworth Campus

Wentworth President Bill Sellers and Central

Missouri President ChuckAmbrose stand in front of a

1909 broadside advertising the 1909

football game between Wentworth and

"Warrensburg State Normal College," which

 later became the University of Central Missouri.

Dr. Chuck Ambrose, President of the University of Central Missouri, visited campus today.  Dr. Ambrose had lunch with the cadet corps, and was able to visit with a few future UCM students.  A large percentage of Wentworth's college cadets and traditional students continue their education at UCM.

Dr. Ambrose and Wentworth President COL Bill Sellers discussed expanding their already existing partnerships between the two schools.

 Wentworth currently has a "2+2" partnership with UCM.  This is a unique, four-year ROTC scholarship broken into two separate parts.

Recipients attend their freshman and sophomore years at Wentworth, where they will earn an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science Degree and complete the first two years of the commissioning program.

They may then transfer to UCM to complete their 4 year degree and the final two years of their commissioning program. Successful completion of the 2+2 Scholarship Program culminates with a bachelor's degree and a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army.

Wentworth also has formal articulation agreements with UCM, including Wentworth's new Homeland Security program, that allows for ease of transfer of credits from one institution to the other.

President Sellers anticipates further partnerships between the two schools, stating "UCM has always been a valued partner for Wentworth.

More of our students continue their education at UCM than any other four-year college.  Under President Ambrose's leadership, UCM has many exciting educational opportunities, and Wentworth looks forward to an even stronger relationship with UCM in the future."

Congressman Ike Skelton Receives Harry S. Truman Good Neighbor Award

In front of over 500 people in a downtown Kansas City on Tuesday afternoon, Congressman Isaac Newton "Ike" Skelton was awarded the Harry S. Truman Good Neighbor Award.

Congressman Skelton joins a prestigious list of award recipients to be named to the Good Neighbor Award.

The citation reads that Congressman Ike Skelton is "A true Public Citizen who has served the people of the State of Missouri and the United States of America faithfully for over forty years. Elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1976, the year of this Nation's Bicentennial, Issaac Newton "Ike" Skelton IV was a member of the House Armed Services Committee for thirty years, including eight years as Ranking Member and four years as Chariman. Congressman Skelton's conscientious stewardship over the resources dedicated to the United States Armed Forces and his devotion to the welfare of its men and women are without parallel. It is, therefore, eminently fitting that in recognition of his many contributions to this Nation, all in the tradition and spirit of President Truman."

Congressman Ike Skelton was born in Lexington, Missouri where he still lives. He earned an associate of arts degree from Wentworth Military Academy & College before earning his bachelor of arts and law degrees from the University of Missouri.

COL Sellers, COL Lierman and several members of the Wentworth family were in attendance at the award ceremony and luncheon.

The Wentworth Military Academy and College Color Guard performed at the ceremony. The cadets looked very sharp while presenting colors and we should all be very proud of them.