Alumni Newsletter May/June 2016 Commissioning – Valley Forge Military College
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Alumni Newsletter May/June 2016 Commissioning – Valley Forge Military College We want to congratulate the Valley Forge Military College Army ROTC Commissioning Class of 2016. 2LT Samantha Barnes 2LT Jared Knightley 2LT Bryan Beatty 2LT Stephen Mayone-Paquin 2LT Adrian Cabiles 2LT Alexander Castueras 2LT Philip McCusker 2LT Tyler Eccles 2LT Henry Richardson 2LT Sky Faneco 2LT Joshua Rosen 2LT Cynthia Filpo-Diaz 2LT Ryan Sevret 2LT Thomas Gagnon 2LT Jennifer Sprengelmeyer 2LT Caleb Gillett 2LT Alex Hammond 2LT Maxwell Thomas 2LT Jason Hang 2LT Rebecca Timm 2LT Aaron Harbaugh 2LT Marina Torchia 2LT Noreeza Khan 2LT Benjamin White 2LT Tristan Kidney The presiding officer for the Valley Forge Military College 2016 Army ROTC Commissioning was Major General William H. Johnson, USA, Retired, Senior United States Army Reserve Ambassador. Major General Johnson was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, Armor, upon his graduation from North Georgia College and entered active duty in 1972. His professional military education includes Armor Officer Basic Course, Rotary Wing Aviation School, Transportation officer Advanced Course, United States Army Command and General Staff College and United States Army War College. We were honored to have such a distinguished Military Commander present to give the Oath of Office to our newest Army officers and VFMC graduates. Assisting Major General Johnson in officiating the marvelous ceremony were Professor of Military Science LTC David Key, USA and Senior Military Science Instructor MSG John Cuevas, USA. Commencement VFMC 2016 On May 20, 2016 Commencement Ceremonies were held for Valley Forge Military College when 102 and cadets and students took the next step into their futures by attaining their Association Degree. The graduating class of 2016 was one of largest in recent College history and was very well attended by parents, faculty, staff, alumni and visitors. Our Commencement speaker was the Honorable Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania Mike Stack who gave an inspiring address to all those present in the Alumni Memorial Chapel of St. Cornelius the Centurion. We take great pleasure in recognizing our Valedictorian and Salutatorian 2nd Lieutenant Cynthia Filpo-Dias ’16C and 2nd Lieutenant Noreeza Khan ’16C. This is the first time in Valley Forge Military College where the top two cadets in their class were both ECP and women. Congratulations to you both and we wish you all the success in the world in your future. 2016 VFMC Academic Honors Summa Cum Laude With Highest Honors GPA 3.7 or higher Mohammed Bahubaishi Tyler Eccles Cynthia Filpo-Diaz Alex Hammond Noreeza Khan Juan Martinez-Rodriguez Stephen Mayone-Paquin Rebecca Timm Magna Cum Laude With High Honor GPA 3.5 to 3.69 Thomas Gagnon Caleb Gillett Tristan Kidney Jared Knightly Jennifer Sprengelmeyer Hannah Terwilliger Akshay Thevar Maxwell Thomas Marina Torchia Thomas Wages Benjamin White Cum Laude With Honor GPA 3.3 to 3.49 Samantha Barnes Bryan Beatty Amanda Botelho Adrian Cabiles Arianna Lozano Liam Moran Alex Raub Brittany Robertson Alexander Ross Rafael Sanz Kobee Texter Congratulations to the College Class of 2016 As a final tribute to the graduating Class of 2016 of Valley Forge Military College and the excellent academic standards that they set, we baked a cake for your enjoyment and good wishes. The Alumni Association of Valley Forge Military Academy and College wishes you all the success in the world, welcomes you to our ranks as Brothers and Sisters and offers you a helping hand wherever you are in the world. If you need us we will be there, you are one of us. Congratulations!!!! Inducted (College) into the Order of Anthony Wayne Brianna Clincy Elizabeth Cross Tyler Eccles Ryan Joyce Eric Kumar Juan Martinez-Rodriguez Joshua Rosen Alexander Ross Officiating 2016 Valley Forge Military College Graduation Stacey R. Sauchuk, Ph.D.- President of Valley Forge Military Academy & College Colonel William Gallagher, USA (Retired) – Commandant of Cadets and Dean of the College Hon. Mike Stack – Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Middle School Promotion Ceremony One Thursday June 2, 2016 Valley Forge Military Academy promoted our Middle School cadets to the status of freshmen in the Academy. Congratulations for your outstanding achievement and taking the next step in your successful lives. The promotion ceremony was officiated by Dr. Stacey R. Sauchuk, President of Valley Forge Military Academy & College, Mrs. Sandra R. Young, Head of School, COL. William Gallagher, USA (Ret.), Commandant of Cadets, Mr. Aaron Barkley, Dean of Cadets and CAPT. Gerald Hale, USCG (Ret.), Chaplin. The Alumni Association of Valley Forge Military Academy and College is pleased to congratulate the following graduates of the Middle School: Chandler Bodtmann Hao Chen Alexander Consentino Terrence Froman Aoxiang Huang Qinghao Lin Nicholas Lombardi Zachary Lombardi Gregory Nesterov ZhiTong Peng Dang Khuong Pham Trevor Phinney Brent Rosina William Schweizer Seokjin Sonn Rurui Tian Yunji Wang Andrew Willoughby Jonah Wood JaeWoo Yoon - Valedictorian Si Ming Yue 2016 Senior Class Tree Planting Ceremony One of the great customs and traditions of Valley Forge Military Academy is for each class to plant a tree commemorating the continued life and health of the class and the Academy. This year the tree was planted behind Lafayette Hall and was well attended by the senior class of the Academy. Supervising and taking the pictures was Mrs. Sandra Young, Head of School for the Academy and Dr. Glenn Horsky ’74 representing the Alumni Association. Matthew Horsky ’16 and Patrick Horsky ’15 were also there representing the senior class and the alumni. We appreciate the placement of the tree by the facilities department headed by COL Brian Geiling, VFMAC ’94, ’96C, Vice President of Facilities management and his staff. 2016 Valley Forge Military Academy Graduation Saturday, June 4, 2016 the Senior Class of Valley Forge Military Academy formed up on the parade field to begin Commencement marking the start of a new chapter in their lives. Presiding Officers were Stacey R. Sauchuk, Ph.D., President of Valley Forge Military Academy & College, Sandra R. Young, M.Ed., Head of School, COL William Gallagher, USA (Ret.), Commandant of Cadets and Dean of the College, Aaron Barkley MS, Dean of Students and CAPT. Gerald L. Hale, USCG (Ret.), Chaplain. The morning was made even brighter with the wonderful music of the Regimental Band under the direction of WO2 Phil Evans. Our commencement speaker was Donald B. Taylor Ph.D., President of Cabrini College and his addressed motivated the graduating class to new heights of enthusiasm to go out and conquer the world. In a combined address delivered by Cadet Zongda Che, Valedictorian and Cadet Gabriel Henderson, Senior Class President making our graduates remember all the good times and good friends they have made for life. The culmination of these wonderful festivities occurred when COL William Gallagher, USA (Ret.) Commandant of Cadets and Dean of the College called the graduating class to attention and gave the final command “Dismissed” prompting the tradition cap toss. Congratulations to the Class of 2016 and our wish for the continued success of the 88th Corps of Cadets. Valley Forge Military Academy 2016 Graduation Honors Summa Cum Laude Zongda Che – Valedictorian Magna Cum Laude Vladimir Korol – Salutatorian Cum Laude Julian Bodnar Douglas Eglington-Civitello Gerardo Galan Garzafox Gabriel Henderson Matthew Horsky Elias Jesus Zhekai Jiang David Litovsky Cameron McCutcheon Victor Ochei Zhenghan Xu National Honor Society Members Julian Rhodes Bodnar Zongda Che Gabriel Michael Henderson Elias Phinehas Jesus Vladimir A. Korol David S. Litovsky Cameron G. McCutcheon Seamus M. Mooney Victor O. Ochei Miguel F. Ramirez Devon Allan Williams Zhenghan Xu Inducted (Academy) into the Order of Anthony Wayne Vladimir Korol Victor O. Ochei Tyler William Umphred Miguel F. Raimirez Matthew G. Horsky Zongda Che CPT Joshua Irvan Valley Forge Cadets Work Hard to make Ultra-Running Dreams Come True! On May 14th and 15th 2016, cadets from Valley Forge Military Academy volunteered their time at the Dawn to Dusk to Dawn Track Ultra event held at the Academy Park High School Track in Sharon Hill, PA. Runners from all over the country and around the world came to this little town to run one of 3 different events; the 50K run, the 12 hour run and the 24 hour run. Many of the runners where attempting to qualify for the U.S.A., Canada, Russia or French National 24 Hour Teams which will complete at the 24 Hour World Championships held next year in Belfast, Ireland. Starting at 6am these fine cadets helped set-up camp sites, work two different hydration stations, work the food table and in the kitchen. The 24 hour and 50k started at 7AM and the 12 hour started later that night at 7pm. Around and around the runners went changing direction every four hours. The Valley Forge Cadets not only helped at the event the entire 24 hour but also witnessed world class performances. At the end of the event they broke down the campsites, loaded vans, helped runners bring stuff to their cars and over all did what was needed for the event to be a huge success. As their art teacher and an employee of Valley Forge I am extremely proud of these fine young men. I’d like to thank Cadet Zongda Che especially for organizing and helping the cadets look sharp in their BDU pants and boots. They looked great with the D3 t-shirt. Also Cadet Che had them use hand radios for communicating between each station. A huge help. As a side note 2 State records, 7 American records and 1 world record where set during the event. Memorial Day Celebrations Honoring our Veterans Valley Forge Military Academy & College President- Designate Col John C. Church Jr., USMCR spoke at Pemberton Township High School during their Memorial Day Observance.