KU ROTC units commission new officers

LAWRENCE -- Fifteen University of Kansas May 2003 graduates were commissioned as armed forces officers in ceremonies May 19 in the Kansas Union ballroom.

Kansas National Guard retired Col. Percival Pascua, vice president of the Reserve Officers Association and president of the Military Orders of World Wars Topeka chapter, addressed the officers and administered the oath of office to them. KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway also spoke at the ceremony.

Lt. Col. Brian DeToy, U.S. Army; Capt. James Cooper, U.S. Navy; and Col. Michael Lee, U.S. Air Force, presented the commissions to the officers. U.S. Air Force Capt. Robb Johnson, commandant of cadets, served as master of ceremonies.

Cadets and midshipmen in KU's ROTC program include three students from Washburn University in Topeka. In the past, KU also has hosted ROTC students from Baker University in Baldwin City, Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Saint Mary College in Leavenworth and MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe.

KU's commissioned officers, their majors, their parents' names, their high school alma maters and military affiliations are:

BUTLER COUNTY
From Towanda
Ryan D. Evans, history, son of Larry Evans; Circle High School graduate; Army.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence
Ryan Scott Willette, electrical engineering, son of Scott Willette; Lawrence High School; Navy.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Olathe
Joseph W. Shetterly, civil engineering, Olathe North High School; Air Force.

From Overland Park
Lev A. Krutz, political science, son of Diana Yancey; Blue Valley Northwest High School; Army.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Goddard
Christopher R. Laird, journalism with strategic communications emphasis, son of Ray Laird; Goddard High School; Air Force.

SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka
Flora M. Carson, journalism with news and information emphasis, daughter of Deborah Carson; Topeka West High School; Army.

ARKANSAS
From Rogers
Clint Eric Maddox, sport science, son of Marilyn Baker; Southwest High School graduate (Washburn, Mo.); Marine Corps.

FLORIDA
From Cocoa
Nichole Anne Cole, business administration, daughter of Mark and Darlene Stevens; J.W. Robinson Secondary School (Fairfax, Va.); Navy

IDAHO
From Blackfoot
Aaron Lee Balsmeier, aerospace engineering, son of Debra and Gene Balsmeier; Blackfoot High School; Navy.

IOWA
From Clinton
Tamara S. Gonzales, journalism with strategic communications emphasis, daughter of Josie McDermott; Northeast Community High School (Goose Lake, Iowa); Army.

MAINE
From Brunswick
Nathan W. Rhoads, Slavic languages and literatures and political science, son of Nathan Wilkinson Rhoads; Flour Bluff High School (Corpus Christi, Texas); Air Force.

NEVADA
From Las Vegas
Steven T. Rapp, journalism with news and information emphasis, son of Steven and Kathy Rapp; Air Academy High School (U.S Air Force Academy, Colo.); Air Force.

From Sparks
Aaron M. Hedrick, history, son of George and Linda Hedrick; Edward C. Reed High School; Air Force.

OKLAHOMA
From Edmond
Lindell E. Pearson III, aerospace engineering, son of Lindy and Janet Pearson; Edmond North High School; Air Force.

WASHINGTON
From Olympia
Ryan Alexis Chappell, business administration, son of Ralph and Sue Chappell; River Ridge High School (Lacey, Wash.); Navy.