KU News Release

KU ROTC units plan three commissioning ceremonies for fall 2006 graduates

LAWRENCE — Three commissioning ceremonies are being planned by the ROTC units at the University of Kansas for cadets, midshipmen or officer candidates graduating during the fall 2006 term.

For Navy ROTC, the ceremony will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, in the Simons Family Media Center at the Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive. Capt. Thomas E. Arnold, KU adjunct professor for Naval ROTC, will be the guest speaker for three graduating students and their families and friends.

The ceremony for Army ROTC will be 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 18, in the Military Science Building on the second or top floor drill deck. Col. Richard E. Arnold, U.S. Army Force Management Support Agency, Fort Leavenworth, will address the four graduating students and their families and friends.

For Air Force ROTC, the ceremony will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 19, at the Dole Institute of Politics. Ret. Capt. Curtis Hall, KU lecturer in geography, and Ret. Col. Gary Smith of Lenexa will commission two cadets as second lieutenants.

KU is one of only 50 universities in the nation offering a ROTC program that represents all branches of the military. Besides training KU students, the ROTC program also trains cadets, midshipmen and officer candidates at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence; Baker University in Baldwin City, the University of St. Mary in Leavenworth, Washburn University in Topeka and Mid-America Nazarene University in Olathe.

Three Army cadets being commissioned this fall are graduating from other universities: David Aaron Overton for active duty in Army Nurse Corps and Michael “Chad” Taylor for active duty in the infantry, both are from Washburn; and Amy Nichole Bronson for reserve duty with the Arizona National Guard, Medical Service, from St. Mary.

KU students being commissioned are listed below by hometown, major, parents’ names, high school and commission.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence and Olathe
Army Cadet William “Nick” Ryan, graduating with a bachelor’s in history, son of William K. Bill Ryan of Olathe and Karen L. Wray; Lawrence High School. Ryan will be commissioned as a lieutenant for active component service in the Adjutant General Corps detailed to infantry.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Lenexa 66219
Navy Midshipman Mathew Howard Mourning, graduating with a bachelor’s in economics, son of Cliff and Melanie Mourning; Shawnee Mission West High School.

From Olathe 66061
Air Force Cadet Lane C. Riddell, graduating with a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering, son of Chuck and Lynn Riddell; Shawnee Mission West High School. Riddell will be commissioned a Second Lieutenant assigned for pilot duty.

From Olathe and Lawrence
Army Cadet William “Nick” Ryan. SEE DOUGLAS COUNTY

FLORIDA
From Myakka City 34251
Navy Officer Candidate Clinton Kenneth Turner, graduating with a bachelor’s in political science, son of Kenneth Turner; Southeast High School, Bradenton, Fla.

MONTANA
From Lodge Grass 59050
Air Force Cadet Kirby Mary Zimmerman, graduating with a bachelor’s in atmospheric science, daughter of Tim and Judy Mullenberg; Lodge Grass High School. Zimmerman will be commissioned a Second Lieutenant assigned to weather operations.

TENNESSEE
From Hermitage 37076
Navy Officer Candidate Meagan Stephanie Vessels, graduating with a bachelor’s in sociology, daughter of Phyllis and Steven Price; McGavock High School, Nashville.

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