KU News Release

LAWRENCE — Thirty-one graduates of the University of Kansas will be honored as newly commissioned officers in the armed forces during ceremonies at 10 a.m. today.

Army Capt. Aaron Cornett, assistant professor of military science and Army ROTC executive officer, will welcome the cadets and their families, friends and guests.

Lt. Col. John Basso, professor of military science and commanding officer for Army ROTC, will introduce the speaker, Army Brig. Gen. Charles L. “Chuck” Taylor, of Washington, D.C. He is the deputy director for operations and training for the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization. A 1982 KU graduate who earned a bachelor’s in personnel administration, Taylor was commissioned a second lieutenant through KU’s Army ROTC program.

Also assisting with the ceremonies are Capt. Carl A. Carpenter, professor of Naval science and commanding officer for Naval ROTC, and Lt. Col. Gena R. Stuchbery, adjunct professor of aerospace studies and commanding officer for Air Force ROTC.

Taylor received a master’s degree in administration from Central Michigan University and a master’s of national security from the U.S. Army American War College. He is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Army Command and General Staff College and the Joint Forces Staff College.

Before joining the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization, Taylor was the executive officer to the secretary of the Army. His deployments include Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti, Operation Iraqi Freedom 2003 and Operation Iraqi Freedom 2005-06.

His many awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal and Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters.

Taylor will administer the oath of office for the new officers. They have completed requirements of KU Air Force, Army and Navy ROTC units or the Marine Corps Platoon Leadership Course. ROTC branch representatives introducing cadets for their commissioning are Maj. Gary Marsteller, Air Force ROTC; Capt. William McGreer, Army ROTC and Commander John Carpenter, Naval and Marine ROTC.

Two graduates of other area colleges also will be commissioned at the KU ceremony. KU is one of only 50 universities in the nation offering an ROTC program that represents all branches of the military. Besides training KU students, KU’s ROTC program also trains cadets from Baker University in Baldwin City; Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence; Mid-America Nazarene University in Olathe; the University of St. Mary in Leavenworth; and Washburn University in Topeka.

The two graduates from other universities receiving commissions are Richard Greenly, University of St. Mary, and Glenn W. Ryman, Mid-America Nazarene University, both U.S. Army second lieutenants.

John B. Corbett, a senior in anthropology from Spring Hill, and Michael P. Myers, a senior in political science from Haysville and Wichita, both Army ROTC cadets, and Jordan R. Duffield, a senior in history from Billings, Mont., Naval and Marine ROTC midshipman, will participate in the ceremony but will not receive their official commissions until August.

The newly commissioned KU officers are listed below by hometown, degree earned and, when available, their parents’ names and high schools.

ALLEN COUNTY
From Iola 66749
Jared J. Hastings, bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and finance; Iola Senior High School; Marines second lieutenant. His wife, FayAnna, and grandfather Jack Hastings will pin his gold bars.

BARTON COUNTY
From Great Bend 67530
Todd William Maneth, bachelor’s in history; son of John and Sandra Maneth; Great Bend High School; Marines second lieutenant. His parents and sister, Tara, will pin his gold bars.

BUTLER COUNTY
From Andover 67002
Jaimie Christine Wappelhorst, bachelor’s in history; daughter of Ken and Dana Wappelhorst; Andover Central High School; Air Force second lieutenant. Her parents will pin her gold bars.

FRANKLIN COUNTY
From Princeton 66078
Nathaniel Ray Cunningham, bachelor’s in accounting; son of Steven and Laura Cunningham; Central Heights High School, Richmond; Air Force second lieutenant. His mother will pin his gold bars.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Leawood 66206
Tyler Patrick Sifers, bachelor’s in mathematics; son of Vicki Sifers; Rockhurst High School, Kansas City, Mo.; Air Force second lieutenant. His brother, Tray, will pin his gold bars.

From Lenexa 66216
Jesse Philip Kangas, bachelor’s in political science; son of Todd and Pat Kangas; Army second lieutenant. His wife, Victoria, and his parents will pin his gold bars.

From Olathe 66061
Kyle Todd Daniels, bachelor’s in management; son of Todd and Beth Daniels; Olathe North High School; Army second lieutenant. His parents will pin his gold bars.

From Olathe 66062
Andrew D. Piwowarek, bachelor’s in engineering physics; son of Stanley and Christine Piwowarek; Olathe East High School; Navy ensign. His fiancée, Chelsea Buhler, and parents will pin his gold bars.

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
From Lansing 66043
Sean Byron Blew, bachelor’s in geography; son of retired Army Maj. Brian and Dana Blew; Leavenworth Senior High School; Army second lieutenant. His parents will pin his gold bars.

From Leavenworth 66048
Bruce Albert Archambault III, bachelor’s in biology; son of retired Army Lt. Col. Bruce Archambault Jr.; Leavenworth Senior High School; Army second lieutenant. His wife, Jeannette, and his father will pin his gold bars.

Stephanie Lynn Langley, bachelor’s in architectural engineering; daughter of retired Air Force Maj. Michael and Susan Langley; Immaculata High School; Air Force second lieutenant. Her parents and brother, Michael, will pin her gold bars.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY
From Independence 67301
Stormy Neal Munkirs, bachelor’s in psychology; Independence Senior High School; Marines second lieutenant. His wife, Kathryn, children Caleb and Aiden and his uncle, retired Air Force Col. George Lippencott will pin his gold bars.

RENO COUNTY
From Hutchinson 67501
Richard Daniel Rogers, bachelor’s in political science; son of Rick and Pam Rogers; Air Force second lieutenant. His wife, Kelsi, and his parents will pin his gold bars.

RILEY COUNTY
From Manhattan 66502
Andrew R. Fox, bachelor’s in linguistics; son of Rodney and Jane Fox; Salina High School South; Navy ensign. His parents will pin his gold bars.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Wichita 67212
Jacob Alan Breth, bachelor’s in management; son of Daniel and Conni Breth; Bishop Carroll High School; Air Force second lieutenant. His grandfather Raymond Renfro will pin his gold bars.

From Wichita 67235
Charles Robert Hobbs, bachelor’s degrees in Germanic languages and literatures and history; son of Douglas and Dana Hobbs; Maize High School; Air Force second lieutenant. Marine Lance Cpl. Matt Stroh will pin his gold bars.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY
From Kansas City 66104 and Missouri City, Texas
Douglas Gomez Kennedy, bachelor’s in sociology; son of Shari Kennedy, Kansas City, and Douglas Kennedy, Missouri City, Texas; Sumner Academy of Arts and Science, Kansas City, Kan.; Army second lieutenant. His grandfathers, John Neal and Sherman Shephard, will pin his gold bars.

CALIFORNIA
From Pasadena 91101 and Temple City 91780
Timothy M. Burton, master’s in civil engineering; son of John and Pam Burton; bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from California State Polytechnic University, spring 2008; Army second lieutenant. His parents will pin his gold bars.

MINNESOTA
From Apple Valley 55124
Evan Joseph Bergstrom, bachelor’s in atmospheric science; son of Tom and JoAnn Bergstrom; Eastview High School; Air Force second lieutenant. His parents and grandfather John Bergstrom, retired from the U.S. Air Force, will pin his gold bars.

From Austin 55912
Ryan Henry Fritz, bachelor’s in music education; son of retired Army Master Sgt. Alexander Fritz; Austin High School; Army second lieutenant. His father will pin his gold bars.

From Pipestone 56164
Thomas Henry Prinsen, bachelor’s in mechanical engineering; Southwest Minnesota Christian High School, Edgerton, Minn.; Navy ensign. His wife, Krystal, and daughters Kalylee and Kirsten will pin his gold bars.

From Saint Michael 55376
Thomas David Ferry, bachelor’s in finance; son of David and Julie Ferry; Saint Michael-Albertville High School, Albertville, Minn.; Army second lieutenant. His mother will pin his gold bars.

MISSOURI
From Ballwin 63021
Stephanie Koenig, bachelor’s in human biology; daughter of Bob and Michelle Koenig; Parkway South High School, Manchester, Mo.; Air Force second lieutenant. Her husband, Cadet Chris Koenig, and her parents will pin her gold bars.

From Florissant 63034
Helen Kathleen Draffen Daniels, bachelor’s in history; daughter of Terry and Nancy Draffen; Hazelwood Central Senior High School; Army second lieutenant. Her parents will pin her gold bars.

Kelly Irene Draffen, bachelor’s in American studies; daughter of Terry and Nancy Draffen; bachelor’s degree in history from KU, spring 2008; Hazelwood Central Senior High School; Army second lieutenant. Her parents and friend Stephanie Smith will pin her gold bars.

From Wildwood 63011
Andrew Philip Miller, bachelor’s in biology; son of Ken and Beth Miller; Lafayette High School; Navy ensign. His parents and brother, Joe, will pin his gold bars.

TEXAS
From Missouri City 77489 and Kansas City, Kan.
Douglas Gomez Kennedy. See WYANDOTTE COUNTY

From Pottsboro 75056
Chantel Kathryn Bauman, bachelor’s in chemical engineering; daughter of Mike and Terry Arnold; Bells High School, Bells, Texas; Navy ensign. Her parents will pin her gold bars.

WISCONSIN
From Shawano 54166
Justin John Seignemartin, bachelor’s in East Asian languages and cultures; son of John Seignemartin; Shawano Community High School; Marines second lieutenant. His wife, Brandy, and his father will pin his gold bars.

GERMANY
From Ramstein
Allison Brooke Graves, bachelor’s in human biology; daughter of Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jason and Kenda Higgins; Ramstein American High School; Air Force second lieutenant. Her father will pin her gold bars.