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Francisco Aquino had his gold bars pinned on by his mother, Victorina Aquino, and his father, Jose Aquino.
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Kenneth Davis had his gold bars pinned on by his aunt, Norma Gaddy, and his father, Captain Kenneth Davis.
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Devin Lionberger had his gold bars pinned on by his mother, Tina Lionberger and his father, former Army National Guard SSG Michael Lionberger.
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Shannon Norris had her gold bars pinned on by her mother, Gerline Norris and her father, Carl Norris.
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Summer Commissioning Ceremony Held at WIU

August 22, 2018

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MACOMB, IL – Four Western Illinois University Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets were commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army during a campus ceremony Friday, Aug. 17.

Western's ROTC award-winning program was established in 1968 and since then has commissioned 1,082 second lieutenants. Western's military science department has a longstanding tradition of excellence, having been named the recipient of the General Douglas MacArthur Award for the best ROTC battalion in the Midwest in 1994, 2001 and 2002.

In Spring 2005, Western Illinois University's ROTC Leatherneck Battalion was named the best large program in the 3rd Brigade and a top 15 percent school in all of Cadet Command's 272 programs. The 3rd Brigade, headquartered at Great Lakes, IL, includes 22 college and university programs in Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

The four WIU cadets who took the oath of office of a commissioned officer include:

• Francisco Aquino, of Waukegan, IL, received his bachelor's degree in law enforcement and justice administration and Spanish. He will commission as an adjutant general officer.

• Kenneth A. Davis, of Columbia, SC, received his bachelor's degree in law enforcement and justice administration. He will commission in Illinois Army National Guard and will serve as an ordnance officer.

• Devin Lionberger, of LaHarpe, IL, received his bachelor's degree in athletic training. He will serve in the Illinois Army National Guard as a medical services officer.

• Shannon Norris, of Rockford, IL, received her bachelor's degree in law enforcement and justice administration. She will commission in the Army on active duty and will serve as an adjutant general officer.

For more information about WIU's ROTC program, visit wiu.edu/ROTC.




Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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