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2nd Lt. Daniel Davis Jr., with his brother, Shawn Davis, and his father, Daniel Davis, who pinned on the gold bars.
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2nd Lt. David Benning (center) with his twin brother, Mark, and Paul Benning, who pinned on his gold bars.
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2nd Lt. Mark Benning (center) with his twin brother, 2nd Lieutenant David Benning, and brother John Benning, who pinned on his gold bars.
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2nd Lt. Jason Vanderheyden with his wife, Alexandra, and his father, James Vanderheyden, who pinned on his gold bars.
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2nd Lt. Laura Tabrosky with her parents, Robert and Lisa Tabrosky, who pinned on her gold bars.
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2nd Lt. Michael Hart with his parents, Ed and Pam Hart, who pinned on his gold bars.
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2nd Lt. Christopher Rodgers with his fiancee, Nikki Smith, who pinned on his gold bars.
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2nd Lt. Eric Petrocelli with his grandparents, Albert and Evelyn Varela, who pinned on his gold bars.
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2nd Lt. Adam Moma with his parents, Terre and Carroll Moma, who pinned on his gold bars.
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2nd Lt. Jacquelin Selby with her grandfather, William Murphy, and her fiance Ken Roach, who pinned on her gold bars.
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2nd Lt. Michael Chezum with his parents, Charles Chezum and Alice Baldwin, who pinned on his gold bars.
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2nd Lt. Timothy Sommer with his fiancee, Ashley Hansen, and his father, Ronald Sommer, who pinned on his gold bars.
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WIU Spring 2008 Army Commissioning

June 5, 2008

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MACOMB, IL - - Twelve Western Illinois University Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets were commissioned second lieutenants in the U.S. Army during a May 9 ceremony on Western's campus. Seven of the new officers received active duty commissions.

Western's ROTC award-winning program was established in 1968. 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 Bulldog Battalion was named the best large program in the 10th Brigade and a top 15 percent school in all of Cadet Command's 272 programs. The 10th Brigade, headquartered at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, includes 22 college and university programs in Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Individuals who took the Oath of Office of a commissioned officer are listed below by Illinois counties:

CARROLL COUNTY
Lanark (61046) - Daniel Davis Jr., a Spring 2008 WIU graduate with a Board of Trustees Bachelor of Arts degree program major with minors in military science and sociology, received an active duty commission in the Medical Service Corps. A transfer student from Kansas City Kansas Community College, Davis will attend Officer Basic Course at Fort Sam Houston, TX, then report to his first duty assignment at Fort Bragg, NC. 2nd Lt. Davis' parents, Daniel and Linda Davis, and brother, Shawn Davis, pinned on his gold bars.

COOK COUNTY
Northbrook (60062) - David Benning, a Spring 2008 WIU graduate with a law enforcement and justice administration major (LEJA) and minor in military science, received an active duty commission in the Infantry Corps. A 2004 graduate of Glenbrook North High School (Northbrook, IL), Benning will first serve as cadre during Warrior Forge at Fort Lewis, WA, and then will attend Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning, GA. His first duty assignment will be at Fort Campbell, KY. 2nd Lt. Benning's brothers, twin Mark and Paul Benning, pinned on his gold bars.

Mark Benning, a Spring 2008 WIU graduate with a recreation, park and tourism administration major and a military science minor, received an active duty commission in the Engineer Corps. A 2004 graduate of Glenbrook North High School, Benning will first serve as cadre during the Leaders Training Course at Fort Knox, KY, and then will attend Officer Basic Course at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. His first duty assignment will be at Fort Hood, TX. 2nd Lt. Benning's brothers, twin David and John Benning, pinned on his gold bars.

Oak Park (60302) - Jason Vanderheyden, a Spring 2008 WIU graduate with a Board of Trustees Bachelor of Arts degree program major with minors in military science and law enforcement and justice administration (LEJA), received an active duty commission in the Field Artillery Corps. A 2004 graduate of Oak Park River Forest High School, Oak Park, IL, Vanderheyden will initially serve as cadre during Warrior Forge at Fort Lewis, WA. He will proceed to Fort Sill, OK, for Officer Basic Course and then to his first duty assignment at Fort Lewis, WA. 2nd Lt. Vanderheyden's wife, Alexandra, and his father, James Vanderheyden, pinned on his gold bars.

Palatine (60067) - Laura Tabrosky, an interdisciplinary studies major, received a reserve duty commission in the Engineer Corps with the Illinois National Guard in Decatur, IL. A 2004 graduate of William Fremd High School (Palatine), Tabrosky will attend Officer Basic Course at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, before reporting to Decatur. 2nd Lt. Tabrosky's parents, Robert and Lisa Tabrosky, pinned on her gold bars.

DUPAGE COUNTY
Naperville (60540) - Michael Hart, a law enforcement and justice administration major (LEJA) and a military science minor, received a reserve duty commission in the Signal Corps. A 2004 graduate of Naperville North High School, Hart will attend Officer Basic Course at Fort Gordon, GA. His first duty assignment will be with the Illinois National Guard in Robbins, IL. 2nd Lt. Hart's parents, Ed and Pam Hart, pinned on his gold bars.

KNOX COUNTY -
Wataga (61488) - Christopher Rodgers, a Board of Trustees Bachelor of Arts degree program major with minors in military science and law enforcement and justice administration (LEJA), received a reserve duty commission in the Signal Corps. A transfer student from Carl Sandburg College, Rodgers will first serve as a Goldbar Recruiter at WIU, and then will attend Officer Basic Course at Fort Gordon, GA. His first duty assignment will be with the Illinois National Guard in Peoria, IL. 2nd Lt. Rodger's fiancee, Nikki Smith, and friend, Eric Butz, pinned on his gold bars.

LAKE COUNTY
Mundelein (60060) - Eric Petrocelli, a communication major and a military science minor, received an active duty commission in the Military Intelligence Corps with a branch detail to the Armor Corps for his first three years. A 2004 graduate of Carmel High School (Mundelein), Petrocelli will first serve as cadre during Warrior Forge at Fort Lewis, WA, and then will attend Officer Basic Course at Fort Knox, KY. 2nd Lt. Petrocelli's grandparents, Albert and Evelyn Varela, pinned on his gold bars.

MACON COUNTY
Blue Mound (62573) - Adam Moma, a law enforcement and justice administration (LEJA) major and minors in sociology and military science, received an active duty commission in the Infantry Corps. A transfer student from Illinois State University, Moma will first serve as cadre during Warrior Forge at Fort Lewis, WA, and then will attend Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning, GA, where he will receive his first duty assignment. 2nd Lt. Moma's parents, Terre and Carroll Moma, pinned on his gold bars.

PEORIA COUNTY
Princeville (61559) - Jacquelyn Selby, a computer science major and a military science minor, received a reserve duty commission in the Signal Corps. A 2003 graduate of Princeville High School, Selby will attend Officer Basic Course at Fort Gordon, GA, and then serve with the United States Army Reserve in Fort Sheridan, IL. 2nd Lt. Selby's grandfather, William Murphy, pinned on her gold bars.

ROCK ISLAND COUNTY
Rock Island (61201) - Michael Chezum, a political science major and a military science minor, received an active duty commission in the Signal Corps detailed to the Infantry Corps for his first three years. A transfer student from Black Hawk College (Moline, IL), Chezum will first serve as cadre during Warrior Forge at Fort Lewis, WA, and then will attend Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning, GA, where he will receive his first duty assignment. 2nd Lt. Chezum's parents, Charles Chezum and Alice Baldwin, pinned on his gold bars.

SANGAMON COUNTY
Pleasant Plains (62677) - Timothy Sommer, a law enforcement and justice administration (LEJA) major with majors in military science and natural resource conservation, received a reserve duty commission in the Medical Service Corps. A 2004 graduate of Sacred Heart-Griffin High School (Springfield, IL), Sommer will attend Officer Basic at Fort Sam Houston, TX, then report to his first duty assignment with the Illinois National Guard in Springfield, IL. 2nd Lt. Sommer's father, Ronald Sommer, pinned on his gold bars.

Posted By: Alisha Looney (AA-Looney@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing