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Second Lieutenant Mark A. Bangert had his bars unveiled by his parents, Brad and Karen Bangert.
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Second Lieutenant Lauren E. Diffenderfer had her bars unveilled by her brother, Brandon Diffenderfer, and her sister, Morgan Diffenderfer.
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Second Lieutenant Sarah A. Donnelly had her bars unveiled by her parents, Pete and Kim Donnelly.
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Second Lieutenant Brianna L. Hooker had her bars unveiled by her parents, Chad Stevens and Jenifer Hooker.
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Second Lieutenant Ryan Hoskinson had his bars unveiled by his mother, Cecelia Hoskinson and his cousin, Ensign Shannon Rooker.
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Second Lieutenant Wayne McCracken had his bars unveiled by his parents, Javier and Maria Ceja.
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Second Lieutenant Michael Prikazsky had his bars unveiled by his mother, Linda Grillo.
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Second Lieutenant Matthew Simmons had his bars unveiled by his grandfather, Grover Patterson.
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Second Lieutenant Hannah Wallace had her bars unveiled by her husband, Darius Wallace.
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Second Lieutenant Andrew L. Young had his bars unveiled by parents, Roy and Sue Young.
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Ten WIU ROTC Cadets Commissioned as Second Lieutenants

May 18, 2017

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MACOMB, IL – Ten Western Illinois University Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets were commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army during Commencement weekend.

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 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.

Brigadier General Richard B. Dix, of the commanding general of the Joint Munitions and Lethality Life Cycle Management Command and Joint Munitions Command, spoke to the cadets before the commissioning and swore them in as second lieutenants.

The 10 WIU cadets who took the oath of office of a commissioned officer include:

• Mark A. Bangert, of Dunlap, IL, received his bachelor's degree in law enforcement and justice administration on the same weekend as his commissioning. He will commission in the Army on active duty and will serve as a signal officer with a branch detail of infantry.

• Lauren E. Diffenderfer, of Chatham, IL, received her bachelor's degree in exercise science on the same weekend as her commissioning. She will commission in the Illinois Army National Guard and will serve as a medical services officer.

• Sarah A. Donnelly, of London Mills, IL, received her bachelor's degree in forensic chemistry on the same weekend as her commissioning. She will commission in the Illinois Army National Guard and will serve as a chemical officer.

• Brianna L. Hooker, of Sycamore, IL, received her bachelor's degree in psychology on the same weekend as her commissioning. She will commission in the Army on active duty and will serve as an air defense artillery officer.

• Ryan Hoskinson, of Tremont, IL, received his bachelor's degree in law enforcement and justice administration on the same weekend as his commissioning. He will commission in the Army on active duty and will serve as a military intelligence officer with a branch detail of infantry.

• Wayne McCracken, of Lakemoor, IL, received his bachelor's degree in law enforcement and justice administration on the same weekend as his commissioning. He will commission in the Illinois Army National Guard and will serve as a transportation officer.

• Michael Prikazsky, of LaGrange Park, IL, received his bachelor's degree in law enforcement and justice administration on the same weekend as his commissioning. He will commission in the Army on active duty and will serve as a military intelligence officer.

• Matthew Simmons, of Calumet City, IL, received his bachelor's degree in law enforcement and justice administration on the same weekend as his commissioning. He will commission in the Army on active duty and will serve as a military police officer.

• Hannah Wallace, of Cullom, IL, received her bachelor's degree in exercice science on the same weekend as her commissioning. She will commission in the Army on active duty and will serve as a transportation officer.

• Andrew L. Young, of Harvel, IL, received his bachelor's degree in accountancy on the same weekend as his commissioning. He will commission in the Army on active duty and will serve as an adjutant general officer with a branch detail of field artillery.

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



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