13 Cadets Commissioned During Ceremonies at Niagara University

Thirteen Niagara University Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) cadets were commissioned as second lieutenants in the United States Army during ceremonies held May 10, 2024, on the Niagara University campus. This was the 83rd consecutive year that members of NU's Purple Eagle Battalion have taken the oath of office.

During the ceremony, which featured remarks from guest speaker Col. Adam Czekanski, district commander and engineer of the Pittsburgh District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and former professor of military science at NU; the Rev. James Maher, C.M., Niagara University president; and Lt. Col. James Silsby III, chair and professor of military science, the following cadets received gold bar pins signifying their new rank as second lieutenants:

• Zachary Anderson, Batavia, N.Y.
• Timothy Bourret, Hilton, N.Y.
• Liam Carney, Warwick, N.Y.
• Keonte L. Dunne, Buffalo, N.Y.
• Deeken Frost, Newark Valley, N.Y.
• Cameron Guy, Wilson, N.Y.
• Mark Hine III, New Berlin, N.Y.
• Michael Hockey, Warsaw, N.Y.
• Saveria Panella, Rochester, N.Y.
• Elle Schultz, Lewiston, N.Y.
• Raegan Sebastianelli, Dagsboro, Del.
• Colin Watkins, Corinth, NY
• Meegan White, South New Berlin, N.Y.

Army ROTC is a leadership development program designed to augment the college learning experience. Its primary goals are to identify, instruct, and commission young men and women for service as officers in the Active Duty Army, the United States Army Reserve, or the Army National Guard. Intermediate goals include providing students with the leadership skills necessary to organize and effectively run the Purple Eagle Battalion, clubs on campus, or student government.

Niagara University's ROTC program regularly ranks in the top 10 percent of all Army ROTC programs in the United States. To learn more, please visit www.niagara.edu/rotc/.