George D. Keathley Department of Military Science honors Army ROTC cadets with awards

Cameron University's George D. Keathley Department of Military Science has presented awards and scholarships to members of the Comanche Battalion, Cameron's Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) unit. The Comanche Battalion recognized cadets for meritorious performance in military science, academics, physical fitness, personal achievement and leadership.

Awards are sponsored by the Department of the Army, Cameron University and private individuals through endowed scholarships.

Thor Baima was the recipient of the Bill and Betty Burgess Memorial Endowed Scholarship, which is presented to a descendant of a noncommissioned officer or currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces as a noncommissioned officer.

The FIRES Chapter of the Association of the United States Army Scholarship is presented to an outstanding cadet in each military science year who has a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in their military and academic studies. Recipients were Alex Heidebrecht, Dalton Peak, Trystian Thompson and Cadyn Young.

Young also received the B. Charles and LaDonna Spradlin Endowed Scholarship in Business, awarded to business majors, and the E. Virginia Charlson Memorial Endowment Scholarship, which is awarded to cadets who are pursuing a degree in business and have a GPA of 2.75 or higher.

Young and Anthony Montoya were honored with the Col. Jack Wolfson Memorial Scholarship, which is presented to cadets who display academic proficiency, outstanding leadership qualities and high moral character.

The Artillery Officer Candidate Endowed Scholarship in Leadership, established by the Artillery OCS Alumni organization, was presented to Conner Boyles.

Andrew Permenter received the Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Randall L. and Carol A. Rigby Endowed Scholarship in Military Science, which is awarded to a full-time CU student who demonstrates an intent to join CU's Army ROTC program in pursuit of an officer's commission.

Johnathan Gonzalez was honored with the Virginia K. and Robert L. Janda Scholarship, presented to a full-time student who demonstrates superior leadership potential and maintains at least a 3.0 GPA.

Robyn Brown received the 2nd Lt. Tobias Alexander Scholarship. It is awarded to a full-time cadet who demonstrates superior leadership potential and maintains a 3.0 GPA or higher.

The Sgt. York Award is presented to basic course cadets that demonstrated superior leadership qualities in military science courses; this award was presented to Permenter and Warren Jones.

Raymond DePhillips and Peak were honored with the Professor of Military Science Physical Fitness Cadet Award, as was Chloe Lowe. It is presented to the male and female cadets who achieve the highest score on the Record Army Combat Fitness Test.

Members of the Ranger Challenge Team, who embody the spirit of teamwork, competitiveness and sportsmanship, received a certificate of recognition, a ribbon and a uniform sleeve tab. The team was comprised of cadets Baima, David Cardoza, DePhillips, Heidi Durvin, Gonzalez, Heidebrecht, Drake Jones, Lowe, Peak, Permenter and Robert Samuels.

The Comanche Warrior Award, presented to the cadet who demonstrates excellence in motivation and commitment to the Comanche Battalion, went to Warren Jones.

Jeran Rivera received the LTC Powell and James Award Endowment Scholarship, presented to a cadet who graduated from Lawton High School, who demonstrates exceptional leadership qualities and maintains a GPA of 3.5.

Numerous cadets were commended for completing various courses and schools during Summer 2025. Drake Jones was recognized for completing Cadet Basic Camp, Gonzalez was recognized for completing the ROTC Training Corps Air Assault School, and Baima was recognized for completing the ROTC Training Corps Airborne School. Brown, DePhillips, Maximiliano Espinosa, Byron Farnsworth, Peak, Ian Surrency, Joshua Tripp and Thomas Wade were recognized for completing Cadet Advanced Camp, a 38-day course that is a prerequisite to commissioning as an officer through ROTC.

STUDENTS LISTED BY HOMETOWN:

Cache: Drake Jones, Andrew Permenter, Cadyn Young

Elgin: Conner Boyles, David Cardoza, Dalton Peak, Raymond DePhillips, Joshua Tripp

Faxon: Warren Jones

Lawton/Fort Sill: Robyn Brown, Maximiliano Espinosa, Byron Farnsworth, Johnathan Gonzalez, Alex Heidebrecht, Chloe Lowe, Anthony Montoya, Jeran Rivera, Robert Samuels, Ian Surrency, Thomas Wade

Loco: Heidi Durvin

Medicine Park: Trystian Thompson

Marlow: Thor Baima

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PR#25-146