Joint Service Awards Ceremony

The annual spring Corps of Cadets award ceremony honors students for their leadership, academics, and athletic achievements. The long-held tradition is a way to display in front of loved ones and classmates the trademark grit, determination, and resiliency demonstrated by the graduating class.

This year’s Joint Service Awards Ceremony honors students from U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard.
 

Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer was the much-anticipated keynote speaker. The fellow Norwich University graduate was sworn in as the 17th Sergeant Major of the Army on August 4, 2022. Weimer’s most recent assignment was service as the Command Sergeant Major for U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Fort Liberty, North Carolina. 

Throughout his career he has served in a variety of positions from team member to Command Sergeant Major of Special Operations Joint Task Force Afghanistan, to Command Senior Enlisted Leader of U.S. Special Operations Command Central. In total, he has nearly 20 years in Special Mission Units. Weimer earned his Norwich University Bachelor of Science degree in Strategic Studies and Defense Analysis.

C/COT Logan Wineriter received the George C. Marshall Award which is given to the outstanding Army senior cadet in each of the 350 college and university Army ROTC detachments. The award was presented by COL Stephen A. Roberts, USA, Professor of Military Science. Earlier this semester, CDT Wineriter, who is also a member of the Norwich University defending two-time conference champion men’s swimming and diving team, was honored as the national Army ROTC Cadet of the Week.

The Chief of Naval Operations Distinguished Midshipman Graduate Award went to Navy MIDN 1/C John Luchsinger. The award is presented to the graduating Navy or Marine Corps option senior who demonstrates the highest standards of leadership, academic and military performance within the Norwich University community, Naval ROTC department, and the Corps of Cadets. Col Don Maraska, USMC, Professor of Naval Science presented the award. 

Two of the award winners for the Air Force and Space Force, C/Capt Nicholas Karavas and C/Capt Emily Karavas, are certainly having a busy final semester. In the midst of preparing for graduation and commissioning, the pair also got married earlier this semester in White Memorial Chapel, officiated by Rev. Wick and surrounded by close friends. 

C/Capt Emily Karavas was awarded the Air & Space Forces Association Marty H. Harris Outstanding ROTC Cadet of the Year Award which is awarded to one cadet who possess characteristics contributing to leadership and future value in positions of responsibility such as a positive attitude toward AFROTC and school, personal attributes, personal appearance, courtesy, and officer potential. The cadet must rank in the upper 5 percent of the AS 300 class and rank in the upper 10 percent of her/his graduating class. The award was presented by Ray Tanguay, President, AFA Green Mountain Chapter and Mark Eastman. 

The Theodore L. Sodergren Commitment Award, won by C/Capt Nicholas Karavas, is given to the graduating Air Force senior who demonstrated selfless support for their Air Force classmates, the team player who exemplifies the wingman concept. The award was presented by Prof. Steven Sodergren, Chair, Department of History and Political Science.

MIDN 1/C Justin Bryant, who was also one of the captains for the football team this past year, earned the Maj. Gen. Jonas Platt, USMC ’40 Award which is given to a graduating senior to be commissioned in the Marine Corps who distinguished themselves through scholastic achievement, leadership, and excellence of character. The award was presented by a fellow Marine and former Cadet athlete, BG William McCullough ’91, VSM, Commandant and Vice President of Student Affairs.

The awards ceremony thoughtfully acknowledged the achievements of students from every class. 

The Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Award is awarded to up to 3 recipients, enrolled in MS-III, in the top 10% of the class in ROTC grades, and top 25% of the class in general academic grades. Additionally, recipients have contributed the most, through leadership, to advance the standing of the ROTC unit and the Department of Military Science at the institution. COL Stephen A. Roberts, USA, Professor of Military Science presented the award to C/MSG Sophia M. Righthouse, C/SFC Michael Outlaw, and C/SSG Brynn M. Lecakes. 
 

In total, 43 awards were presented during the ceremony, demonstrating a broad range of student accomplishments. The ceremony culminated superbly with a distinct presentation bridging military skill, leadership, commitment, and academic strength. Norwich University Provost & Dean of the Faculty, and Acting President Dr. Karen Gaines presented SMA Michael Weimer with a special framed copy of his diploma from Norwich University, underlining the recognition of his achievement and the institution’s pride in his accomplishments. 

***

About Norwich University
Norwich University is a diversified academic institution that educates traditional-age students and adults in a Corps of Cadets and as civilians. Norwich offers a broad selection of traditional and distance-learning programs culminating in baccalaureate and graduate degrees. Norwich University was founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge of the U.S. Army and is the oldest private military college in the United States of America. Norwich is one of our nation's six senior military colleges and the birthplace of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).  www.norwich.edu