Trine students earn ROTC honors

Anderson, Winkler, Krug excelling

ANGOLA, Ind. — Three Trine University students received awards from the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend this month.

Cadet Heath Anderson received the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association Honor Certificate, which recognizes an outstanding cadet who has demonstrated leadership and achievement in academics. Anderson, of Danville, Ill., is a senior chemical engineering major.

Cadet Michael Winkler received the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Commendation Award, which recognizes superior performance for single superior acts of achievement or academic team service in the top 10 percent of the corps of 105 cadets. Examples of duties that may warrant consideration for the award include outstanding performance in leadership, officer duties, training other cadets or detachment service project performance. Winkler is a junior design engineering technology major.

Cadet Annalisa Krug received the American Legion Award for Scholastic Excellence, which recognizes cadets with the highest grade-point averages in their class. Krug is a sophomore criminal justice and psychology double major.

Trine University is one of seven colleges or universities that has a “cross-town agreement” with the ROTC at Notre Dame. Trine students attend ROTC classes and a leadership lab at the University of Notre Dame on Tuesdays, with transportation provided by Trine.

Seven Trine students, not including incoming freshmen, are expected to participate in the program next year, said Cpt. Jessica Smith, who serves as the education officer for Air Force ROTC detachment 225 at Notre Dame.

“We are extremely proud of all of our ROTC cadets, who have represented Trine in exemplary fashion,” said David Finley, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs. “We are pleased to be a participant in this outstanding educational collaboration with the U.S. Air Force.”