ROTC Cadets Commissioned as Part of Fall Commencement Exercises
LSU ROTC Commissioning Ceremony December 18, 2024
BATON ROUGE –– Four LSU graduates were recognized during LSU's December commissioning ceremony Thursday, Dec. 19, at the LSU Digital Media Center. The keynote speaker was Col. Clifton Lopez, garrison commander of the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Johnson, La.
LSU Army ROTC:
Baton Rouge, La. — 2nd Lt. Kyle Merriman was commissioned into the Louisiana Army National Guard and will have his rank pinned on by his parents, Farah and Kurt Merriman. A native of Baton Rouge, Merriman will earn a bachelor’s degree in history with minors in anthropology and professional leadership. He will assess into the ordnance corps and will receive his first salute from Command Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Curtis Davis.
Lake Charles, La. — 2nd Lt. Cameron Williams was commissioned into the United States Active Duty Army and will have his rank pinned on by his mother, Carolyn Williams, and his brother, Curley Williams. A native of Lake Charles, Williams will earn a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in professional leadership. He will assess into the air defense artillery corps and will receive his first salute from Sgt. 1st Class (Ret.) Keith Rupe.
Marin County, Calif. — 2nd Lt. Austin Lamar was commissioned into the California Army National Guard and will have his rank pinned on by his mother, Lisa Lamar, and his father, Steven Lamar. A native of Marin County, Lamar will earn a bachelor’s degree in finance with a minor in professional leadership. He will assess into the field artillery corps and will receive his first salute from Sgt. 1st Class (Ret.) Keith Rupe.
Pueblo, Colo. — 2nd Lt. Tanner Blatnik was commissioned into the United States Active Duty Army and will have his rank pinned on by his mother, Erica Blanshard, and his stepbrother, Christopher Blanshard. A native of Pueblo, Blatnik will earn a bachelor’s degree in construction management with minors in technical sales and business administration. He will assess into the infantry corps and will receive his first salute from his stepfather, CSM John Blanshard.
For additional information on the ROTC program, contact John Ezzo, Recruiting Operations Officer of LSU’s Department of Military Science, at 225-578-2122 or arotc@lsu.edu.
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