GCU Army ROTC commissioning

By Ralph Freso

GCU Army ROTC commissioned 15 cadets as 2nd lieutenants during a ceremony Friday at Ethington Theatre.

  • Colangelo College of Business Dean John Kaites speaks during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Guest speaker Dr. Richard Holland addresses the cadets during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Guest speaker Dr. Richard Holland addresses the cadets during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Guest speaker Dr. Richard Holland addresses the cadets during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Cadet Benjamin Coleman listens during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Cadets take the oath of office during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Cadets take the oath of office during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Andrew Simeri and his fellow cadets take the oath of office during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • A family member pins on Cadet Nicholas Barrientos' 2nd lieutenant bars during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Cadet Benjamin Coleman watches as his parents pin on his 2nd lieutenant bars during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Lt. Col Ryan Whipple (right) presents cadet Benjamin Coleman with his commissioning certificate and officer’s saber during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Lt. Col Ryan Whipple presents cadet Emma Davisson with her commission certificate and officer's saber during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Cadet Anthony Dix (left) receives his commission certificate and officer’s saber from Lt. Col Ryan Whipple during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Family members pin on Cadet Colton Fritz's 2nd lieutenant bars during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Cadet Cristian Garcia gets his 2nd lieutenant bars pinned on by family members during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Cadet Cristian Garcia receives his first salute as an officer during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Family members pin on cadet Matthew Krauss' 2nd lieutenant bars during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Cadet Matthew Krauss (right) receives his first salute as an officer during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Young family members pin on Cadet Juan Loera's 2nd lieutenant bars during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Cadet Juan Loera (right) receives his first salute as an officer during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Cadet Sergio Machuca gets his 2nd lieutenant bars pinned by his wife and daughter during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Cadet Sergio Machuca is presented his commission certificate and officer’s saber by Lt. Col Ryan Whipple during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Cadet Andrew Simeri gets his 2nd lieutenant bars pinned by family members during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Cadet Louis Odom is presented his commission certificate and officer’s saber by Lt. Col Ryan Whipple during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Cadet Andrew Simeri (right) receives his first salute as an officer during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Cadet Stefanie Tanner (right) receives her first salute as an officer during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Cadet Stefani Tanner is presented her commission certificate and officer’s saber by Lt. Col Ryan Whipple during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Cadet Garth Tourville is presented his commission certificate and officer’s saber by Lt. Col Ryan Whipple during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Cadet Cameron Weldy (center) gets his 2nd lieutenant bars pinned by his brother Connor Weldy and family members during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Army Lt. Col Ryan Whipple makes closing remarks during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Cadet Juan Loera (center) and his fellow commissioned officers sing the Army song during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Cadet Cameron Weldy and his fellow commissioned officers sing the Army song during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Newly commissioned officer Stefanie Tanner (right) gets a congratulatory hug during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026
  • Newly commissioned officer Benjamin Coleman displays his officer’s saber during the GCU Army ROTC commissioning ceremony at Ethington Theatre. May 8, 2026

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GCU Magazine

August 2026

Bible Verse

This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ. (Philippians 1:9-10)

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