Dear Parents,

	At dawn, a cadet company forms up for guard mount to relieve the current company guarding the front sallyports.

           I hope that your holidays were wonderful and that this new year finds you and your family in good health and spirits. As we begin a new semester, I would like to pause to reflect back on some of the exciting moments of the summer and fall semester. From summer internships to the annual Christmas Candlelight Service to the community, your cadets were on the go. The Corps was involved in activities that would make you very proud, and I just wanted to tell you about some of the many things they have done.

In the spotlight

Platoon Sergeant Cadet Peter Pistolis leads Alpha Company freshmen to victory in the Kelly Cup competition for the best drilled fourth class Parents’ Weekend.

           At the awards review on September 27, Hotel Company Commander Cadet Brandon Conwill accepted the President’s Cup. The highest honor that can be bestowed upon a cadet company, the President’s Cup is awarded to the company with the highest combined score in academic achievement, military performance, extracurricular participation, fourth class retention, and the fewest disciplinary cases during the previous academic year. Cadet Academic Officer Joshua Robinson received the Summerall Cup for academic achievement on behalf of Palmetto Battery. Delta Company Commander Cadet Robert Heaton accepted the Murray D. Bonnoitt Award for the company with the highest freshman class retention for the 2001-2002 academic year. Bravo Company Cadet Academic Officer Joshua Tackett accepted the Pearlstine Award for the company with the highest freshman class grade point ratio for the 2001-2002 academic year. And Regimental Human Affairs Officer Cadet Paul Steketee was recognized for his contribution to community service within the Corps when he was awarded the Harry F. Dawley Award.

           At the Parents’ Day review, October 12, Hotel Company was awarded the Regimental Commander’s Bowl for the company with the most successful cadre as demonstrated by the fourth class attrition rate and fourth class performance in close order drill, physical training and knob knowledge. Cadet Adam Smith accepted the award on behalf of Hotel Company. And Alpha Company Platoon Sergeant Cadet Peter Pistolis accepted the Kelly Cup for Alpha Company for having the best drilled fourth class.

           Cadet Michael Motley received the Colonel Loring K. Himelright Scholarship for his outstanding performance as a civil engineering student Homecoming weekend. And for the 10th consecutive year, The Citadel Tau Iota chapter of Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society, earned honor chapter distinction from the National Executive Committee for outstanding activities performed in the 2001-2002 academic year. Cadets currently serving as officers are President Cadet George Alvites, Vice President Cadet Paul Swaim, and Secretary-Treasurer Cadet David Ponce.

In academic life

           Three biology cadets participated in the Medical University of South Carolina’s Undergraduate Research Program. Cadet Adam Hill presented research on Isolating the Tiger Salamander Green Rod Photoreceptor Gene; Cadet Renee Hypolite (‘02), Serotonin Transporters and Alcoholism; and Cadet Christopher Shillinglaw, Isolation of the Salamander Red Rod Opsin Gene from a Salamander Genomic Library.

           Cadet Michael Ellisor was the initial recipient of the Samuel Adam and Jane Allan Wideman Fellowship, a $3,000 award to promote summer research. In the fall, he presented a paper on the results of his research at the regional meeting of the American Chemical Society. Other students who made presentations were Cadets Thomas Caldwell, John Nickles, Brian Williams, and Staff Sgt. Adrian Ybarra, a Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP) student. Cadet Anyanime Edem and Staff Sgt. Ybarra were also recipients of the Samuel Adam and Jane Allan Wideman Scholarships.

           Cadet Josh Underwood worked as an intern last summer at the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks in Pennsylvania, writing descriptions and cataloging personal papers donated by retiring general officers and veterans. Cadet Nick Sinclair spent his summer as an intern at the Pearson Peacekeeping Center in Canada. Cadet Angie Gabella compiled a sizeable portfolio through her work as an intern in the public affairs office, writing news releases, online articles, and magazine features. And Cadet Brandon Hall, a Spanish major, was accepted into the highly selective Wake Forest University Salamanca Program in Spain where he is studying this semester.

           Cadet Adam Whitsett, a member of the Honors Program, worked for South Carolina Representative Henry Brown until after Memorial Day, locating World War II veterans eligible for honors they never received. Another cadet from the Honors Program, Olivia Perry-Smith traveled to England to take part in the Wadham College Refugee Studies Center summer program. As the youngest participant and the only American, she studied with administrators from government and private organizations all over the world.

           At the state conference on Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (HPERD), Cadet Matt Rowell presented his research on “Creating a Corporate Wellness Venue.” Staff Sgt. Mike McNeal, a MECEP student, was recognized as the outstanding HPERD student for the year 2002 for the state of South Carolina—the third consecutive year that a Citadel Health, Exercise and Sport Science student was recognized as the outstanding student for the state. Cadets Miriam Crawford, Stefanie Farris, Brittney Guerry, Marc Mounts, Gray Payne, and Staff Sgt. McNeal competed at the annual superstars event (a combination of physical and knowledge tests) and came in second place.

In community service

	Cadet Desiree Browning enjoys the Christmas party with one of the bullpups. Bulldog-Bullpup is a mentoring program that gives cadets an opportunity to serve as positive role models to area children.

          Cadets performed more than 8,500 hours in community service throughout the semester. Members of the Regimental Band and Pipes participated in more than 25 functions throughout the semester from the swearing-in ceremony to academic convocation, from the Charleston Scottish Games to Scottish Heritage Sunday, and from the National Alzheimer’s Walk to National Homeless Awareness. The college marked the one-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks with a memorial service, and many cadets took part in memorial events across the Charleston area, including the service at the Declaration of Independence exhibit at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center and a memorial service at Patriot’s Point.

           In October, approximately 40 cadets volunteered their evenings to help Cypress Gardens host their annual Halloween in the Swamp. Cadets paddled boats of children and families through the swamp filled with ghosts and goblins. Another 25 cadets traveled to the Isle of Palms Recreation Center to help with their annual Halloween Carnival while Cadets Rafael Boschetti, Courtney Kelly, Victor Pimentel, and Jason Pitstick helped with the haunted house at the Stiles Point Elementary School’s Fall Festival.

           More than 35 cadets helped The Citadel and MUSC's Office of Diversity host a Youth Wellness Festival on campus. Cadets Philip Medico and James Senter spent eight hours in volunteer training and have since spent their free time working with the elderly at Odyssey Healthcare. Several cadets assisted with the U-20 International Soccer Tournament in November at Blackbaud Stadium. Thirteen cadets in the SCUBA Club led by Cadets Adam Coley and Adam Miller spent a Saturday picking up 400 pounds of glass and metal from the bottom of the Ashley and Cooper rivers as part of the International Beach Sweep. At the same time 40 Delta Company cadets under the leadership of Cadets Carl Wright and Jackson Bowers spent their day building a house for a low income family with the Sea Island Habitat for Humanity organization. Cadets Jordan Barnett, Raymond Hettling, Andrew Kelly, George Moultrie, and Ashley Schellinger, led by Cadet Dave Scealf, assisted with the South Carolina Alzheimer’s Association walk, setting-up, registering participants, and cleaning up afterward.

           In December, a dozen Citadel cheerleaders and another six cadet volunteers cheered the athletes at the first annual Special Olympics District Unified Soccer Tournament. The cadets represented the largest group of volunteers from any single organization and were a great encouragement to the young athletes. Cadet Rachel Rogers coached one of the Spirit United teams representing the East Cooper area.

           The Psychology Department's chapter of Psi Chi, the National Psychology Honor Society, had the greatest response ever to its annual holiday drive for food, small items of clothing, and toiletries for the Crisis Ministries Homeless Shelter. More than 70 bags and boxes of donations from cadets, graduate students, faculty and staff were delivered to the shelter just before Christmas. The Citadel Psychology Department ushered in the new year by preparing and serving lunch to some 200 homeless people at Crisis Ministries shelter on New Year’s Eve.

On campus

The Corps of Cadets appeared on national television when MSNBC’s “Hardball” broadcasted live from Mark Clark Hall on Oct. 2 as part of their year-long college tour.

           One hundred and twenty-seven cadets participated in the Daniel Library’s drawing (What the Big Dawgs are Reading) to encourage reading. Between September and late November, cadets submitted 204 titles of books they were reading. Winning cadets were William Barr, Josh Braly, Yanni Bohren, Brenton Brown, Eric Buchanan, Calvin Chastain, Vincenzo Ciaravino, Chase Corte, Jeff Cotto, William Coury, Travis DeFreest, Avel Fernandez, Justin Francis, Robert Garcia, Vence Gaskins, Josh Goldberg, Robyn Gratic, Joseph Han, Elizabeth Harris, Mike Hellard, Kenneth Henkes, James Hill, Sean Jones, Brandon Kirch, John Lee, Frank Llaneza, Jeremy Longshore, Laurie McDaniel, Clay Middleton, Craig Miller, Chris Nastal, Richard Neikirk, Elliot Pernula, Thomas Rachelski, Todd Rose, Taishi Sato, William Thomas, Jose Viteri, Joseph Walker, Paul Wheeler, and John Zink.

           Twenty cadets joined faculty and staff members at the November Communication Across Curriculum meeting to discuss “Ethics, Honor, and Personal Integrity at The Citadel.” In December, the Corps held the annual Christmas Candlelight Service in Summerall Chapel for three nights. The combined cadet choir and brass ensemble performed magnificently, once again making the service a holiday highlight in the Lowcountry. Soloists singing this year were Cadets Rita Avila, Terri Beshirs, Bryan Clayton, Matt Frye, Torrey Gasch, Sean Glas, Travis Graham, Matthew Green, Greg Holden, Samuel Joiner, Brandon Kirch, Nicholas Lyden, Craig Maxey, Brooks O’Steen, Rachel Rogers, Stephen Schloss, Anderson Stewart, Paul Wheeler, and Deborah White. Cadet Josh Zammito read Gabriel’s Message to Mary and Cadet Joel Johnson read the Adoration of the Magi. The program was taped by Turner South TV and excerpts will appear on the Southern Living show, “Christmas in Charleston,” next December.

In athletics

The Citadel cheerleaders form a pyramid at the Sept. 21 game against Western Carolina.

           The sailing team, led by team captains Cadets David O'Reilly and Josh Putnam, consistently challenged cross-town rival College of Charleston while placing ahead of Duke, Tennessee, Davidson, and Clemson. At the South Atlantic Interscholastic Sailing Association Men’s Single-Handed Championships, Cadet David O’Reilly placed third and Cadet Josh Putnam placed 11th. Cadet Eric Buchanan from the crew team placed 5th in the Men's Novice Singles Race. The Citadel Ice Hockey team beat the University of South Carolina 12-8 in an exciting game at Carolina Ice Palace. Cadets made a fine showing at the Hartsville Family YMCA Triathlon. Cadet Kyle O’Donohoe placed first with Cadets Matt Verdin and Chris Gaitens placing second and third respectively; Cadet Angel Guzman placed seventh.

           The pistol team had a good year. Cadets Marilyn Castro, Rikki Felts, and MECEP student Sarah Carrasco placed first in the women’s division at the standard pistol match in Charlotte while Cadets Jeremy Pressgrove and John Wintz and MECEP students Freddy Morales and Javier Roman placed first in the men’s division. At a match hosted by the U.S. Military Academy, Cadets Chris Barker, William Murray, Matt Shirley, and MECEP students Geoffrey Newton and Freddy Morales finished second.

           The Citadel Football team defeated nationally ranked Delaware and pushed national powers Georgia Southern and Appalachian State to near victories during the 2002 football season. Several college records fell under as quarterback and College of Graduate and Professional Studies student Jeff Klein, running back Cadet Nehemiah Broughton, wide receiver Cadet Scooter Johnson, defensive end Cadet Cliff Washburn and kicker Cadet Travis Zobel each set records. Cadets Broughton, Johnson, Washburn, Zobel and center Cadet Chad Boozer earned all-league recognition from coaches and the media. Cadet Washburn posted one of the best stories in all of college football this season as he made the switch from basketball to the gridiron. He became the first player in Southern Conference history to earn league player-of-the-week honors in two sports and to set the college's single-game and single-season sack records. And he became only the third Bulldog to earn a trip to the East-West Shrine game in San Francisco.

           In volleyball, Cadet Nicole Mantu was honored with pre-game roses and a framed jersey for her excellent play. Cadet Mantu has been a four-year starter for the Bulldogs as Coach Wendy Anderson's first recruit. She currently holds 12 school records from 1999-2001. As this year's team captain, she led the team in total attempts with 974, total kills with 311, kills per game with 3.31, digs with 348, and is third on the team with 39 service aces. As she participated in her last match, Cadet Mantu contributed to The Citadel charge with 13 kills on 53 attempts and 13 digs.

           The Citadel Rifle team had the fifth highest team score nationwide this season in collegiate air rifle according to the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association. The Citadel defeated North Carolina State and Wofford in their opener by shooting a 1493. The team also took top honors in the Ohio Valley Conference Governors Invitational. The men’s soccer team narrowly missed making the Southern Conference Tournament, winning four more games this year than last. The season was highlighted by a 2-1 win over league rival Georgia Southern. The team mustered two home victories in addition to two road victories. A total of 22 goals were scored, an improvement of 12 over last year. Offensively, the team took a total of 192 shots as compared to last year’s 117. Ninety-three shots on goal were fired in comparison to 54 in 2001. The women’s soccer team finished with five victories, including wins over Delaware State, South Carolina State, Southern Virginia, and Converse College.

T	The Regimental Color Guard stands at attention at Friday afternoon parade on Summerall Field.

In closing

           The spring semester is beginning to take shape and cadets are once again entrenched in their demanding schedules, winning awards, conducting exciting research, taking part in the community, and setting new records on the playing fields. I am sure you agree—they are fine representatives of The Citadel and their families.

           Norwood joins me in sending you our very best wishes.

Sincerely,

John S. Grinalds
Major General, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired)
President, The Citadel