The most prestigious of The Culver Academies’ honors and awards were presented to members of the Class of 2001, students, faculty, and alumni at the June 2 Commencement Convocation in Eppley Auditorium.

As the recipient of the YMCA Cup, Adam Hirschfeld '01, a member of Battery C from New Bremen, Ohio, was the cadet who, in the opinion of the faculty, best exemplified the ideals of Culver.

Jeanne Chuman '01 received the President's Bowl.  A resident of Tower from Chesterton, Ind., she was recognized as the graduate of Culver Girls Academy whose character and achievement have brought honor to The Academies and to herself.

The other top awards presented to members of the Class of 2001 were:

The VanZandt Key to Alejandro Espinosa of Company B from Bogota, Colombia.

The Mary Frances England Humanitarian Award to Katherine Martha of Linden from Pittsburgh.

The McDonald Award to Randy Minas of Company A from Crown, Point, Ind.

The Hughes Award to Sarah Falcon of Tower from Peoria, Ill.                   

The Jane Metcalfe Culver Bowl to Alison Turney of Tower from Marshfield, Wis.

The Chambers Award to Cesar Gutierrez of Troop from Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

Two appointments to service academies were presented by Commandant Capt. Michael Kehoe. Amy Ritterbusch ’01 of Canton Center, Conn., received her appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, and Jason Bracich ’01 of Manassas, Va., received an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy.

The President’s Education Awards were awarded to 26 students in the Class of 2000 with a GPA of at least 3.5 and scoring in the 85th percentile in one of these national test scores: SAT verbal, SAT math, or ACT composite.

ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT AWARDS

Science Department

The Raymond K. Walmoth Award is presented to the freshman or sophomore who, in the opinion of the science faculty, best demonstrates a love of learning and displays an abiding curiosity in all aspects of nature. The recipient was Eli Hatch ’04 of Battery C from Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

The Walter W. Strait Memorial Award was presented to Colleen Walsh ’02 of Benson from Monticello, Ill. The award is in memory of Walter W. Strait, former chairman of the Science Department and instructor at Culver from 1934-72. An endowed gift from his family and many friends, this award of $250 is presented annually to the outstanding 11th-grade science student for use in the purchase of books, equipment and supplies related to a science project.

The Science Medal was presented to brothers Ling Yan and Xiang Yan, both of Company A from Shenzhen City, China. The medal is presented to a graduating senior  who, in the opinion of the Science Department, demonstrates unusual promise in the field of science by superior interest, initiative, and achievement.

The recipient of the Fred C. Koch Award for outstanding originality in the arts and sciences was Sarah Falcon ’01 of Tower from Peoria, Ill.

Mathematics Department

The Indiana Council of Teachers of Mathematics Outstanding Achievement Award for excellence in mathematics was presented to Ling Yan ’01 and Xiang Yan ’01, both of Comapny A and from Shenzhen City, China.

American Mathematics Competion Certificates of Distinction, for scoring at least 100 on the American Mathematics Contest AMC-12 and qualifying to take the American Invitational Mathematics Examination, were presented to Christalee Bieber ’03 of Benson from South Bend, Ind.; Robert Bieber ’04 of Band from South Bend, Ind.; Jessica Hsieh ’01 of Linden from Feng-Yuang City, Taiwan; Robert Moore ’02 of Company A from Culver, Ind.; Ling Yan ’01 of Company A from Shenzhen City, China; Xiang Yan ’01 of Company A from Shenzhen City, China; and Haining Yu ’03 of Atrium from Liberty Township, Ohio.

The Rensselaer Mathematics and Science Award is presented to a member of the junior class for outstanding achievement in mathematics and science. The recipient was Edward Chang of Battery C from Taipei, Taiwan.

Foreign Language Department

The Burton L. Curry Award for excellence in French was presented to Alejandro Espinosa ’01 of Company B from Bogota, Colombia. The award is given by the Foreign Language Department in honor of Mr. Curry, who retired after 37 years of service to The Academies.

The recipient of the John Fraser Roos Award for excellence in Latin was Alex Rennekamp ’01 of Company C from Gig Harbor, Wash. The award is given by the Foreign Language Department in memory of Mr. Roos, who retired after 30 years of service to The Academies.

Paige Green ’01 of Court from Bedford, Ind., received the Martin A. Uebel Award for excellence in German. Given by the Foreign Language Department, the award honors Col. Uebel, who retired after 37 years of service to The Academies.

The recipient of the John R. Mars Award for excellence in Spanish was Carlotta Stevens ’01 of Atrium from Rochester, Ind. The award is given by the Foreign Language Department in honor of Dean Mars who taught Spanish at The Academies for 35 years and served as chairman of the Language Department for 11 years before being named Culver’s 10th superintendent in 1976.

English Department

The Walter G. Roberts Award is given by vote of the English Department to the freshman who has best demonstrated those qualities of literary interest and enthusiasm admired and encouraged by the late Walter G. Roberts during his long career of teaching at Culver. The award went to Kaylan Chidgey of Atrium from Burnet, Texas.

Christalee Bieber of Benson from South Bend, Ind., was the recipient of The Mack S. Rau Award. The award is given the English Department to the sophomore who has best demonstrated those qualities of the late Mack S. Rau, an outstanding 1971 Culver graduate who exhibited a sincere interest in English and who excelled in both written and oral communication.

The Brown University Award, presented to the junior boy and girl who are judged outstanding in English, went to Krystal Wilson of Benson from Elwood, Ind., and Laurence Tooth of Company C from Versailles, Ky.

Jeanne Chuman of Tower from Chesterton, Ind., and John Trummer of Band from Farmington Hills, Mich., were the recipients of The C.S. Young Award. The award is given by vote of the English Department to that member of the graduating class who is judged to have best exhibited those scholarly and personal qualities that characterized the late C.S. Young, who taught at Culver from 1917-61.

History Department

The A.E.K. Cull Award is presented to members of the graduating class who, in the estimation of the History Department, are judged to have best exhibited talent and promise in the field of history. The recipients were Xiang Yan of Company A from Shenzhen City, China, and Jessica Hsieh of Linden from Feng-Yuang City, Taiwan.

Fine Arts Department

The Collins-Rea Award for excellence in theater activities went to John Trummer ’01 of Band from Farmington Hills, Mich.

For outstanding performance in the theater, Randy Minas ’01 of Company A from Crown Point, Ind., received the Charles C. Mather Award.

The Josh Logan Musical Award, for unusual dedication to the production of school musicals, was presented to Sarah Falcon ’01 of Tower from Peoria, Ill. She also received the Arion Award, given by the Fine Arts Department to a graduating senior for outstanding achievement in vocal music.

Justin Hershberger ’01 of Band from Culver, Ind., received the W.J. O’Callaghan Award for all-around excellence in the Culver Military Academy Band.

The W.J. O’Callaghan Award to the graduating senior of CGA who is judged to be the outstanding musician went to Dyan Zobrist of Linden from Hamilton, Ohio.

The John Phillip Sousa Award, to the graduating first classman of Culver Military Academy voted to be the most outstanding instrumentalist, went to Jonathan Huang of Band from Taichung, Taiwan.

The Shelley Speet Mills Dance Award is presented to the graduating senior of Culver Girls Academy or Culver Military Academy judged to be the outstanding dancer. This award is made possible through the interest of Edith Brooks Mitchell and Deborah Brooks in memory of Shelley Speet Mills, with whom they attended Culver Summer School for Girls and graduated in 1968. This year’s recipient was Heather Fritz of Ciel from Bartlesville, Okla.

The Virginia Bays Dance Award was presented to Christalee Bieber ’03 of Benson from South Bend, Ind., as the outstanding new dancer displaying the greatest potential, progress, and enthusiasm.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY AWARDS

Student Publications

The Roll Call Award of Excellence, given for dedicated services to the yearbook’s production, went to Ashley Conway ’03 of Atrium from Dayton, Ohio.

The South Bend Tribune “Most Valuable Staffer Award” is voted on by The Vedette staff and given to the individual who has made the greatest contribution to the success of the school newspaper. The recipient was Paige Green ’01 of Court from Bedford, Ind.

The Franklin D. Schurz Jr. Journalism Award is given annually to an underclass student who has shown excellence and proficiency in working for The Vedette. This year’s recipient was Lindsay Allen ’02 of Court from Plymouth, Ind.

The Vedette Pen, for outstanding contribution to The Vedette and given by former editor Mr. Harry C. Block ’37, went to Paige Green ’01 of Court from Bedford, Ind.

Vedette Citations are presented by the staff of the school newspaper to groups and organizations which have made significant contributions and have furthered the best name and best principles of Culver. The 2000-2001 recipients were the CMA football team and coaches; the organizers, Horsemanship staff, Troopers, and Equestriennes involved with the Presidential Inaugural Parade; and the CGA Re-Establishing the Community Committee.

Established by Col. William Northam ’30, prizes were awarded to the top three contestants of the Northam Speech Contest, which was open to all students. First place ($200) went to Laurence Tooth ’01 of Company C from Versailles, Ky. Second prize ($100) was awarded to Monica Gowdar ’02 of Benson from Decatur, Ill. Bryan Myers ’03 of Company A from Burr Ridge, Ill., received $50 for third.

Culver Military Academy

The Cadet Club Medal is presented “to the cadet in the First Class who, by vote of the Cadet Club, is considered to have exercised the most constructive influence in the Corps of Cadets.” The medal was given to Cesar Rodriguez of Troop from Tamaulipas, Mexico.

Culver Girls Academy

The Bertha L. Jones Award was presented to Marisha Mukerjee ’02 of Linden from Springfield, Ohio. The award was established to honor Mrs. Jones who, as Academies librarian from 1966-90, gave unselfishly of her time and energy to enhance the educational opportunities for girls at Culver. It is given to the junior girl who by her outstanding constructive influence among her peers has made a significant contribution to Culver Girls Academy.

The recipient of the CGA Council Award was Katie Hoefling ’01 of Court from Springfield, Ohio. The award is given to the member of the CGA Council who best embodies the ideals of the organization through her commitment to the betterment of Culver Girls Academy.

Benson Hall received the CGA Dormitory Activities Award, given to the dormitory attaining the highest average number of activities points per student.

Aviation Awards

The Lt. Gen. John W. Carpenter III Aviation Award, given to the member of the graduating class judged to be the most outstanding in the aviation program, went to Stephen Golden of Band from Buffalo, N.Y., and Blair Walker of Troop from Austin, Texas.

A Private Pilot Certificate was achieved by Stephen Golden ’01 of Band from Buffalo, N.Y.

A Solo Certificate was earned by Mohammed Aref ’03 of Troop from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Horsemanship Awards

The Fleet Cup, for the best all-around horseman, was awarded to Ruben Coppel ’01 of Troop from Calexico, Calif.

Sarah Bahr ’01 of Tower from Dayton, Ohio, received the Outstanding Horsewoman Award. This award is presented to the student displaying outstanding participation, spirit, and enthusiasm in equitation, and it is made possible through the interest and generosity of Miss Barbara Rubin ’78.

The Jack W. Warner Award for excellence in jumping went to Agustin Gutierrez-Lizaur ’03 of Troop from Mexico City. The award goes to the member of varsity jumping team who, in the opinion of the horsemanship faculty, has demonstrated excellence in jumping.

The recipient of the Col. Charles Maull Jr. Memorial Award was Blair Walker ’01 of Troop from Austin, Texas. The award is given to a member of the varsity polo team who has demonstrated excellence in the sport.

The recipient of the Collett V. Smith Memorial Trophy for excellence in rough riding was Philip Ruan ’03 of Troop from Des Moines, Iowa.

Athletic Awards

The Regimental Athletic Plaque was awarded to Battery A. The award is presented to the CMA unit attaining the most outstanding participation and performance in intramural athletics.

Molly Engstrom ’01 of Ciel from Siren, Wis., was named Outstanding Sportswoman of the Year. The award is presented by the CGA Class of 1972 to that student of Culver Girls Academy displaying outstanding participation, spirit, and enthusiasm.

The recipient of the Russ and Myra Oliver Best All-Round Athlete at Culver Military Academy award was Jackson Atoyebi ’01 of Company C from Chicago.

Miscellaneous Awards

The Student Activities Award is presented to the member of the graduating class who has enhanced the quality of life on campus through creative planning and responsible implementation of student activities and programs. The recipient was Katherine Martha of Linden from Pittsburgh. 

The William I. Koch ’58 Award, presented to a member of the graduating class who has best exhibited the attributes of teamwork, was awarded to Sarah Bahr of Tower from Dayton, Ohio.

New this year, the Ralph N. Manuel Award was presented to the male and female faculty or staff member who, in the opinion of the student body, best exemplifies the ideals of Culver. The inaugural recipients were Richard Davies, Ph.D., a master instructor of history, and Candace Koehn, a master instructor of English.

MILITARY HONORS BESTOWED AT THE GARRISON PARADE

Artillery Battalion

The Most Efficient Artillery Officer (Mounted Services Officer) was Chang Ching Lin ’01 of Battery A from Taipei, Taiwan.

Recipients of the Col. George T. Gunston Medals, presented to the most military artilleryman in the first, second, third, and fourth class, were: Adam Hirschfeld ’01 of Battery C from New Bremen, Ohio; James Fletcher ’02 of Battery C from Charlevoix, Mich.; Joseph Thomas-William Liles ’03 of Battery B from Zionsville, Ind.; and Nathan Schulman ’04 of Battery B from Sturgeon, Wis.

The Edward T. Tilley Memorial Saber is presented to the most outstanding second classman in the artillery. This year’s recipient was Tyler Sommer of Battery A from Vermillion, Ohio.

The Excellence in Squad Drill Award was presented to Ryan Harvey ’03, leader of Battery C, 1st Platoon, 2nd Squad of Harry Alston ’03, Philip Bailey ’03, and Graham Ellis ’04.

Cavalry Squadron

The Most Efficient Cavalry Officer (Mounted Services Officer) was Blair Walker ’01 from Austin, Texas. 

The James T. Hatfield Memorial Award, presented to the most outstanding third- or fourth-class Trooper, went to Daniel Tobert ’04 from Saudi Arabia.

Trooper Oliver Nelson of Chestnut Ridge, N.Y., was the recipient of the Col. Robert Rossow Award as the best all-around second classman in the cavalry.

The U.S. Cavalry Commandant’s Leadership Award was presented to Cesar Rodriguez-Elizondo from Tamaulipas, Mexico. This award goes to the first-class Trooper who demonstrates qualities that have engendered the esteem of his peers as well as his teachers, coaches, leadership instructors, and troop supervisors. 

Gutierrez also received the Bleakley Saddle Award as the Squadron commander.

The Frank H. Wesson Saber for the most outstanding second classman in the cavalry was presented to Travis Kososki of San Ramon, Calif.

The Excellence in Squad Drill Award was presented to Bryce Gill ’03, leader of the Squad made up of Mohammed Aref ’03, Alex Gonzalez ’04, Trent Hancock ’02, Cesar Martinez ’02, Francisco Romero ’03, and Daniel Tobert ’04.

Band

The Lewis Erwin Memorial Award as the best second classman in the Band was awarded to Jeffrey Kuhns of Lima, Ohio.

The Most Efficient Band Officer was Justin Hershberger ’01 from Culver, Ind.

The recipient of the Gordon H. Campbell Memorial Award, presented to the new cadet bandsman who, by his embrace of new opportunities, best exemplifies an understanding of the value of the Culver experience, was Mark Anderson ’04 of Dallas.

Infantry Battalion

Christian Hernandez ’01 of Company A from Chicago was the recipient of the Most Efficient Infantry Officer honor.

Hernandez also received the Guardsman of the Year Award for his leadership and all-around excellence as a member of the Honor Guard.

The Albert L. Kurtz Award for the best all-around infantryman below the rank of cadet captain went to William Rennekamp ’01 of Company A from El Paso, Texas.

Clayton Lewis ’03 of Company A from Pittsburgh was the recipient of the  Thomas Hyde Medal, signifying the best new cadet in the Infantry.

The Col. C.F. McKinney Saber, recognizing the outstanding second classman in the Infantry was given to John Dawson of Company B from Morocco, Ind.

The Excellence in Squad Drill Award was presented to Didier Masuekama ’02, leader of Company C, 1st Platoon, 3rd Squad made up of Andrew Mize ’04, Patrick Thornburg ’04, and Yev Saidashev ’03.

Miscellaneous

The Military Leadership Badge is awarded to the Honor Make Sergeants Major. The recipients were Harrison Bradford ’02 of Company B from Milwaukee; John Dawson ’02 of Company B from Morocco, Ind.; James Fletcher ’02 of Battery C from Charlevoix, Mich.; and Oliver Nelson ’02 of Troop from Chestnut Ridge, N.Y.

The Association of Military Colleges and Schools President’s Medal is awarded to the first classman who exemplifies the finest military traditions of CMA. The recipient was Matt Konecny of Battery B from South Bend, Ind.

The Austin Trophy for excellence in drill was awarded to Company A, 2nd Platoon. The Battery Merit Cup went to Battery C, and the Kitts Cup was awarded to Troop, 2nd Platoon.

Twenty-one scholars named to Cum Laude Society

      Twenty-one seniors and first classmen were invited to join the Culver Chapter of the Cum Laude Society during the 2000-2001 school year. Those selected—nine cadets and 12 girls from—were honored at a scholarship banquet during Spring Parents Weekend.

Blue Key adds 8 names to roster

      Eight juniors and second classmen were named to the Blue Key Society for academic excellence during the 2000-2001 academic year. 

Faculty/Staff Members 

Schmiedlin, Terrell, Adams honored

  The Major Delmar T. Spivey Award, presented to recognize and encourage superior teaching among younger, promising members of the faculty, went to freshman humanities instructor J.J. Schmiedlin.   Schmiedlin joined the faculty in August 1997 as an associate instructor of English. He also has serves as assistant Varsity B and head JV hockey coach.   A native of Pennsylvania, Schmiedlin graduated from Bethany College in 1993 with a bachelor’s of arts degree and from Kent State University in 1997 with a master’s degree. He and his wife, Beth, CGA counselor, have one son, Jack, 18 months.

Senior English instructor David Terrell was the recipient of the Kaser Scholar award, presented to a member of the faculty whose scholarly interests, enthusiastic teaching, sympathetic understanding, and wise counsel combine to inspire students and kindle a zest for life and learning.   Terrell joined the faculty in 1987 as an assistant instructor of English. He received the Spivey Award in 1991 and was appointed to the Carter Family Chair of English in 2000.   A graduate of the University of Kentucky with a master’s degree from Indiana University, Terrell has served as assistant softball coach, assistant track coach, girls’ soccer coach, and on various campus and faculty committees

The John R. Mars Faculty Merit Award is given to a member of the faculty or staff who has established the most positive and constructive relationships with students and best exemplifies the ideals of Culver and Mars, a former Spanish instructor and superintendent emeritus. This year’s recipient is David Adams, director of Food Services since November 1979. Adams is retiring after 22 years with The Academies to pursue a long-time dream and will be attending a woodworking and timber-framing school in Massachusetts. In addition to tending to the nutritional needs of hundreds of students and campers on a daily basis, Adams also served as adviser to the Community Service Club.   A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, serving in Vietnam from 1996-67, Adams’ wife, Cheryl, is a guidance services secretary, and they are the parents of Amy ’89, Danielle ’94, and Jeff W’93.