Graduating NSU ROTC cadets who will commission on Dec. 18 learned their branch assignments during the awards program. From left are Jan Amutan, Jaylon James, Damarkus Lawson, Todd Gladish, Ethan Jones, Christian Holmes, Layla Theriot and Lawson Turner.
NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University’s Department of Military Science and Leadership recognized cadets for academic, military and leadership achievements during the Fall 2025 semester. ROTC’s mission is to recruit, educate, develop and inspire cadets with a focus on academics.
During the program, Cadets Mia Cole, Evyn Goree, Camryn Huff, Layden Jack, Jazmyn Johnson and Lanai Miller took the Oath of Enlistment administered by Professor of Military Science LTC Joshua Drake. When students first enroll in an ROTC class, they have no military obligation. By choosing to contract, cadets demonstrate their desire to serve in the U.S. Army.
Commissionees and branch assignments were also recognized. These cadets will commission as second lieutenants in the U.S Army during a ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 18 in conjunction with fall commencement exercises. They are Cadets Jan Amutan, Jaylon James, Damarkus Lawson, Todd Gladish, Ethan Jones, Christian Holmes, Layla Theriot and Lawson Turner.
Cadets and awards are as follows.
Cadet Arch Bandin of Rodessa – PMS Commendation Medal, Cadet Recruiting Ribbon
Cadet Amber Bledsoe of Shreveport – Cadet Recruiting Ribbon, Intramural Sports Recognition
Cadet TaMiya Brown of Shreveport — Intramural Sports Recognition
Cadet Brendan Campbell of Pearland, Texas – Cadet Command Sergeant Major, President’s List, ROTC Honors, PMS Scholastic Excellence Award, PMS Commendation Medal, Bronze Medal Athlete, Color Guard
Cadet Kyra Cole of DeRidder – Cadet Honors, PMS Scholastic Excellence Award, PMS Commendation Medal, Gold Medal Athlete, Color Guard, Intramural Sports Recognition
Cadet Mia Cole of DeRidder – ROTC Honors, Leadership Excellence Award, Silver Medal Athlete, Color Guard, Intramural Sports Recognition
Cadet Rebecca Deaton of Leesville – ROTC Honors, Cadet Scholar Award, PMS Commendation Medal, Leadership Excellence Award,
Cadet Jayden Diggs of Fort Polk – PMS Commendation Medal, Leadership Excellence Award, Cadet Recruiting Ribbon, Teresa Cazales Scholarship
Cadet Joseph DiMaggio of DeRidder– PMS Commendation Medal, Silver Medal Athlete
Cadet Joao Dos Santos of Fort Polk – President’s List, ROTC Honors, PMS Scholastic Excellence Award, Gold Medal Athlete, Color Guard, Intramural Sports Coordinator
Cadet Miguel Flores of Ball – ROTC Honors, PMS Scholastic Excellence Award, Cadet Honors, Platinum Medal Athlete
Cadet Skylar Fontenot of Kinder – PMS Commendation Medal, PMS PT Attendance Award
Cadet Megan Franchino of Sant Rita, Guam – Battalion Recruiting Officer, ROTC Honors, PMS Scholastic Excellence Award, Cadet Honors, Leadership Excellence Award, Gold Medal Athlete, Outstanding Service Award, secretary of the Black Knights
Cadet Evyn Goree of Pineville – Dean’s List, ROTC Honors, PMS Scholastic Excellence Award, Leadership Excellence Award, PMS PT Attendance Award, Silver Medal Athlete
Cadet Todd Gladish of Willis, Texas – Cadet Lieutenant Colonel, ROTC Honors,
Cadet Camryn Huff of Leesville – Dean’s List, Leadership Excellence Award, Bronze Medal Athlete, Color Guard, Intramural Sports Recognition
Cadet Jillian Huff of Fort Polk – PMS Commendation Medal, PMS PT Attendance Award, PMS Athletic Award, Intramural Sports Recognition
Cadet Tin Huynh of Morgan City – President’s List, ROTC Honors, PMS Scholastic Excellence Award, Leadership Excellence Award, Silver Medal Athlete, Color Guard Sergeant/Color Guard, Intramural Sports Recognition
Cadet Layden Jack of Denham Springs – Dean’s List, PMS Scholastic Excellence award, Leadership Excellence Award, Gold Medal Athlete, Brittany Jeanice Leadership and Excellence Scholarship
Cadet Jaylon James of Stonewall – Silver Medal Athlete
Cadet Jazmyn Johnson of Shreveport – ROTC Honors, Cadet Scholar Award, Leadership Excellence Award, Color Guard
Cadet Tyreke Johnson of Lake Charles – PMS Recruiting Award, Intramural Sports Recognition
Ethan Jones of Montgomery – Operations Officer, ROTC Honors, PMS Scholastic Excellence Award, Cadet Honors, Silver Medal Athlete, Intramural Sports Recognition
Cadet Grace Kerney of Barksdale AFB – Dean’s List, ROTC Honors, PMS Scholastic Excellence Award, Bronze Medal Athlete
Cadet Demarkus Lawson of Fort Polk – Bronze Medal Athlete
Cadet Morgan Lee of Shreveport – Dean’s List
Cadet Passion Lemelle of Ville Platte – ROTC Honors, PMS Commendation Medal,
Cadet Jackson Lester of Iowa – ROTC Honors, Leadership Excellence Award, Color Guard, Intramural Sports Recognition
Cadet Miriam McDaniel of Natchez – Dean’s List, ROTC Honors, PMS Scholastic Excellence Award, PMS Commendation Medal, Color Guard
Cadet Darren Melton of Haughton – ROTC Honors
Cadet Emmy Melton of Haughton – ROTC Honors, PMS Scholastic Excellence Award, Cadet Scholar Award, PMS Academic Award
Cadet Aniyah Miller of LeCompte – ROTC Honors
Cadet Lanai Miller of LeCompte – ROTC Honors, Cadet Recruiting Ribbon, PMS Achievement Medal, Color Guard, Harris Family Scholarship
Cadet Caitlin Moak of Robeline – ROTC Honors, PMS Scholastic Excellence Award, Cadet Scholar Award
Cadet William Moore of Leesville – ROTC Honors
Cadet Jacob Mullican of DeRidder – Dean’s List, ROTC Honors, PMS Scholastic Excellence Award, Leadership Excellence Award, Platinum Medal Athlete, Outstanding Service Award, vice president of the Black Knights, Color Guard
Cadet Joseph Resendez of Bossier city – PMS Commendation Medal, Gold Medal Athlete
Cadet Marivel Rodriguez of Leesville – ROTC Honors, PMS Scholastic Excellence Award, Cadet Scholar Award, Silver Medal Athlete
Cadet Madison Scott of Shreveport — Intramural Sports Recognition
Cadet Anthony Soileau of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas – Leadership Excellence Award
Cadet Destiny Theriot of Gheens – Dean’s List, ROTC Honors, PMS Scholastic Excellence Award, PMS Commendation Medal; PMS PT Attendance Award, Outstanding Service Award, public relations officer of the Black Knights, Color Guard, Intramural Sports Recognition
Cadet Layla Theriot of Gheens – Dean’s List, ROTC Honors, PMS Scholastic Excellence Award, PMS Commendation Medal, PMS PT Attendance Award, Bronze Medal Athlete, Intramural Sports Recognition, “Above the Best” Scholarship
Cadet Lawson Turner of Haughton – Dean’s list, ROTC Honors, PMS Scholastic Excellence Award, Leadership Excellence Award, Silver Medal Athlete, Outstanding Service Award, president of the Black Knights, Color Guard
Cadet Lorena Williams of Lafayette – PMC Commendation Medal, Cadet Honors, Malcolm Daisy Scholarship
Cadet Colton Wood of Ragley – Dean’s List, ROTC Honors, PMS Scholastic Excellence Award, Leadership Excellence Award, PMS PT Attendance Award, Bronze Medal Athlete, Outstanding Service Award, treasurer of the Black Knights, Color Guard, Intramural Sports Recognition, James A. Noe Memorial Scholarship
Cadet Alexander Youngblood of Coushatta – Cadet Recruiting Ribbon
Information on NSU’s Department of Military Science and Leadership is available at