NAME: Michael Alexsonshk

MAJOR: History

HOMETOWN: Canton, Ohio

HIGH SCHOOL: Fort Knox High School

WHY I CHOSE WKU FOR COLLEGE: I chose WKU for its location, the award of my scholarship, and friends that attend here.

ABOUT ME: This is my last year at WKU. In August I will commission and enter into the US Army Reserves. Two important aspects of my life are my family and my close friends. My muse is music. I love to listen, create, and mix it.

FUTURE GOALS: After OBC I plan on attending a recording production school in Ohio and obtaining an internship with a high end studio in Nashville.

NAME: Daniel Basile

MAJOR: Business Management

HOMETOWN: Brentwood, TN

HIGH SCHOOL: Franklin Road Academy

WHY I CHOSE WKU FOR COLLEGE: I chose Western Kentucky University because of its proximity to my parents and family in Morgantown, Kentucky. I received a full ROTC scholarship and after I toured the campus, I felt it was a great fit.

ABOUT ME: I am graduating in August and will commission as a Finance Branch Detail Infantry 2nd Lieutenant. I have attended Western Kentucky for three years and was a top five Junior Management student. I enjoy running, reading, lifting, traveling, and watching movies. Air Assault!

FUTURE GOALS: My short term goals are to graduate with a 3.5, get a 315 on the physical fitness test, and to prepare the MS III’s to have success at LDAC. My long term goals include: Airborne badge, Ranger Badge, Masters in Finance, and eventually to start a family.

NAME: Brockman Carter

MAJOR: History

HOMETOWN: Tompkinsvill,e, K.Y.

HIGH SCHOOL: Monroe County High

WHY I CHOSE WKU FOR COLLEGE: Close to home, and the prettiest campus in Kentucky

ABOUT ME: I love Kentucky basketball, politics and barbecue,

FUTURE GOALS: Save as much money as I can while in the army and either attend law school or open my own barbecue in Bowling Green which ever costs less.

NAME: Will Conkright

MAJOR: Hospitality Management and Dietetics with a concentration in Nutrition and Dietetics
HOMETOWN: Owensboro, KY

HIGH SCHOOL: Daviess County High School

WHY I CHOSE WKU FOR COLLEGE: I chose to finish my undergraduate studies at WKU because of the relatively short distance to my hometown and because of the exceptional Nutrition program. The professors and the curricula here at WKU are top-notch.

ABOUT ME: I grew up in a home centered on family, faith, and sports. These components have stuck with me to this day, plus the addition of academics. I enlisted in the Army as a 68W, combat medic, in 2004. In October of 2006, I contracted with ROTC via the simultaneous membership program (SMP). This means I maintain an active role as a cadet with both my reserve unit and with ROTC. I will commission in May 2008.

FUTURE GOALS: I plan on being commissioned into the Medical Specialist Corps as a 65C, dietitian. As a lieutenant I will hone my skills in clinical dietetics. When I make captain or major I will most likely the Chief of a Nutrition Care division where I will take on more of a managerial role. At some point in my career I hope to delve into research in sports nutrition and nutrition physiology/pathophysiology, as well as research and development at Natick Research Center.

NAME: Jay Finn

MAJOR: Physical Education Teaching Education

HOMETOWN: Franklin, Kentucky

HIGH SCHOOL: Franklin Simpson High School

WHY I CHOSE WKU FOR COLLEGE: I chose WKU because it was close to my hometown and I really liked the atmosphere. I also knew that I wanted to be a PE teacher and they have a strong Physical Education Department.

ABOUT ME: I’m a senior in college and cannot wait to graduate and get out into real life. I’m going to commission as an AG Lieutenant in the Army Reserves in August. I coach cross country and track as an assistant at Bowling Green High School and plan on coaching for many years to come. I am a huge sports fan, and am pretty laid back.

FUTURE GOALS: I want to teach PE and travel in any free time I have. I plan on coaching and teaching, while trying to have as much fun as possible.

NAME: Nathan Jenkins, Jr

MAJOR: Social Work

HOMETOWN: Orlando, FL

HIGH SCHOOL: Apopka HS

WHY I CHOSE WKU FOR COLLEGE: I chose WKU, after awarded a full ride football scholarship that GOD blessed me with.

ABOUT ME: I LOVE THE LORD AND I WILL ALWAYS PUT HIM FIRST!!! I’m the cadet Sergeant Major for the Hilltopper Battalion. In December, on the fifteenth or two thousands and seven, I will be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in “TODAY’S ARMY”.  I give all my glory to the good LORD above. Thanking him for blessing me with the opportunity that I have right now.

FUTURE GOALS:  Graduating College and spending as much time that I possibly can with my family. I plan to get into tiptop shape and really strengthen my body as well as my mind.

NAME: Andrew Lawrence

MAJOR: Marketing/ Sales Emphasis

HOMETOWN: Bowling Green, KY

HIGH SCHOOL: Bowling Green High School (2004)

WHY I CHOSE WKU FOR COLLEGE: I live in Bowling Green, and WKU was close enough that I could live in a rent house owned by my family. I never really ever considered any other schools.

ABOUT ME: I enjoy the outdoors, driving/ restoring Jeeps, playing ALL sports, and watching WKU Basketball. The Army was never even a thought in my mind until after 9/11 when I saw people all around me leaving their families to fight the war on terror. I joined the KY ARNG in Sept. 2004, and went to basic training that summer at Ft. Knox. My primary MOS was 19K. Since joining ROTC in Sept. 2005 I have been to Airborne school, and LDAC.

God bless the USA.

FUTURE GOALS: I currently have an internship at a technology company in Bowling Green, and I will stay employed there as a sales executive when I graduate. After graduation I plan on marrying the love of my life Sara.

NAME: Ronald Mattingly

MAJOR: Elementary Education with emphasis in Science

HOMETOWN: Owensboro, KY

HIGH SCHOOL: Daviess Co. High School

WHY I CHOSE KWC FOR COLLEGE: I chose KWC because they have a great education program and they work around my military ambitions. ROTC….with WKU.

ABOUT ME: I’m a cadet LT and I go to KWC in Owensboro. I am prior service, MARINE CORPS. I am currently in the Ky National Guard and hoping to get active duty. I am trying to see how many services I can join before retirement. I am the assistant S-3 HOOAH…Reid…And I am the old man of the MSIV’s.

FUTURE GOALS: To be a Signal Officer and retire in about 18 years and teach home ed somewhere…I would also like to convince Morris that he is my hero, he even taught me about a simple orthodontic procedure to fix my tooth.

NAME: Scott Modesitt

MAJOR: Civil Engineering

HOMETOWN: Evansville, Indiana

HIGH SCHOOL: Evansville Mater Dei

WHY I CHOSE WKU FOR COLLEGE: I chose Western for its beautiful campus and great location. Not too far from home, but just far enough where I don’t go home very often.

ABOUT ME: I’m a senior at WKU. I am very active in both ROTC and my fraternity, Lambda Chi Alpha. I am very outgoing, and love anything that has to do with the outdoors.

FUTURE GOALS: My goal is to graduate college with a degree in civil engineering and get commissioned as an officer in the United States Army. I hope one day after my Army career to become a PE (professional engineer).

NAME: John Morris

MAJOR: Political Science

HOMETOWN: La Grange, KY

HIGH SCHOOL : Oldham County High School

WHY I CHOSE WKU FOR COLLEGE: I chose WKU because I hated U of L with a passion, I’m sorry cardinal fans, but the smell of dog food factories and car exhaust isn’t my cup of tea. Although I came to Western to escape Louisville, I truly fell in love with the school through the forensics program. The ability to travel the nation on a team of excellence was something I will never forget.

ABOUT ME: I’m a pretty relaxed guy who has a tendency of putting my foot in my mouth. I’m a political science major who hates politics and I tend to be very open, which makes people wonder if I’m joking or serious at all times. If you can get past my crass sense of humor you’ll find a decent person. I love the ROTC program here at Western and could not be more grateful to the people who got me involved.

FUTURE GOALS: I want to branch Medical Services and get a few years in under my belt. After my time I want to go back to school and get my law degree before opening my own firm. Ideally my greatest goal in life would be to become a US Senator.

NAME: Gary Michael Shoults Jr.

MAJOR: Biology

HOMETOWN: Elizabethtown, KY

HIGHSCHOOL: John Hardin High School

WHY I CHOSE WKU FOR COLLEGE: This is where my 2 older brothers graduated and also where I got my scholarship.

ABOUT ME: What can I say? I am wonderful.

FUTURE GOALS: Graduate and find a good civilian job.

NAME: Tyler Reid

MAJOR: Industrial Education (Shop Teacher)

HOMETOWN: New Albany, IN

HIGH SCHOOL: New Albany High School

WHY I CHOSE WKU FOR COLLEGE: I’m the 3rd generation of Reid’s to go
here, but I chose WKU mainly because of a good ROTC Program and the fact
they had the major that I wanted.

ABOUT ME: I’m a senior who is going to be an Engineer Officer. ROTC has given me many opportunities to see the world and have fun. In the summer of 2006 I attended Airborne School, and in the summer of 2007 I was stationed on Okinawa, Japan for a month to gain experience in troop leadership. In my spare time I collect military equipment and re-enact as a soldier in World War II or the Vietnam War.

FUTURE GOALS: Lead an Engineer Platoon in Combat. Buy and restore an old Jeep or Half-track. After I retire, I’d like to open my own museum or run one of the Army’s museums.

NAME: Zachaery Todd

MAJOR: Parks and Recreation

HOMETOWN: Irvington, Kentucky

HIGH SCHOOL: I attended Breckinridge County High School, where I graduated from in 2003.

WHY I CHOSE WKU FOR COLLEGE: It used to be one of the cheaper schools.

ABOUT ME: I was born in Nuremburg, Germany on June 27, 1985. My dad was in the Army while I was young, so I am a Army brat. My dad got out of the military and my family moved to Breckinridge County, where I attended Elementary and High School. I tried a couple years at the local community college, then grew tired and joined the Army Reserves. After returning from basic training and AIT, I applied to Western and been here ever since.

FUTURE GOALS: Survive Ranger School and get into politics after my time in the Army.

NAME: Tyler Ward

MAJOR: Construction Management Major, Military Science Minor

HOMETOWN: Fayetteville, Tennessee

HIGH SCHOOL: Lincoln County High

WHY I CHOSE WKU FOR COLLEGE: I chose WKU ROTC because it has been a lifelong dream for me to serve in the United States Army.

ABOUT ME: I came to WKU on a baseball scholarship and pitched for WKU for 2 years. My junior year I made the decision to join the Army, as I’ve always wanted to do. I am also a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. I’m in the process of completing my last test for my Contractors License so I can build homes. I love to play baseball, I hunt, play golf, and have a good time living the college life.

FUTURE GOALS: My goals are to do 8 years in the Army as an officer. During that time I hope to be deployed and have the opportunity to fight in close combat for my nation. After my time, I have no desire up to this point to continue my career as an officer and retire; rather, I want to return to my hometown in Tennessee and invest my time in the real-estate business with my father.