In 1870, one of the top leadership courses in the country could be found at the University of Delaware. Under the leadership of the first Professor of Military Science at Delaware College, students learned organization, discipline and physical fitness.

Today, that program is known as the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) at UD. For generations, students and alumni have been able to count on the training received through ROTC, in which students meet unique challenges and learn key lessons beyond the traditional classroom, building character and skills that can only be developed through real-world knowledge. Such lessons last a lifetime and forge unforgettable bonds.

“As a cadre, we put a lot of effort into preparing our students, but we can’t do it alone,” said LTC Pearl Christensen, who currently heads the Army ROTC Fightin' Blue Hen Battalion based at the University of Delaware. “Our alumni want others to succeed and are still connected to the community that gave them a start.”

Building upon that community legacy, a group of Army ROTC alumni came together this fall to establish an annual award recognizing an outstanding cadet. While all ROTC cadets experience the same training, there are always those who stand out. For such students, being recognized by their officers and teachers, as well as their peers, takes on incredible meaning. Financial support can also ensure dedicated students are able to close the gap and focus on their academic dreams.

“The award is a carrot and a meal,” said Bob Parsons, AS64. “It’s motivation for everybody to run an extra 10 minutes a day or stay up past bedtime to do well on a test – and then it’s a whole meal for the person who gets the award.”

A graduate of UD and now a retired educator and lieutenant colonel, Parsons credits the Army ROTC community with helping him succeed and find his career path. It motivated him to be one of the lead donors to create the new award fund, hopefully also inspiring a future ROTC student to continue their military service.

Joining Parsons was Joby Jester, AS73, also a retired lieutenant colonel and ROTC program graduate. Although the two never met before the creation of the award, their shared experience brought them together.

“Bob’s military career couldn’t be more different than mine,” Jester said. “But the fact that we were very satisfied with our military careers is what we have in common, and we wanted the opportunity to give back to young men and women today.”

Beyond giving back through the award, Parsons, Jester and other Army ROTC alumni are also giving back through mentorship. Through building and sustaining a new Army ROTC alumni affinity group, the members of the Fightin' Blue Hen Battalion have a way to connect with friends and mentors.

“If you have 15 or 20 alumni together, you probably have 15 or 20 different paths that they took,” Jester said. “Rather than having a couple role models from cadre from ROTC, they have a lot of mentors at their disposal.”

Now, the recent combined initiative of establishing the award and forming the affinity group will continue to strengthen the UD Army ROTC community. The founding donors are hoping other alumni will also step up to give to the new award fund, allowing for even more talented students to be recognized for generations to come.

“Being able to gain a recognition award and having a scholarship means a lot to these men and women,” said LTC Pearl Christensen. “It shows there are people who care about them and what they do in their community and gives them an example of what they can do in the future.”

To find out more about connecting with the ROTC alumni affinity group, contact Marianne Lazarski, associate director of alumni engagement, at mlazar@udel.edu. For more information on making a gift, contact Ruth Rosenberg, senior director of development, at ruthr@udel.edu.