FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Two University of Saint Francis students have received Army ROTC scholarships in the university’s first year as part of the officer training program.
Isaiah Lacey, a computer technology major, was awarded a four-year scholarship and Sierra Anderson, a nursing major, was awarded a three-year scholarship. The students were recruited by Staff Sgt. Lamont Lankford, senior military instructor at USF. The program at USF is part of a consortium agreement with Purdue University Fort Wayne (PFW).
“The potential of the Army ROTC program at USF is far-reaching and foundational to helping further build the reputation and quality of our students and programs,” said Dr. Clifford F. Buttram Jr., director of the USF MBA program and a retired Army officer. “Staff Sgt. Lankford and the PFW Army ROTC Battalion have provided tremendous support and marketing to USF and to the new ROTC program.”
ROTC is a college program offered at more than 1,700 institutions across the United States preparing young men and women to become U.S. military officers. Students in ROTC are officers in training and their time is considered reserve.
Buttram said Lacey’s scholarship is one of only two four-year ROTC scholarships awarded in Indiana for 2019-20.
“It is not equivalent to a West Point appointment, however in the ROTC realm it is close,” Buttram said. “In our first foray into ROTC, we have one four-year scholarship, one three-year nursing scholarship, the potential for another three-year scholarship and three other cadets who will take classes. This is indicative of the potential of the future of ROTC, the quality of students who are interested in the program, and the hard work of the PFW program in their support and assistance.”
Buttram served in ROTC programs while at Eastern Michigan University and the University of Michigan as a retired Army officer.
Lankford said USF could have a much larger group of ROTC students next year as the program continues to grow. The late Dr. Shawn Ambrose started the process with PFW and Army ROTC Command a few years ago. Ambrose was an Iraq War Army veteran, a member of the Army National Guard and a professor in the Keith Busse School of Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership.
“The awarding of the four-year scholarship is its own reward for the hard work of Staff Sgt. Lankford and Dr. Shawn Ambrose,” Buttram said. “Army ROTC provides a strong foundation for character building, leadership, management, ethical decision making, and of building a strong organizational leader through the college campus program.”
For more information on ROTC at the University of Saint Francis, please contact Staff Sgt. Lamont Lankford at 260-409-7156 or email llankford@sf.edu.
Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 70 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs through the School of Health Sciences, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Keith Busse School of Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership and School of Creative Arts. In addition to its traditional programs, USF designs focused curricula for working adults in Fort Wayne, Crown Point and online. USF Downtown houses the university’s business and music technology programs while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. The University of Saint Francis campus experience includes 18 athletic programs boasting two individual and four team NAIA national championships and is recognized as an NAIA Five-Star Champion of Character institution. Approximately 2,200 students from a broad geographic region attend USF.