More than 600 members of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets and more than 500 students from The Citadel Graduate College accepted degrees during the commencement ceremonies on May 7.
The day before commencement, approximately 30% of the graduating cadets accepted commissions as officers in the U.S. armed services. Among those commissioned are the first two Citadel cadets to join the U.S. Space Force: Conor William Deans, space operations officer, and Jack O. Schwartz, developmental engineer.
Another significant accomplishment from the Class of 2022: two cadets tied for First Honor Graduate, Steven Jones and Ashley Ruiz, each completing the Gold Seal track of The Citadel Honors Program and graduating with a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average.
Ruiz, William Jenson and Martynas Tendzegolskis comprise the first group to graduate through The Citadel Distinguished Scholars Program, a rigorous academic initiative that develops the brightest and most ambitious cadets and students for success in top-tier graduate schools, prestigious fellowship programs and leadership roles in their future careers.