Wednesday, October 7, 2015
170 Years By the Severn: Celebrating USNA's Founders Day
The U.S. Naval Academy celebrates its 170th birthday Oct. 10th.
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
USNA Midshipmen Selected for "It's On Us" Student Advisory Committee
The "It's On Us" Campaign announced today its Student Advisory Committee, a new initiative to provide exemplary student leaders with a larger role in bringing the the "It's On Us" message to campuses and communities across the country.
Out of more than 100 applicants, 17 students were selected, including Naval Academy MIDN 2/C Shaquil Keels.
"I truly believe that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect," said Keels. "Ending sexual assault won't happen over night, but stepping up and encouraging others to do the same will have a domino effect that will eventually create a society where everyone has the courage to intervene in these situations and make the world a much better and safer place."
Keels, a history major, is a member of 7th Company. He participates in USNA's Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Education Program, better known as SHAPE, and the Men’s 1-in-4 Program.
On Sept. 19, 2014, Generation Progress partnered with the White House to launch the "It's On Us" Campaign to help fundamentally shift the way we think about sexual assault. More than 230,000 people around the country have signed the pledge, and the campaign hosted more than 800 events around the country. The campaign is a rallying cry inviting everyone to step up and realize the solution begins with us.
Visit the "It's On Us" website to take the pledge.
Out of more than 100 applicants, 17 students were selected, including Naval Academy MIDN 2/C Shaquil Keels.
Keels, a history major, is a member of 7th Company. He participates in USNA's Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Education Program, better known as SHAPE, and the Men’s 1-in-4 Program.
On Sept. 19, 2014, Generation Progress partnered with the White House to launch the "It's On Us" Campaign to help fundamentally shift the way we think about sexual assault. More than 230,000 people around the country have signed the pledge, and the campaign hosted more than 800 events around the country. The campaign is a rallying cry inviting everyone to step up and realize the solution begins with us.
Visit the "It's On Us" website to take the pledge.
Friday, October 2, 2015
Naval Academy Names Building in Honor of Former Superintendent
The Naval Academy held a ceremony Oct. 2 to rename the Administration Building “Larson Hall” in honor of two-time Superintendent Adm. Charles R. Larson (USNA ’58).
Larson Hall, built in 1907 and renovated in 2014, serves as the headquarters of the Naval Academy superintendent and immediate staff.
“When you think about his hands-on leadership style, what an appropriate building to bear his name,” said Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski.
Larson, who passed away July 25, 2014, served as superintendent from 1983-1986 and 1994-1998. His vision led to the foundation of what is now the Admiral James B. Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership and refocused the Naval Academy curriculum on developing leaders of character.
“His leadership was value driven,” said Mikulski, who praised Larson for his efforts to build character development into the academy curriculum. “In the end, it’s character that counts. He was an outstanding man.”
He established the academy's Character Development Division to provide character and honor instruction to the Brigade of Midshipmen and was instrumental in the development and construction of Alumni Hall.
“He inspired the brigade to take ownership of our mission,” said Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Adm. Ted Carter. “Our formalized leadership and character development curriculum today owes everything it does to the foundation Admiral Larson laid, and our Navy and Marine Corps team has continuously reaped the benefits of his vision and leadership.”
He also established the master's degree program for incoming company officers and the senior enlisted leader program that brings non-commissioned officers into Bancroft Hall to work hand-in-hand with company officers and midshipmen.
“The Larson name is one that deserves to be recognized, memorialized and remembered by all,” said Carter. “The naming a prominent building in his honor is a fitting and proper way to inspire our next generation of officers to remember what our nation requires and what is expected to become leaders of character and consequence – young men and women who exhibit excellence without arrogance.”
A native of Sioux Falls, S.D., Larson graduated from the Naval Academy in 1958, a class that included Senator John S. McCain. His 40-year career included service as an aviator and submarine officer and command of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. He was the first naval officer selected as a White House Fellow, serving as special assistant to the Secretary of the Interior in 1968. He also served as naval aide to President Richard Nixon.
In 1979, at the age of 43, Larson became the second-youngest admiral in U.S. Navy history. He retired in 1998.
His major military decorations included the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, seven awards of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, three awards of the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star Medal. In addition, he received decorations from the governments of Japan, Korea, Thailand and France.
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| The Naval Academy renamed the Administration Building in honor of two-time Superintendent Adm. Charles Larson. |
Larson Hall, built in 1907 and renovated in 2014, serves as the headquarters of the Naval Academy superintendent and immediate staff.
“When you think about his hands-on leadership style, what an appropriate building to bear his name,” said Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski.
Larson, who passed away July 25, 2014, served as superintendent from 1983-1986 and 1994-1998. His vision led to the foundation of what is now the Admiral James B. Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership and refocused the Naval Academy curriculum on developing leaders of character.
 |
| Senator Barbara Mikulski gives remarks at the dedication ceremony for Larson Hall. |
He established the academy's Character Development Division to provide character and honor instruction to the Brigade of Midshipmen and was instrumental in the development and construction of Alumni Hall.
“He inspired the brigade to take ownership of our mission,” said Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Adm. Ted Carter. “Our formalized leadership and character development curriculum today owes everything it does to the foundation Admiral Larson laid, and our Navy and Marine Corps team has continuously reaped the benefits of his vision and leadership.”
 |
| Vice Adm. Ted Carter gives remarks at the dedication ceremony for Larson Hall. |
“The Larson name is one that deserves to be recognized, memorialized and remembered by all,” said Carter. “The naming a prominent building in his honor is a fitting and proper way to inspire our next generation of officers to remember what our nation requires and what is expected to become leaders of character and consequence – young men and women who exhibit excellence without arrogance.”
A native of Sioux Falls, S.D., Larson graduated from the Naval Academy in 1958, a class that included Senator John S. McCain. His 40-year career included service as an aviator and submarine officer and command of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. He was the first naval officer selected as a White House Fellow, serving as special assistant to the Secretary of the Interior in 1968. He also served as naval aide to President Richard Nixon.
 |
| Senator Barbara Mikulski, Mrs. Sally Larson, and Vice Adm. Ted Carter cut the ribbon during the dedication ceremony for Larson Hall. |
His major military decorations included the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, seven awards of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, three awards of the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star Medal. In addition, he received decorations from the governments of Japan, Korea, Thailand and France.
Thursday, October 1, 2015
USNA Alumni Support STEM Outreach at First Robotics Regionals
By Brian Horais (USNA '71)
More than 30 USNA alumni from five chapters staffed college representative booths at five FIRST Robotics Regional Competitions across the United States during March and April 2015.
This alumni support provided the USNA Office of Admissions with new resources and venues to augment their STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) outreach activities.
The nationwide FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition is considered the "varsity sport for the mind" and combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. Under strict rules, limited resources and time limits, teams of 25 students at the high school level are challenged to raise funds, design a team "brand," hone teamwork skills, and build and program robots to perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors.
Over 73,000 students, comprising more than 9,300 teams competed at 56 regional competitions, five district championships and 48 district events on their way to the championship event in St. Louis, Missouri, April 22-25.
With the emphasis on STEM-related degrees at USNA (nearly two thirds of the degrees awarded at USNA are in STEM fields), the FIRST Robotics Competitions offer the USNA Office of Admissions an ideal outreach opportunity to get the word out about educational and career opportunities at USNA. Based upon the success of a pilot program conducted in 2014 by Brian Horais (USNA ’71), member of the USNAAA Board of Trustees, and alumni from the Knoxville/Oak Ridge chapter, the Office of Admissions approved expansion of the Alumni outreach activities to five targeted regional events in 2015 where they wanted to have increased emphasis on STEM outreach.
Use of alumni to staff the college representative booths provided the Office of Admissions with a motivated volunteer resource to augment their activities. The five alumni chapters and regional events that supported the outreach were the Alamo Chapter, San Antonio Regional; Atlanta Chapter, Peachtree Regional; Chicago Chapter, Midwest Regional; Knoxville/Oak Ridge Chapter, Smoky Mountain Regional; and the Houston Chapter, Lone Star Regional.
Principal points of contact at each of these regionals were: Dave Driskell, (USNA ’63) from the Alamo Chapter, Ed Brownlee (USNA ’81) from the Atlanta Chapter, Fred Weber (USNA ’75) from the Chicago Chapter, Brian Horais (USNA ’71) from the Knoxville/Oak Ridge Chapter, and John Kendall (USNA ’64) from the Gulf Coast Chapter.
All of the more than 30 alumni who supported these outreach events thoroughly enjoyed their interactions with the students and stated that they would volunteer again. Many alumni who participated were surprised that a large number of students were not aware of the U.S. Naval Academy or its STEM-focused academics. These outreach events offer a template for similar support to the USNA Office of Admissions activities in the future.
A tip of the hat to Ms. Marti Kwon and Mr. Everett Marshall in the Strategic Outreach Department of the Office of Admissions for their support and dedicated involvement.
More than 30 USNA alumni from five chapters staffed college representative booths at five FIRST Robotics Regional Competitions across the United States during March and April 2015.
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| Three FIRST Robotics student competitors with USNA alumni CAPT Chris Cassidy (USNA '93), LT Mike Seymour (USNA '09), Marine Capt. Alan Cortes (USNA '04), and LT James Dietle (USNA '06) (Photo courtesy of John Kendall) |
The nationwide FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition is considered the "varsity sport for the mind" and combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. Under strict rules, limited resources and time limits, teams of 25 students at the high school level are challenged to raise funds, design a team "brand," hone teamwork skills, and build and program robots to perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors.
Over 73,000 students, comprising more than 9,300 teams competed at 56 regional competitions, five district championships and 48 district events on their way to the championship event in St. Louis, Missouri, April 22-25.
 |
| The 2015 quarterfinal Peachtree Regional FIRST Robotics Competition (Photo courtesy of Ed Brownlee) |
Use of alumni to staff the college representative booths provided the Office of Admissions with a motivated volunteer resource to augment their activities. The five alumni chapters and regional events that supported the outreach were the Alamo Chapter, San Antonio Regional; Atlanta Chapter, Peachtree Regional; Chicago Chapter, Midwest Regional; Knoxville/Oak Ridge Chapter, Smoky Mountain Regional; and the Houston Chapter, Lone Star Regional.
Principal points of contact at each of these regionals were: Dave Driskell, (USNA ’63) from the Alamo Chapter, Ed Brownlee (USNA ’81) from the Atlanta Chapter, Fred Weber (USNA ’75) from the Chicago Chapter, Brian Horais (USNA ’71) from the Knoxville/Oak Ridge Chapter, and John Kendall (USNA ’64) from the Gulf Coast Chapter.
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| Marcus Greenspan (USNA '93) and Alan Cortes (USNA '04) talk with a STEM Robotics participant. (Photo courtesy of John Kendall) |
All of the more than 30 alumni who supported these outreach events thoroughly enjoyed their interactions with the students and stated that they would volunteer again. Many alumni who participated were surprised that a large number of students were not aware of the U.S. Naval Academy or its STEM-focused academics. These outreach events offer a template for similar support to the USNA Office of Admissions activities in the future.
A tip of the hat to Ms. Marti Kwon and Mr. Everett Marshall in the Strategic Outreach Department of the Office of Admissions for their support and dedicated involvement.
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