Penn State ROTC Award 2014 – Matthew Santamaria
The CPT Brian Faunce Memorial Fund presented its eleventh annual ROTC award to graduating Penn State University senior Matthew Santamaria.
This award is given to the Penn State Army ROTC student who best demonstrates the spirit, leadership and courage of CPT Faunce.
The $1,500 award helps the recipient begin their military career with a gift card to AAFES (for the purchase of uniforms, boots, and other required gear).
Collegiate Accomplishments
Matthew is a Dean’s List Criminal Justice major who earned a 3.43 GPA. His Cadet Duty position was Charlie Company Commander.
He kept particularly busy his senior year, serving as captain of the Ranger Challenge Club, Resident Assistant of Wenwood Court, and volunteering at the local VA hospital.
Among Matthew’s Army ROTC accomplishments these past four years are:
- Distinguished Military Graduate, 2013
- Army Physical Fitness Test Score: 289
- Ranked in top five of LDAC Platoon, 2013
- Overall E rating at LDAC, 2013
- General Morgan Award, 2011
- Air Assault School, 2012
- Cadet Troop Leader Training, 2013
- Captain of Ranger Challenge Club, 2013 – 14
Matthew’s collegiate highlights also include an internship with the Huntingdon County Sheriff’s Department, and the honor of being chosen to represent his fellow cadets as guest speaker for a campus Veteran’s Day event in 2011.
New Military Career
Upon graduation in May, Matthew was commissioned in the Infantry Branch as a 2nd Lieutenant. He is currently entering his sixth week of IBOLC in Fort Fort Benning, Georgia. In November, he is lined up for Ranger School.
Congratulations Matthew! We wish him the best in all his future endeavors.
Matthew Santamaria and Ken Weiland, Professor of Military Science at Penn State
