Tyerus Skala among 60-plus UNG cadets recognized during awards ceremony

Published 3:09 pm Wednesday, May 10, 2017

From STAFFF REPORTS

DAHLONEGA – More than 60 cadets at the University of North Georgia (UNG) were recognized for academic, leadership and military achievement at a March 28 awards ceremony, including Tyerus Skala of Americus, who received the Association of the U.S. Army Military History Award.
“We congratulate all the winners, and we appreciate the organizations, families and corporations who provided the awards for our cadets,” retired Col. Tom Palmer, UNG ‘s commandant of cadets, said. “Many of the awards were in the form of academic scholarships that will assist in offsetting the cost of a college degree. In all, more than $58,000 worth of scholarships were awarded to deserving members of the Boar’s Head Brigade.”
Among the top awards, Joshua Hill was recognized by the Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States for academic and military excellence. Only six of the awards are presented nationally each year, given to a cadet at each of the nation’s six senior military colleges, which include UNG, Norwich University, Texas A&M University, the Citadel, Virginia Military Institute, and Virginia Tech.
Other awards presented included recognition for top cadets in each level; each recipient was in the top 10 percent of their class in both military and academics: Jericho Searcy, Superior Cadet MS I; Tyler Farney, Superior Cadet MS II; Addyson Albershardt, Superior Cadet MS III; and Krystal Jemmott, Superior Cadet MS IV.
Recipients of the awards were selected by members of the staffs of UNG’s commandant and professor of military science, based upon criteria established by the donors and the national organizations sponsoring the awards.
“Previously, all cadet awards were presented during the annual Corps of Cadets Military Awards Review held during Alumni Weekend,” said retired Maj. Richard Neikirk, assistant commandant of cadets. “Due to the increase in the number of scholarships and other awards earned by UNG cadets, more than 90 this year, a second awards ceremony had to be added. The remaining awards and scholarships will be presented during the review on April 23.”
Participation in UNG’s Corps of Cadets, also known as the Boar’s Head Brigade, offers the opportunity to acquire a degree in a chosen field of study while simultaneously earning an officer’s commission in the U.S. Army, either active-duty, Guard or Reserve. The Corps of Cadets is a residential-based ROTC program housed on the university’s Dahlonega Campus, and it consistently ranks among the best in the country.