Cadet Ross M. Skilling accepted the George C. Marshall surrounded by his peers at the Marshall Center, Virginia Military Institute.
‘I was quite honored to be recognized as one of the top in the nation,? said Skilling.
The award is presented annually to the most outstanding senior Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets in military science studies and leadership values in each battalion at host universities or colleges.
Top cadets from each cadet battalion represent the very best of a highly selective organization. This is a national award and the highest award an ROTC cadet can receive.
Skilling is the son of Oxford Superintendent Dr. William and his wife, Nancy Skilling. The couple lives in Oxford Village.
‘My wife and I were very excited and proud of him,? said William, adding Ross has accomplished a lot over the years.
He received the award in April and had the chance to meet with previous winners and see how fair they have gone since being cadets.
Ross also participated in focus groups, round table discussions and lectures on the theme of the national security of the U.S. and the Army’s security role in the international arena.
All of the cadets listened to speeches from the highest echelons of the U.S. Army’s leadership ranks, scholars and experts in the area of national defense.
Ross is currently in the engineering program at Michigan State University and will be graduating in December 2009.
He will be helping out other seniors with getting the younger cadets ready for training and for camp.
After graduation he hopes to be going to flight school and will find out in October if he has been accepted.
His goal is to stay in the Army as long as he can.
‘I love it,? said Ross. ‘It’s what I’ve always wanted to do. I plan to do it just as long as God allows me.?
The award is named in the honor and legacy of General of the Army George C. Marshall, who served in World War II as the Army Chief of Staff and in the post-war era served as secretary of state and secretary of defense.