Lyon College ROTC 2022 Fall Commissioning Ceremony
Lyon College’s first active-duty ROTC cadet graduates Friday, Dec. 9
Lyon College’s ROTC Fighting Scots detachment held its second commissioning ceremony of the year on Friday, Dec. 9. December graduating senior and now Second Lieutenant Alexander Holzwarth was the sole graduate of the ceremony, becoming the first officer in his long line of enlisted and non-commissioned officer family.
Throughout high school Holzwarth intended to join some form of military service to find direction and discipline. After Lyon College offered him the chance to play collegiate soccer on a scholarship, he took the opportunity to pursue a sport he loved.
Through the College’s ROTC program, he was given the privilege of being one of the first cadets to enter the program. Holzwarth believes he was consistently ranked and awarded higher than he would have been at other colleges, due to the small campus structure and rigorous academics.
Holzwarth will be the first active duty cadet to graduate from Lyon college and achieve his personal fulfillment of serving.
Lyon College President Dr. Melissa P. Taverner welcomed attendees to the event with a short history of the program.
“This program was initiated at Lyon in 2019 forming an affiliate unit of the Arkansas State ROTC Red Wolf Battalion,” said Taverner. “The Fighting Scots detachment has, in a very short time, acquitted itself quite well garnering numerous state level awards and achievements from our cadets.”
Lieutenant Morgan Weatherly, Professor of Military Science, said, “As a member of the Army, Second Lieutenant Holzwarth will serve as a platoon leader and have many other future jobs leading future service members in preparation for what may be their fight overseas.”
He continued, “This future service aligns with the oath that each officer takes swearing to protect and defend the United States constitution against all enemies both foreign and domestic. An oath of considerable gravity.”
Retired Lieutenant Colonel David Sonnier, Lyon College Associate Professor of Computer Science, conducted Holzwarth’s commissioning oath. Holzwarth’s gold bar was pinned on by his father and significant other, and was delivered his first salute by his uncle who is a retired U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant.
Photo Album coming soon!
ROTC Graduate
Alexander Holzwarth
Alexander Holzwarth, ’23, grew up in Maumelle, Arkansas, where he had the advantage of being in a family with prior military experience; Army, Navy, and Air Force. Throughout high school he intended to join some form of military service to find direction and discipline. After Lyon College offered him a chance to play collegiate soccer on a scholarship, he took the opportunity to pursue a sport he loved. Through Lyon College’s ROTC program, which was established in 2019, he was given the privilege of being one of the first cadets to enter the program. Holzwarth believes due to Lyon College's small campus structure and rigorous academics he was consistently ranked and awarded higher than he would have at larger colleges or universities. Alexander said it was the one-on-one interactions with ROTC instructors that allowed him the ability to compete for active duty. Holzwarth will be the first active duty cadet to graduate from Lyon College and achieve his personal fulfillment of serving. He has become the first officer in his long line of enlisted and non-commissioned officer family. Soon to be Second Lieutenant Holzwarth has been accessed to the Military Police Corps.