The commissioning ceremony, held at the Allegany American Legion, was followed by the Silver Dollar Salute, a traditional event in which each newly commissioned officer hands a silver dollar to the first soldier who salutes him. Cadets choose someone who was instrumental in their upbringing, education or training for this honor.

 

The cadets are part of Team Seneca of the Southwestern New York ROTC Battalion, which comprises cadets from St. Bonaventure, Alfred State College, Alfred University, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, Houghton College and Jamestown Community College.

 

St. Bonaventure cadets commissioned Saturday include: 

 

Olivia Kathleen Boyd, a criminology major, enrolled in ROTC on a two-year scholarship in fall of 2020. She served as the executive officer of the battalion. The daughter of Col. Adam and Kristen Boyd and a graduate of Carlisle High School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Boyd commissioned as an active duty armor officer. 

 

Jordan Bozier, a criminology major from New Rochelle, New York, completed his ROTC requirements last year. The son of Kenneth M. and Moreen Bozier, he was commissioned as a field artillery officer and will serve in the New York State Army National Guard.  

 

John Duffy, a political science major from Syracuse, New York, enrolled in ROTC on a Minuteman Scholarship in fall of 2017. The son of Ed and Gretel Duffy, he will be commissioned into the Army National Guard as an infantry officer. Duffy was the recipient of this year’s Department of the Army Superior Cadet Decoration Award and St. Bonaventure’s Military Science Award.

Stuart Lodge Harper Jr., an international studies major from Elma, New York, enrolled on a three-year advanced designee scholarship in fall of 2017. He served as a battalion tactics instructor. The son of Laura and Stuart Harper Sr., he commissioned as an active duty infantry officer. 

 

Eoin Hart, a finance major from Wellsville, New York, enrolled on a 2½-year campus-based scholarship in spring of 2019. He served as a battalion tactics instructor. The son of Joe and Christy Hart, he commissioned as an active duty armor officer.

 

Lauren Luther, a health science biomedical major from Bradford, Pennsylvania, enrolled on a three-year AD scholarship in fall of 2018. She served as the command sergeant major of the battalion. Luther, the daughter of Richard and Kristen Luther, commissioned into the Pennsylvania Army Reserve as a Medical Services Corps officer. She was the recipient of this year’s Daughters of the American Revolution Award.

 

Quinn O’Rourke, a criminology major from Ellicottville, New York, enrolled in ROTC on a 2½-year scholarship in spring of 2019. He served as the head battalion tactics instructor. The son of Thérése and Kevin O’Rourke, he commissioned as an active duty air defense officer. O’Rourke received this year’s Battalion Commander’s Award.

 

Shane O’Sullivan, from Melrose, Massachusetts, graduated in December 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in criminology. He commissioned as a field artillery officer. An active duty officer, he will be stationed in Germany at the completion of his field artillery training.

 

Shane Pancio, a finance major from Olean, New York, enrolled on a 2½-year scholarship in spring of 2019. He served as a battalion tactics instructor. The son of Steve and Michele Pancio, he commissioned into the New York Army Reserve as a field artillery officer. 

 

Zachary Stryffeler, a strategic communication major from Franklin, Pennsylvania, enrolled in ROTC on a four-year scholarship in fall of 2017. He served as the S3 of the battalion. The son of David and Dawn Stryffeler, he commissioned as an active duty air defense officer. Stryffeler received honorable mention for the Military Science Award.

 

The Southwestern New York Battalion also recognized cadets from its other member colleges and universities who will be commissioned as second lieutenants this year. They include:

 

Treyton Alsworth, a political science major at Alfred University, enrolled in ROTC on a Minuteman Scholarship. The son of Shad and Maggie Alsworth of Wellsville, New York, he will commission into the Army National Guard as an infantry officer. 

 

Hunter DeJonge, a construction management major at Alfred State College, enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2016 and contracted with ROTC in fall of 2019. DeJonge, of Clifton Springs, New York, is the son of Jim DeJonge and Mary Liberati. He will commission as an ordnance officer in the U.S. Army Reserve. 

 

John Flagler, a cybersecurity major at Alfred State College, was enrolled in ROTC for all four years of his college career. The son of Michael and Elizabeth Flagler of Levittown, New York, he will commission as an engineer officer in the U.S. Army Reserve. 

 

Jonathan Morales, a sport and recreation management major at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, joined ROTC after returning from basic training in fall of 2019. He served as ROTC officer in charge at UPB in his junior and senior year. The son of Byron and Beatriz Morales of Sierra Vista, Arizona, he will commission as an ordnance officer and serve in the North Carolina Army National Guard.

 

Carlos Santos-Rosario, a business major at Alfred State College, will commission in August upon completion of summer cadet training. A native of Manati, Puerto Rico, he is a member of the New York State Army National Guard.

 

Titus Snavely, a psychology major and data science minor at Houghton College, served as ROTC officer in charge at Houghton. The son of Eric and Marsha Snavely of Rocky River, Ohio, he will commission as an active duty ordnance officer. 

 

 

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About the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, St. Bonaventure University is a community committed to transforming the lives of our students inside and outside the classroom, inspiring in them a lifelong commitment to service and citizenship. In 2020, St. Bonaventure was named the #2 regional university value in New York and #3 in the North by U.S. News and World Report.