Nine graduating seniors who were members of the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program at St. Bonaventure University were commissioned as second lieutenants on campus Saturday.

The ceremony, held at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on campus, was followed by the Silver Dollar Salute, a tradition in which newly commissioned second lieutenants hand a silver dollar to the first soldier who salutes them, typically someone instrumental in their upbringing, education or training.

Commissioned were:

• Edward Caraccioli, a French major from Queens, N.Y.

Caraccioli attended culture and language deployment training in Stuttgart, Germany, as a sophomore. Upon completion of the Leader Development and Assessment Course, he was assigned to cadet troop leadership training in Fort Sill, Ok. He received a commission as an active duty field artillery officer and will attend the Basic Officer Leaders Course at Fort Sill prior to being stationed in Korea. Caraccioli is the son of Paul and Elaine Caraccioli of Queens.                                                                               

• Casey Caya, a journalism and mass communication major from Portville, N.Y.

Caya enrolled in ROTC as a junior after successfully completing the Army Leaders Training Course and receiving a scholarship. Upon completion of the Leader Development and Assessment Course, he was assigned to drill troop leadership training in Fort Leonardwood, Mo.  He received a commission as an active duty field artillery officer and will attend the Basic Officer Leaders Course at Fort Sill, Ok. Caya is the son of Fred and Melanie Caya of Portville.

• Erika Fleischman, a political science major from Cohocton, N.Y.

Fleischman enrolled in ROTC as part of the Army Reserve’s Simultaneous Membership Program and received a two-year scholarship. She completed the Leader Development and Assessment Course and will be commissioned as an Army Reserve quartermaster officer and attend the Basic Officer Leaders Course at Fort Lee, Va. She is the daughter of Eric and Laura Fleischman.

• Kyle Gaskill, an international studies major from Chesapeake, Va.

Gaskill enrolled in ROTC as a freshman after receiving an Army scholarship. He completed the Leader Development and Assessment Course and was selected for the Forensic Internship Program in Largo, Fla. Gaskill will receive a commission as an active duty infantry officer and attend the Basic Officer Leaders Course at Fort Benning, Ga. He is the son of William and Catharine Gaskill.

• Mackenzie Grubbs, an international studies major from York, Pa.

Grubbs enrolled in ROTC as a freshman after receiving a four-year scholarship to St. Bonaventure. As a sophomore, she attended culture and language deployment training in Thailand. Grubbs completed the Leader Development and Assessment Course and will receive a commission as an active duty field artillery officer. She will attend the Basic Officer Leaders Course at Fort Sill, Ok. She is the daughter of Paul and Wendy Grubbs of York.

• Gregory Johnson, an international studies major from Fairport, N.Y.

Johnson enrolled in ROTC as a freshman. After his sophomore year, he attended culture and language deployment training in Indonesia. Upon completion of the Leader Development and Assessment Course, he was assigned to cadet troop leadership training at Fort Bragg, N.C. He is a graduate of the United States Army Airborne School and was selected for commissioning as an active duty ordnance officer. Johnson will attend the Basic Officer Leaders Course in Fort Lee, Va. He is the son of Glenn and Eileen Johnson. 

• Jessica Manahan, an English major from Syracuse, N.Y.

Manahan enrolled in ROTC as a freshman after receiving a four-year Army scholarship to St. Bonaventure. As a sophomore, she was selected to attend culture and language deployment training in Thailand. After completing the Leader Development and Assessment Course, she was assigned to cadet troop leadership training at Fort Jackson, S.C., where she attended the Basic Officer Leaders Course. Manahan will receive a commission as an active duty Adjutant General Corps officer. Manahan will be stationed in Fort Lewis, Wash. She is the daughter of Ted and Mindy Manahan of Marcellus, N.Y., and Cape Loral, Fla.                                                                                 

• Nicholas Puntillo, a marketing major from East Aurora, N.Y.

As a sophomore, Puntillo attended culture and language deployment training in Thailand. He completed the Leader Development and Assessment Course at Fort Knox, Ky., and will be commissioned as an Army Reserve quartermaster officer. He will attend the Basic Officer Leaders Course in Fort Lee, Va. The son of Robert and Trish Puntillo, he plans to pursue a master’s degree.

• Christian Quetell, a history major from Syracuse, N.Y.

• Koty Mann, a sociology major from Clarence Center, N.Y.

Mann, who earned a minor in criminology, enrolled in ROTC as a junior with a two-year Army scholarship. Upon completion of the leadership course, he hopes to receive his commission as an active duty Military Police Corps officer and attend the Basic Officer Leaders Course at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. He is the son of Todd Mann and Kelly McKenna.

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About the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, we believe in the goodness of every person and in the ability of every person to do extraordinary things.  St. Bonaventure University cultivates graduates who are confident and creative communicators, collaborative leaders and team members, and innovative problem solvers who are respectful of themselves, others, and the diverse world around them. Named the #3 best college value in the North by U.S. News and World Report, we are establishing pathways to internships, graduate schools and careers in the context of our renowned liberal arts tradition. Our students are becoming extraordinary.