Col. Trevor J. Bredenkamp speaks to students in the ROTC program at Appalachian State University before they were commissioned as second lieutenants. (Photo by Jane Nicholson)
BOONE—Nineteen Appalachian State University graduates were commissioned as second lieutenants during a ceremony held May 8 in Valborg Theatre on campus.
The students will soon begin their military careers with the infantry, military intelligence, military police, engineer corps or other branches of the U.S. Army.
“Remember the oath of office that you are going to take today,” said Col. Trevor J. Bredenkamp, brigade commander of the 1st Brigade combat team, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment Division at Fort Bragg.
Newly commissioned 2nd Lt. Mary Kato from Lewisville gives a silver dollar to her husband, Christopher Kato. It’s an Army tradition for new officers to give a silver dollar to a non-commissioned officer who gives them their first salute. Christopher Kato retired as a sergeant in the Army. (Photo by Jane Nicholson)
By taking the oath of commission, the new officers swore to support and defend the U.S. Constitution against foreign and domestic enemies, to bear allegiance to the constitution and to faithfully discharge the duties of the office which they are about to enter.
“I challenge each of you to live up to that oath each and every day, because at the end of the day, that’s what our nation demands,” he said. “Serving as an officer in our Army is not easy, but that you have volunteered to join the ranks is to be commended. We exist to serve our soldiers and families. We must be compassionate about our chosen profession and remember that we are leaders 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.”
2nd Lt. Paul T. Evans, left, poses for a photo with his namesake and grandfather, Paul H. Evans, a retired chief warrant officer in U.S. Navy. Evans served tours of duty during the Korean and Vietnam wars. The younger Evans, who will join the Army’s Transportation Corps, said he had learned everything from his grandfather. (Photo by Jane Nicholson)
The new lieutenants are:
- Marcus Credle, Transportation Corps
- Paul Evans, Transportation Corps
- Logan Gaudlip, Ordnance Corps
- Evan Grainger, Infantry
- David Jackson, Air Defense Artillery
- Rebecca Johnson, Ordnance Corps
- Mary Kato, Military Intelligence
- Andrew Kowal, Infantry
- Madison Lewis, Transportation Corps
- Christian Loew, Armor
- Connor Mang, Infantry
- Abigail McLure, Ordnance Corps
- Jeffrey Morgan, Engineer Corps
- Nathan Mudford, Signal Corps
- Zachary Rideout, Transportation Corps
- Patrick Shoaff, Infantry
- Zack Toler, Military Police Corps
- James Westmoreland, Transportation Corps
- Dan Ya, Military Intelligence
About Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.
What do you think?
Share your feedback on this story.
![‘Dragon prince’ dinosaur may be missing link in T. rex evolution [alumni featured]](/_images/_posts/2025/06/dragon-prince-600x400.jpg)
![Is Carb Cycling the Key to Increasing Your Endurance? [faculty featured]](/_images/_posts/2025/06/carb-cycling-600x400.jpg)
![App State researcher develops AI-driven microscope to detect poultry parasites [faculty featured]](/_images/_posts/2025/06/ai-driven-microscope-600x400.jpg)
