LAWRENCE – Thirty-five new graduates of the University of Kansas were honored as newly commissioned officers in the armed forces during ceremonies May 20. An additional two graduates of other universities were honored as well.

Bernadette Gray-Little, chancellor, and Sara Rosen, senior vice provost for academic affairs, welcomed the cadets, midshipmen and their families, friends and guests. Navy Rear Admiral Phil Davidson delivered the keynote speech and administered the oath of office for the new officers.

Commanding officers presenting the commissions were Lt. Col. Storm Reynolds, professor of military science; Lt. Col. Montague Samuel, professor of aerospace studies; and Capt. David Schweizer, professor of naval science.

KU is one of only 50 universities in the nation offering an ROTC program that represents all branches of the military. KU’s ROTC program also trains cadets from Baker University, Haskell Indian Nations University, MidAmerica Nazarene University, University of Saint Mary, Washburn University and Benedictine University.

The newly commissioned officers are listed below by name, hometown and area of study.

Army:

Tyler Beck, Andover, economics

Mitchell Chiles, Salina, geography

Kaleb Gilmore, Hoyt, finance.

Andrew Haanpaa, St. Clair, Mo., biological anthropology

Blake Horvath, Fort Leavenworth, history

Nathan Kalish, Marthasville, Mo., history

Kayla Fletcher, Kansas City, Mo., cellular biology

Scott Kristenson, Newton, cellular biology

Michael Laverty, Manassas, Va., political science

Sarah Meyer, New London, Iowa, industrial design and art history

Garret Moe, Newton, psychology

York Olszewski, Leavenworth, mathematics

Josh Robinson, Lansing, history

Matthew Visser, Harker Heights, Texas, political science, French and global and international studies

Jacob Walters, Prairie Village, geography

Navy:

Ivan Babkov, Wichita, biochemistry

Luke Ezell, Leavenworth, electrical engineering

Dale Hardee, Topeka, mechanical engineering

Christopher McGaffin, Wichita, mathematics

Thomas McSweeney, Herman, Neb., electrical engineering

Alexander Pendleton, San Antonio, cellular biology

Nathan Slaughter, San Diego, psychology

Marine:

Kyle Gillogly, Dell Rapids, S.D., business-information systems

Ethan Ness, Shorewood, Minn., business management-leadership

Joe Santos, Pawtucket, R.I., history and African studies

Paul Speckin, Overland Park, business-finance

Air Force:

Nicholas Brunkhorst, Mitchell, Neb., Aerospace Engineering

Mason Bruza, Paola, physics

Britni Charles, Haysville, political science

Zachary Early, Las Vegas, Slavic languages and literatures

Cole-Christian Holinaty, Fort Leavenworth, communication studies

Kevin Jackson, St. Louis, communication studies

Brian Tabares, Emporia, psychology

Seth Wilson, Berkley, Mich., African-American studies

Grant Worden, Rochester, Minn., aerospace engineering.

Commissions were also presented to two students who graduated from other universities: