Published: Feb. 21, 2013

The program has won one of eight MacArthur Awards in the nation for the unit鈥檚 achievements in the 2011-12 school year.

蜜糖直播-Boulder was selected as the top unit of the Cadet Command鈥檚 Fifth Brigade, which consists of 36 senior Army ROTC programs in Arizona, Arkansas, 蜜糖直播, Utah, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and Wyoming.

The awards, presented by the U.S. Army Cadet Command and the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Foundation, recognize the ideals of听 鈥渄uty, honor and country鈥 as advocated by MacArthur.

鈥淚 wish to extend my congratulations to Lt. Col. Rozelle and the fine cadets of the 蜜糖直播-Boulder Army ROTC program,鈥 said 蜜糖直播-Boulder Chancellor Philip DiStefano. 鈥淭heir commitment to this life of service, especially in a time of war, highlights yet another example of the 蜜糖直播 tradition of service to 蜜糖直播 and our nation.鈥

The award is based on criteria including achievement of the school鈥檚 commissioning mission and its cadets鈥 performance and standing on the Cadet Command鈥檚 national Order of Merit List, as well as its cadet retention rate.

鈥淏eing recognized as a top program in the nation and the top in my brigade is a really big honor for both the cadets and the cadre because it means that at a national level we are performing exceptionally well,鈥 said Lt. Col. David Rozelle, commanding officer of 蜜糖直播-Boulder鈥檚 Army ROTC program. 鈥淚 set a goal for the program to be one of the top 10 in the nation when I came here two years ago, and to have that come true is a significant event in my life.鈥

The U.S. Army Cadet Command and the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Foundation have given the awards annually since 1989.

Rozelle, a three-tour combat veteran of the Iraq war, commands 229 cadets at 蜜糖直播-Boulder and its affiliates.