May 25, 2011 (.pdf, 20.8M) - United States Air Force Academy

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2011
Academy Board
names cadet
‘top grad’ for 2011
Cody, Wyo., native honored for combination
of military, academic, athletic achievements
By Don Branum
Academy Spirit staff
The Air Force Academy board selected
a native of Cody, Wyo., assigned to Cadet
Squadron 22 as the top graduate for the
Class of 2011 Friday.
Cadet 1st Class Hal Schmidt Jr. received
the honor after scoring the maximums on
both the aerobic and physical fitness tests,
earning the No. 1 military performance
average among the graduating class of approximately
1,000 and maintaining a high
grade-point average.
Cadet Schmidt found out about his selection
while practicing for the organizational
awards parade Friday morning.
Lt. Col. Christopher Gough, air officer
commanding for Cadet Group 3, dismissed
him from his duties for the rest of the morning
and told him to report to the superintendent’s
office.
“He told me not to read too much into it,
but to make haste and get there as soon as
possible,” the cadet said.
But he wasn’t about to formally report to
Lt. Gen. Mike Gould in his Airman Battle
Uniform.
“I ran up the ramp to my room and
changed into my service dress as fast as I
could,” he said. “I ran across the Terrazzo
and up the stairs to General Gould’s office.”
Once he arrived, Maj. Jaron Roux gave the
cadet a once-over and told him to knock
once, step to the side and report in.
General Gould stood up, returned Cadet
Schmidt’s salute and, after a bit of goodnatured
ribbing, congratulated him on being
selected as the top graduate.
Cadet Schmidt, whose individual awards
include outstanding group commander and
outstanding cadet in engineering, said it’s
an honor to have been selected as the top
graduate.
“It’s been a great four years,” he said. “I’ve
grown a lot, and I’ve learned a lot of lessons,
good and bad, and I’ve learned about
leading other people. I’ve had a lot of excellent
mentors, and a lot of great friends who
helped.”
Tech. Sgt. Adam McNeill, the Academy
Military Training NCO for CS 22, didn’t
seem overly surprised at Cadet Schmidt’s
selection as top graduate.
“In the two years I’ve been here, I’ve seen
people who do well here and people who
stand out,” said Sergeant McNeill, a Colorado
Springs native. “Hal’s always stood
out. There are cadets I go to for the inside
scoop, for cadets’ perspective on things;
Hal’s always been that person I go to.”
The AMT said Cadet Schmidt could have
settled for being among the top 10 graduates
but chose instead to apply himself even
harder.
“You don’t end up being the top grad
by accident,” Sergeant McNeill said. “For
someone already performing so well to critique
himself, find areas where there’s room
for improvement and attack them full out
reflects on his character.”
Perhaps most importantly, Cadet Schmidt
inspires the cadets around him to strive for
excellence, Sergeant McNeill said.
“It’s a testament to Hal’s leadership and
personality that he’s a person other cadets
look up to,” he added.
Cadet Schmidt reflected on Brig. Gen.
Robert Olds, the Class of 2011’s exemplar.
“Robin Olds ... that’s all I really have to
say,” he said.
And while being the Class of 2011’s top
graduate is an honor, Cadet Schmidt has
something else to look forward to: today,
when every cadet, regardless of his order of
merit, becomes a second lieutenant.
“It’s a great feeling to graduate together,”
he said.
Cadet 1st Class Hal Schmidt presents information on the Air Force Academy’s
unmanned aerial systems research during a UAS conference in Denver Aug. 27,
2010. Cadet Schmidt is a native of Cody, Wyo.
Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould surrenders his seat to Cadet 1st
Class Hal Schmidt during the board meeting.
PHOTOS BY DON BRANUM
Cadet 1st Class Hal Schmidt (center) takes the Air Force Academy superintendent’s seat at the invitation of Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould (standing) during a meeting of the
Academy Board May 20. Also pictured are, from left: Col. Paul Pirog, permanent professor for the Department of Law; Col. Mark Wells, permanent professor for the Department of History;
Dean of the Faculty Brig. Gen. Dana Born; Vice Superintendent Col. Tamra Rank; Commandant of Cadets Brig. Gen. Richard Clark; Athletics Director Dr. Hans Mueh; Col. John Andrew, permanent
professor for the Department of Mathematical Sciences; Col. Neal Barlow, permanent professor for the Department of Aeronautics; and Col. Richard Anderson, the vice commandant.