Ian Soderling, a senior in the School of Nuclear Engineering and a cadet in the Army Reserve Officers Training Corp, (ROTC)  receives this national award due to his major, his near perfect GPA of 3.97 and his demonstrated leadership ability within the ROTC program. This award is presented to only one ROTC cadet from each of the four services, (there are more than 20,000 Army ROTC cadets in the nation).

Lieutenant Colonel Dion Bates, Department Head and Professor, Military Science & Leadership, said Soderling participated in two training events this summer and excelled at them both.

Cadet Soderling was not aware that he would be presented this prestigious award, which includes a $4,000 scholarship, prior to the battalion's activation and awards ceremony on Friday, August 20th. After being presented the award by Sergeant First Class Sammy L. Davis, a Congressional Medal of Honor winner, Soderling said though honored to receive the award, the highlight of the day was meeting Davis, whose sacrifices for his comrades were inspirational. During a battle in Vietnam in 1967, Davis fired multiple rounds from a damaged weapon which protected his crew, rescued three injured soldiers, and then made his way to another crew where he resumed fighting, at which time he was seriously injured.