Ten University of Scranton Graduates Commissioned as Second Lieutenants

Ten members of The University of Scranton’s class of 2014 were commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army during the Jesuit school’s commencement exercises. Graduates of Marywood University and Baptist Bible College were also commissioned as officers at the ceremony.

The University of Scranton ROTC graduates who were commissioned at the ceremony are 2^nd Lt. Christian Randolph Burne of Langley AFB, Va., Judge Advocate General Corps; 2^nd Lt. Maureen Michelle Bullis of Carlisle, Quartermaster Corps; 2^nd Lt. Nicholas James Constantino of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Medical Service Corps; 2^nd Lt. Alexander Raymond Flynn of Newtown Square, Ordnance; 2^nd Lt. Morganne Julia Hedden of Long Valley, N.J., Quartermaster Corps; 2^nd Lt. Jarrel Cedric Israel of Randolph, Mass., Quarter Master; 2^nd Lt. Sean Harvey McKee of Doylestown, Nurse Corps; 2^nd Lt. Richard Joseph Naperkowski of Mountain Top, Ordnance; 2^nd Lt. Hope Marie Oliver of Morganville, N.J., Field Artillery; and 2^nd Lt. Donald Joseph Yestrepsky of Browndale, Ordnance.

Second Lieutenant Burne, who was a recipient of The University of Scranton’s Presidential Scholarship, was also awarded the University’s Military Science Leadership Award, Excellence in International Studies, and the Prof. Timothy H. Scully Award for Excellence in Political Science during commencement exercises. He is the son Robin and Brig. Gen. Chris Burne of The University of Scranton’s class of 1980, who has been selected for reassignment as Judge Advocate General for the U.S. Air Force. He is the grandson of Scranton alumnus Francis Burne ’48 of Dunmore.

In addition to The University of Scranton graduates, also commissioned at the ceremony were Baptist Bible College graduate 2^nd Lt. Jared Ola Heater of East Stroudsburg, Field Artillery; and Marywood University graduates 2^nd Lt. Laura Elizabeth Bremer of Carlisle, Adjutant General Corps; 2^nd Lt. Tyler James Doherty of Wescosville, Infantry; 2^nd Lt. Dominic Alexander Loughlin, Petersburg, N.Y., Field Artillery; and 2^nd Lt. Michael James Stauffer of Nesquehoning, Engineer Corps.

Major General Michael J. Terry, a 1979 University of Scranton graduate and Commanding General of TACOM (Tank-automotive and Armaments Command), served as guest speaker at the ceremony.

Ten members of The University of Scranton’s class of 2014 were among the 15 ROTC graduates commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army at a ceremony held in the University’s Houlihan-McLean Center. Seated, from left, 2^nd Lt. Maureen Michelle Bullis, 2^nd Lt. Hope Marie Oliver, 2^nd Lt. Morganne Julia Hedden and 2^nd Lt. Sean Harvey McKee. Standing are 2^nd Lt. Nicholas James Constantino, 2^nd Lt. Alexander Raymond Flynn, 2^nd Lt. Donald Joseph Yestrepsky, 2^nd Lt. Jarrel Cedric Israel and 2^nd Lt. Christian Randolph Burne. 2^nd Lt. Richard Joseph Naperkowski was absent when photo was taken.

ROTC Commissioning ceremony guest speaker Major General Michael J. Terry, a 1979 University of Scranton graduate and is currently the Commanding General of TACOM, and Lieutenant Colonel Ryan D. Remley, professor of military science, with the 15 cadets commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army during commencement exercises.