KINGSTON, R.I. — April 24, 2000 — The University of Rhode Island Military Science Department Spring 2000 Commissioning Ceremony will be held at 9 a.m., Sunday, May 21 in front of Keaney Gymnasium on the Kingston Campus of the University of Rhode Island. The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program at URI, known as the Cramer’s Sabers Battalion, is composed of students from URI, Roger Williams University in Bristol and Salve Regina University in Newport. The ceremony includes remarks by University President Dr. Robert Carothers and Military Science Department Chairman Lieutenant Colonel William H. Smith. The ceremony is conducted in accordance with a long standing Army tradition where newly commissioned officers are sworn into the service and have their gold second lieutenant’s bars pinned upon their uniforms. The 10 commissionees are senior members of ROTC and will also receive their academic degrees from their Universities later in the day during commencement. Receiving commissions from URI are second lieutenants: Eric Anderson (Chemical Corps) of Middletown, RI Michael Ceprano (Quartermaster) of Hope, RI Christopher Cleland (Finance) of North Kingstown, RI Mathew Conn (Army Nurse Corps) of Lynbrook, NY Dana Coppola (Quartermaster) of Holbrook, NY Jennifer Lafond (Army Nurse Corps) of Merrimack, NH Joven Kabrick (Air Defense Artillery) of Tiverton, RI Stephen Thibodeau (Field Artillery) of Fitchburg, MA. Receiving a commission from Salve Regina University is Second Lieutenant Omar Mohammed (Infantry) of Newport, RI. Receiving a commission from Roger Williams University is Second Lieutenant Sarie Dannenberg (Quartermaster) of Cheshire, CT. Master Sgt. Brian Briggs will present the traditional first salute to the new officers as they formally begin their careers as Army officers. The newly commissioned second lieutenants will return his or her salute and present him with a silver dollar, which if spent, will bring the officer bad luck. A reception at Keaney Gymnasium will follow the ceremony. In the event of rain the alternate site for the commissioning will be held in Atrium #1 of the Student Memorial Union. -xxx- For Information: CPT Mark D. Cieplinski, 874-2386, Jan Sawyer, 874-2116