'Midshipman of the Year' awarded to Apache Junction native

Kelly Collette, a criminal justice major and member of ASU's Naval ROTC program (NROTC), has received ASU's "Midshipman of the Year" Award for his performance as a Midshipman 4/C (freshman).

As reported in the Apache Junction Gold Canyon News, Collette is the first to receive this award, awarded to recognize one freshman or one upper-class midshipman for their superior performance.

U.S. Navy Capt. Dave Price, commanding officer of ASU’s NROTC Program, presided over the ceremony: “Midshipman Kelly Collette is an example of the type of young person we are looking for as future leaders of Marines. His selection as Midshipman of the Year was extremely well-deserved and inspires and challenges other midshipman in the battalion to achieve similar levels of performance. Midshipman 3/C Collette is on a successful path to becoming a 2nd  Lieutenant in the Marines and exemplifies our core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment."

Price told Apache Junction Gold Canyon News reporter Betty Swanson that they are proud to have Price as a member of the ASU NROTC Sea Devil Battalion.

The naval sciences ROTC program was established at ASU in 2010, with support from John Sentz, retired captain of the Naval Reserves and vice-mayor of the Town of Gilbert, and other community and ASU leaders. Now with more than 120 men and women, ASU’s program in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is on track to be one of the largest NROTC programs in the United States by 2014, said NROTC leaders.

“Students coming to our ROTC programs in the Navy, Marines, Army and Air Force overwhelmingly say the reason that they are here is to serve their country. They want to be part of something bigger than themselves,” said Price.

During the ceremony, the NROTC unit also released their Navy service assignments. ASU’s NROTC grads will go to pursue naval aviation and surface warfare assignments, noted Price. The first graduate from the program, 2nd Lieutenant Nathan Tyson was commissioned this last August and is now training to become a Naval pilot.

"I was really touched by how long and heartfelt the ovation was for these grads from their classmates in the NROTC unit,” said Price. "They were very happy for the fact our grads got what they asked for. I think it was also one of those watershed moments when the reality of what they are doing here in our commissioning program hit them. We really are going to send them out to operate aircraft and ships in defense of our country. Heady stuff for 22-year-olds.”