Student Experience

Local Chamber of Commerce To Honor UVA Cadets, Midshipmen

October 25, 2023 • By Matt Kelly, mkelly@virginia.edu Matt Kelly, mkelly@virginia.edu

Four ROTC cadets and midshipmen will be honored by the Defense Affairs Committee of the Charlottesville/Albemarle County Chamber of Commerce at its third annual Military Services Awards.

The Defense Affairs Committee, part of the Charlottesville/Albemarle County Chamber of Commerce, will honor four University of Virginia ROTC cadets and midshipmen at its third annual Military Services Awards luncheon Oct. 26.

The luncheon also will recognize the top non-commissioned officers from local military installations.

U.S. Air Force Col. Jason Bell, commanding officer of the Air Force ROTC unit on Grounds, will be the keynote speaker at the luncheon, addressing “Sustaining National Security: The Human Element.”

The Defense Affairs Committee solicited the names of outstanding cadets and midshipmen who are involved in community service, said retired U.S. Army Col. Lettie J. Bien, who manages the committee.

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UVA ROTC recipients this year are:

Cadet Derek Sprincis, a fourth-year civil and environmental engineering and systems engineering major, intends to serve as a U.S. Space Force officer. (Contributed photo)

U.S. Air Force Cadet Derek Sprincis, of Berryville, a fourth-year civil and environmental engineering and systems engineering major. An intern with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association’s National Ocean Service, Sprincis also completed an ROTC-sponsored study abroad program in Kenya. He serves as the operations group commander and oversees the training of more than 65 cadets. Sprincis, who serves on UVA’s Public Service Pathways Advisory Council, is also a resident adviser.

Cadet Connor Wilson, a computer science major in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, intends to serve in the U.S. Army Cyber Corps. (Contributed photo)

U.S. Army Cadet Connor Wilson, of Ruckersville, a computer science major in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, focusing on computer security. A Young Life leader and mentor for students at the Charlottesville Covenant School, Wilson was an intern with the U.S. Army’s Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland, where he worked on a team developing and testing new high frequency radio technology. He mentors new cadets in basic tactics and soldier skills. He co-captained the Ranger Challenge Team that won first place for small program schools. He also interned at Fort Gordon, Georgia. He graduated from the Army’s Air Assault School at the U.S. Military Academy.

Midshipman Olivia S. Barr, a double major in global security and Russian, aspires to be a surface warfare officer. (Contributed photo)

U.S. Navy Midshipman Olivia S. Barr, of Wayne, Pennsylvania, who majors in global security and Russian. She serves on the executive board of Hoothon, which raises money for UVA Health Children’s. She is the battalion master chief, platoon sergeant, squad leader, treasurer and assistant public affairs officer and received the USAA Spirit Award for embodying the concept of service to the unit, the community and the nation. She received the Eugene and Rowan Scholarship for exhibiting strong leadership potential and received the Veterans of Foreign Wars Award.

Midshipman Kyle Widmark, a history major with a minor in politics, aspires to be an infantry officer in the Marine Corps. (Contributed photo)

U.S. Navy Midshipman Kyle Widmark, of Long Beach, California, majoring in history with a minor in politics. He is a member of the Model United Nations travel team and the International Relations Organization. In UVA’s Naval ROTC unit, he has served as a squad leader, platoon sergeant and the battalion sergeant major. The recipient of the National Sojourners Americanism Award, he has also been awarded the Military Officers Association of America Award for exceptional potential for military leadership. Widmark graduated from U.S. Marine Corps Officer Candidates School and aspires to be an infantry officer in the Marine Corps.

The event will be held at the North Fork Town Center Four Meeting Center, beginning at 11 a.m. It is open to the public. There is a charge for the meal and registration is required.