KINGSTON, R.I. — May 23, 2001 — The University of Rhode Island Military Science Department 2001 Commissioning Ceremony was held Sunday, May 20 in front of Keaney Gymnasium at 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 included remarks by URI President Dr. Robert L. Carothers and Military Science Department Chairman Lt. Col. Micheal Papadopoulos. The ceremony was conducted in accordance with a long standing Army tradition in which 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 received their academic degrees from their individual universities. Cadets receiving their second lieutenant commissions were: Joseph M. Altimari, URI Quarter Master Corps, Coventry, R.I. Nicholas P. Boisvert, RWU Aviation, West Warwick, R.I. Chandler G. Fisk, URI Ordinance Corps, Keene, N.H. Eric J. Lewis, URI Engineer Corps, Narragansett, R.I. Michael G. Mannix, URI JAG, Narragansett, R.I. Ralph R. Morin, SRU Infantry, Attelboro, Mass. Scott D. Mras, URI Medical Service Corps, Bayville, N.J. Nicole Nazario, RWU Medical Service Corps, Cranston, R.I. Mark R. Padien, URI Infantry, Scituate, R.I. Mathew J. Pezzullo, RWU Air Defense Artillery, Seekonk, Mass. Matthew Pierce, URI Medical Service Corps, Brunswick, Maine Antoinette C. Turner, RWU Engineer Corps, Bridgeport, CT Master sergeant Brian Briggs presented the traditional “first salute” to the new officers as they formally begin their careers as Army officers. The newly commissioned second lieutenants returned their salutes and presented him with a silver dollar, which if spent will bring the officer bad luck. For Information: Capt. Mark D. Cieplinski, 874-2385, Jan Sawyer, 874-2116