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Newest Aces honored at Heritage House

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U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Twenty-two cadets were recognized for academic excellence at a Dean's Aces dinner Sept. 28 for achieving perfect 4.0 academic GPAs during the Spring 2011 semester.

The tradition of the Dean's Aces Dinner began in April 2005 to recognize those few cadets who achieve something nearly impossible in the academy's rigorous academic environment - perfection. The term "Dean's Aces" was chosen to recognize these cadets and stems from the definition of a cadet's academic success (straight "As") with the crowning achievement of a fighter pilot.

"The aim of the Dean's Aces' Dinner is to recognize cadets who have truly distinguished themselves academically," said Brig. Gen. Dana Born, dean of the faculty. "The numbers speak for themselves; a mere one-half of 1 percent of cadets within the 4,500 plus-member Cadet Wing earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average last semester. What is just as remarkable as their perfect grades, is the all-around nature of these individuals."

The Spring 2011 Aces List includes three former fourth-class cadets, eight third-class cadets, twelve second-class cadets as well as three first-class cadets.

Two of the cadets in attendance were double Aces, earning Ace status for two semesters: Cadet 1st Class Jeffrey Schaefer and Cadet 2nd Class Zebulon Hanley. Two of the cadets were triple Aces: Cadet 1st Class Travis Myers and Cadet 2nd Class Matthew Kluckman.

Among those recognizing the newest aces were Dean of the Faculty, Brig. Gen. Dana Born and Tim Born; director of athletics Dr. Hans Mueh and Sally Mueh; Individual Mobilization Assistant to the Superintendent Brig. Gen. Cathy Chilton; Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Adis Vila; and Associate Dean for Curriculum and Strategy Dr. Aaron Byerley.

Sixteen of the cadets who made the Aces List also earned a place on the Superintendent's List for the Spring 2011 semester. The Superintendent's List is consists of cadets who have earned high military performance averages and upheld a physical education average of at least 3.0 in addition to making the Dean's List. Five cadets were intercollegiate athletes. Overall, 14 of the 32 academy majors were represented, to include four cadets with a double-major and seven cadets with a language minor.

Cadet 1st Class Jeff Schaefer, an academic double-Ace, said about the evening, "I enjoyed the hospitality of the dean and the food was wonderful. Meeting members of USAFA's upper leadership really inspired me as I prepare to start my career as an Air Force officer."

Cadet 3rd Class David McCarthy said, "I felt proud to be included among such an elite group of cadets."

The Academy Research and Development Institute sponsored the event, with retired Col. Mick Erdle, president of ARDI, in attendance at the dinner.

Aces
Cadet 1st Class Chris Severino, CS-01
Cadet 1st Class Nolan Sweeney, CS-15
Cadet 1st Class Kevin Wright, CS-22
Cadet 2nd Class Frederick Feigel, CS-01
Cadet 2nd Class Jordan Hauschild, CS-38
Cadet 2nd Class Nicholas Jernigan, CS-37
Cadet 2nd Class Jonathan Kim, CS-28
Cadet 2nd Class Philip Knodel, CS-19
Cadet 2nd Class Kristopher Martin, CS-28
Cadet 2nd Class Travis Myers, CS-33
Cadet 2nd Class David Riegleman, CS-25
Cadet 2nd Class Jeffrey Schaefer, CS-35
Cadet 2nd Class Lane Thaut, CS-22
Cadet 2nd Class Matthew Ward, CS-30
Cadet 3rd Class Adam Carr, CS-04
Cadet 3rd Class Ian Gibson, CS-40
Cadet 3rd Class Zebulon Hanley, CS-37
Cadet 3rd Class Justin Hillstrom, CS-16
Cadet 3rd Class Mathew Kluckman, CS-19
Cadet 3rd Class Anthony O'Connor, CS-33
Cadet 3rd Class Kevin Rossillon, CS-35
Cadet 3rd Class Daniel Schonfeld, CS-28
Cadet 4th Class Blake Abrecht, CS-01
Cadet 4th Class Matthew Gibson, CS-27
Cadet 4th Class David McCarthy, CS-06