16 cadets honored as 'Dean's Aces' for perfect GPAs

  • Published
  • By Capt. Katrina Powell
  • Behavioral Sciences and Leadership Department
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Sixteen cadets were recognized by the Dean of the Faculty for their academic prowess during the fall 2013 semester at a dinner Jan. 28 at the Academy's Heritage House.

The Dean's Aces Dinner is held once a semester to recognize cadets who achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA in their academic and physical education courses.

Of the 3,922-member Cadet Wing, only 0.4 percent earned a 4.0 GPA during the past semester.

The fall 2013 honorees include two fourth classmen, five third classmen, six second classmen, and two first classmen. One first classman was also recognized for her academic achievement during the spring 2013 semester.

Twelve of the 16 cadets earned their first academic Ace title; four of the 16 cadets achieved the double academic distinction (their second academic Ace title); and one cadet achieved the honor five times. Three of these cadets achieved this distinction while studying as exchange cadets: Cadets 2nd Class Andrew Chaves and Kevin Sava (U.S. Naval Academy); and Cadet 2nd Class Lauren Boride (U.S. Coast Guard Academy).

Three cadets, Cadets 1st Class Regan Rogers (Spring 2013), Rachel Kennedy and Aaron Mucosa maintained top academic honors while competing on intercollegiate athletic teams (Women and Men's Swimming and Diving; and Track and Field).

Among those congratulating the newest Aces were Dean of the Faculty Brig. Gen. Andy Armacost, Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson, Vice Commandant of Cadets Col. Dale Holland, and Director of Athletics Dr. Hans Mueh.

The Fall 2013 Dean's Aces:

· Cadet 1st Class Blake Abrecht, Systems Engineering/Human Factors major

· Cadet 1st Class Rachel Kennedy, Biology major with an emphasis in premedical studies

· Cadet 1st Class Regan Rogers, Biology major with a minor in German Language

· Cadet 2nd Class Lauren Brodie, Biology major with the nursing track

· Cadet 2nd Class Andrew Chaves, Systems Engineering major

· Cadet 2nd Class Shane German, Systems Engineering major (Aero)

· Cadet 2nd Class Aaron Hartmann, Mechanical Engineering major

· Cadet 2nd Class Kevin Saval, Operations Research major

· Cadet 2nd Class Wyatt Vander Voort, Biology major

· Cadet 3rd Class Steven Brandt, Political Science major

· Cadet 3rd Class Jeff Herrala, Biology major with a minor in Chinese Language

· Cadet 3rd Class Aaron Mukoda, Management major

· Cadet 3rd Class Sabin Park, Computer Engineering major

· Cadet 3rd Class Andrew Vanden Berg, Applied Mathematics major with a focus in Biochemistry

· Cadet 4th Class Evan Locke, Biochemistry major

· Cadet 4th Class Robert Pahissa, major undeclared

Rogers is a Dean's Ace from the Spring 2013 semester. She was recognized Jan. 28 due to her having studied abroad during a previous Dean's Aces Dinner.