The Collegian

Issue date: 4/20/09 Section: News

L-R Col. Stephan Twitty, Col. Antonio S. Coleman and Erica Gadsden accepting on behalf of her husband LT. Clifford V. Gadsden who was honored posthumously. [Click to enlarge]

According to Major General Abraham Turner, one of the speakers at the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Hall of Fame induction ceremony, since 1947 the SC State ROTC program has produced more black officers than any other Historically Black College and University giving us the nickname "the Black West Point" of the South. In taking on the task of being a solider in the US Army, these former cadets have uplifted the university and their colleagues to no end.

The three officers honored on Friday 17, were Col. Antonio S. Coleman, Col. Stephan M. Twitty and second LT. Clifford V. Gadsden (posthumously) for their hardwork, dedication and valor in their position in the armed forces.

The cadets at SC State planned the induction ceremony for the honorees in keeping with the long history of the program. Cadet Katara Singletary who is a junior Family Consumer Sciences Business major said, "the program took a lot of hardwork and time and I'm happy with the outcome."

In addition to African Americans, the ROTC program has taken in a large number of female cadets. In 1972, the Department of the Army initiated a five year program enrolling women into the Army ROTC.
This initiative gave Miss SC State-elect Zuri Stackhouse the opportunity to be commissioned into the armed forces.
When asked what stereotypes she would like to dispel about the women in the program, Stackhouse said, "I want people to know that ROTC girls can be girly girls and act like a ladies as well."

The Army ROTC program offers an unlimited amount of scholarships to high school, undergraduates and graduate students who are interested in serving their country. Since the establishment of the ROTC program, 2017 students have received commissions in the Armed Forces.

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