Matchin Awards Honor
Outstanding Cadets
Roswell, NM - The New Mexico Military Institute Commandant of Cadets, Brigadier
General Richard V. Geraci, has named those cadets who have received the
prestigious Lieutenant Colonel Tom O. Matchin, Sr. Award as the outstanding
college freshmen in their respective troops during their New Cadet semester. To
be eligible for the award each cadet must be a college new cadet, have displayed
outstanding discipline and academic proficiency and have demonstrated excellent
leadership potential during their first semester at NMMI.
The family of the late Lieutenant Colonel Tom O. Matchin, Sr., NMMI Class of
1943, established the award 25 years ago to honor his memory. Matchin, who
served his country in the United States Army until his retirement in 1965, was a
well-respected military officer. Upon his retirement he returned to serve his
Alma Mater as a Deputy Commandant of Cadets from 1965 to 1973. One of the
Institute’s most endearing figures, Matchin served as a positive role model and
mentor for cadets who attended NMMI in the 1960’s and 1970’s. A skilled leader,
he is remembered by generations of cadets for his professionalism and fairness.
Representing the Matchin family at the award ceremony, held Saturday, 19
January, 2008, were Ms. Rita Jensen, daughter of LTC Matchin, and granddaughters
Mrs. Renee Matchin Maloney and Ms. Patricia Matchin, all of whom praised the
cadets for demonstrating the qualities of leadership and character that endeared
LTC Matchin to the Corps of Cadets.
Recipients of the 2008 Matchin Award are:
Cadet Kurt Hurley is a 2nd class
cadet in Alpha Troop. He is from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Cadet Hurley is a
member of the Bronco Baseball Team and has completed the Cadet Squad Leader
School.
Cadet Alexander Emelyanov is a 2nd class cadet in Bravo Troop. He is from
Moscow, Russia. He is a member of the Bronco Basketball team and has completed
the Cadet Squad Leader School.
Cadet Neil Fulsang is a 2nd class cadet in Charlie Troop. He is from
Blandinsville, Illinois. Cadet Fulsang is in the Army SROTC Early Commissioning
Program, a member of the Bronco Baseball Team, and serving on the Semester
Training Cadre.
Cadet Tyler Smith is a 2nd class cadet in Foxtrot Troop. He is from
Farmington, NM, and is a member of the Bronco Football Team.
Cadet Jerome Belstad is a 2nd class cadet in Echo Troop. He is from
Eureka, Montana, and is a US Coast Guard Academy Prep student.
Cadet Wiley Bartlett is a 2nd class cadet in Golf Troop. He is from
Winston, Oregon. Cadet Bartlett is a member of the Army SROTC Early
Commissioning Program.
Cadet Ruben Escarsega is a 2nd class cadet in Hotel Troop. He is from El
Paso, Texas and is on the Bronco Football Team.
Cadet David Lira is a 2nd class cadet in Kilo Troop. He is from Lubbock,
Texas, and is a member of the Bronco Football Team.
Cadet Phillip Johnson is a 2nd class cadet in Lima Troop. He is from San
Diego, California, and is in the Army SROTC Early Commissioning Program and is a
member of the Semester Training Cadre.
Cadet Spencer McFarland is a 2nd class cadet in Mike Troop. He is from
Mackinaw City, Michigan, and is a US Coast Guard Academy Prep student.
Cadet Jonathan Traczyk is a 2nd class cadet and is in November Troop. He
is from Strongville, Ohio. Cadet Traczyk is a US Military Academy Prep student.
Cadet Benjamin Parrish is a 2nd class cadet and is in Headquarters Troop.
He is from Kearneysville, West Virgina and is in the Army SROTC Early
Commissioning Program.
Established in 1891, New Mexico Military Institute is the nation's only
nationally accredited State-supported co-educational 4-year college preparatory
high school and junior college. Nationally recognized for its outstanding
academic, leadership and character development, and physical fitness programs,
NMMI graduates excel at the local, state and national levels. NMMI provides
almost $6 million annually in endowed scholarships for qualified students.
Ninety-eight percent of NMMI graduates go on to a 4-year college or university,
including Princeton, Cornell, Stanford, Texas, Temple, VMI, and The Citadel. In
addition to the demanding college preparatory curriculum, NMMI's imbedded
Service Academy Preparatory Program, the largest and most successful in the
nation, sends almost 100 cadets annually to the 5 federal Service Academies.
NMMI also hosts the nation's largest, most successful, United States Army ROTC
2-Year Early Commissioning Program which enables qualified young men and women
to receive a commission as Second Lieutenant in the US Army upon graduation from
NMMI, with the obligation to complete their bachelor's degree within the next 36
months.