Clarkson University Student Andrew Nelden of Felt Mills, N.Y., Commissions into U.S. Army as Second Lieutenant

2014 May 22

Clarkson University Student and Army ROTC Golden Knight Battalion cadet Andrew Nelden of Felt Mills, N.Y., a history major, recently commissioned into the U.S. Army at the grade of second lieutenant on May 9 at the annual commissioning ceremony.

The ceremony featured comments by Clarkson University President Tony Collins and guest speaker Col. Timothy J. LaBarge. LaBarge is the commander of the 105th Airlift Wing, Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, N.Y.

Lt. Nelden joined seven of his classmates at the ceremony that included the swearing in of the new officers, the pinning of their gold bars by family members, and the traditional first salute, known as the silver dollar salute.

Clarkson University launches leaders into the global economy. One in five alumni already leads as a CEO, VP or equivalent senior executive of a company. Located just outside the Adirondack Park in Potsdam, N.Y., Clarkson is a nationally recognized research university for undergraduates with select graduate programs in signature areas of academic excellence directed toward the world's pressing issues. Through 50 rigorous programs of study in engineering, business, arts, sciences and health sciences, the entire learning-living community spans boundaries across disciplines, nations and cultures to build powers of observation, challenge the status quo, and connect discovery and engineering innovation with enterprise.