Benedictine High School held its Officer Commissioning Ceremony and Sponsors' Presentation on Sept. 27, 2008, at the school gymnasium, 304 N. Sheppard St., Richmond, Va.

The event is centered on the formal commissioning of senior officers to assume leadership of Benedictine's Corps of Cadets. For the young men, it marks the culmination of three years of increasing leadership training and responsibility under the Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp Program (JROTC) at Benedictine.

The lieutenants are:

Assistant S-4 Supply Officer, CDT/LT Ben Cole

Assistant Honor Captain, CDT/LT Joseph Beiter

1st Platoon Alpha Company, CDT/LT Brandan Connor

2nd Platoon Alpha Company, CDT/LT Matt Oldham

1st Platoon Bravo Company, CDT/LT Guy Hatch

1st Platoon Charlie Company, CDT/LT Darien Brothers

2nd Platoon Charlie Company, CDT/LT Derek Bushey

1st Platoon Delta Company, CDT/LT Erwin Johnson

Band Company Executive Officer, CDT/LT Alex Oplinger

The ceremony also incorporates the formal presentation and recognition of young women who have accepted an invitation to be an Officer's Sponsor for the year.

Similar to the Officers, these young women are qualified and distinguished by their academic and leadership accomplishments at St. Gertrude High School, Benedictine's all-girl sister school.

The Sponsoring Officers and their Sponsors are committed to offering their time, energy and talents to support the traditions of their schools, and to preside over Corps events and activities.

They are:

Battalion Commander, CDT/LTC Joseph Nelson -- Kelly Conron

Battalion Executive Officer, CDT/MAJ Aaron Wade -- Ashley Ramey

Battalion Judge Advocate General, CDT/CPT Philip Marcello -- Mary Reardon

Battalion S-1 Adjutant, CDT/CPT Benton Maddox -- Isabela Roberts

Battalion S-2 Security and Intelligence Officer, CDT/CPT Gregory Reardon -- Kelsey Creech

Battalion S-3 Operations and Training Officer, CDT/CPT Robert Pullen -- Joanna Kettlewell

Battalion S-3 Operations and Training Officer Assistant, CDT/CPT Matthew Grunwald -- Jane Rolland

Battalion S-4 Supply Officer, CDT/CPT Alexander Anliker -- Morgan Downing

Battalion S-5 Public Affairs Officer, CDT/CPT Stephon Robinson -- Ariana Robinson

Battalion Honor Captain, CDT/CPT Richard Tolson Musick -- Colleen Kirksey

Battalion Liaison, CDT/CPT Christopher Kiefer -- Michaela Klym

Battalion Chaplain, CDT/CPT Jeffrey Giannasi -- Mary McCarty

Alpha Company Commander, CDT/CPT Thomas Lukish III -- Katherine Nichols

Bravo Company Commander, CDT/CPT Michael Goldberg -- Margaret Nichols

Charlie Company Commander, CDT/CPT Aaron Stumpf -- Kaitlin Kury

Delta Company Commander, CDT/CPT William Rothert -- Marie Elder

Honor Platoon Commander, CDT/MAJ Robert Bell III -- Molly Johnson

Band Company Commander, CDT/CPT Michael Beamon -- Renee Dyer

Headquarters Company Commander, CDT/CPT Robert Donohoe -- Alexandra Andersen

The Sponsoring Officer Program at Benedictine dates back to the founding of the school and Corp of Cadets in 1911.

During the ceremony, Sponsoring Officers are presented their sabers, and Sponsors are presented a bouquet of roses by their respective parents.

After the oath of command is recited, the ceremony closes with another tradition as the Sponsoring Officers and their Sponsors dance a waltz. The waltz also marks the first dance of the Sponsors' Ball, which follows the ceremony and is open to the Corps of Cadets and their dates.