Arnold Cadet Recognized at U.C.-Santa Barbara

By Bill Johnson Published Jun 27, 2006 05:30 pm Updated Jan 31, 2009 01:54 pm

Arnold, CA — Mike and Denise Kifune of Arnold are the proud parents of US Army Cadet Erik Kifune.

Erik was recently recognized as one of the top students at UC Santa Barbara´s US Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC).

Erik graduated in 2003 from Bret Harte High School.

At an awards ceremony earlier this month, Erik was awarded the Military Officers Association Medal and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Medal.

Erik was also granted the Dr. Robert Ballard ROTC Scholarship, which recognizes a cadet who showed exceptional potential for military leadership. The $500 scholarship requires cadets to be in good academic standing, of high moral character and loyal to the ROTC unit, UCSB and the nation.

Erik plans on attending the Army´s ROTC Leadership Development Advance Camp at Fort Lewis Washington this summer. After which, he will attend the Army´s Mountain Warfare School in Vermont in September.

Written by Vanessa Turner.