The U.S. Army ROTC Cadet Command released its rankings of the top ROTC seniors for the 2018 fiscal year on Nov. 1. Topping the list is Cadet Michael Orgeron, a University construction management senior.
The list comprises 5,536 senior cadets nationwide who have earned a place on the order of merit list, 1,102 of which have earned Distinguished Military Graduate honors. The rankings are based on several factors, including academics, physical fitness scores, extracurricular activities, and participation and ranking in the advanced camp held at Ft. Knox in Kentucky, the Cadet Command headquarters, Orgeron said.
Orgeron said he has known about the honor for some time, but he and the University ROTC were unable to discuss it until Cadet Command to made its announcement.
“I had a meeting with our professor of Military Science, it was a weekly meeting where we talk about things going on in ROTC. He told me about five weeks ago, in person, that he had found out a few weeks prior while in Ft. Knox, Kentucky,” Orgeron said.
Orgeron said ROTC was one reason why he came to the University. Though he graduated from high school in Texas, most of his family resides here in Louisiana. He never thought about becoming the number one cadet.
“I never intended to be the number one cadet in the nation,” Orgeron said. “I just try to do my best each day and be overall well-rounded with school and physical fitness and staying involved with activities.”
Orgeron said he plans on taking a commission once he graduates, and hopefully is placed in a unit that works with helicopters.
“I’ve always thought they were really, really cool,” Orgeron said. “And I’ve grown up with people who have influenced me in that direction.”
Though ranked No. 1 in the country, Orgeron remains humble, crediting his family and friends with the team effort to keep him away from distractions and focused on his schoolwork.
“I think it’s cool for LSU, but I can’t take all the credit,” Orgeron said. “It’s mostly the people in my life who have helped out.”