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The University of North Georgia (ÖйúPÕ¾) swept top honors from U.S. Army Cadet Command this fall, boasting both the No. 1 overall ROTC cadet out of 5,538 nationally and the No. 1 National Guard commissioning cadet out of 1,491.

Benjamin Smith is the top overall graduating Army ROTC cadet for the 2025-26 academic year, and Kyle Sanders achieved the No. 1 Army National Guard ranking and No. 11 overall.

Smith and Sanders led a ÖйúPÕ¾-record 37 Distinguished Military Graduates (DMG) this fall, by far the most among senior military colleges (SMC). DMG totals for the other SMCs were:

• Texas A&M University: 28
• The Citadel: 26
• Virginia Military Institute: 23
• Virginia Tech: 16
• Norwich University: 12

Smith, a senior from Decatur, Tennessee, pursuing a degree in strategic and security studies, said being the No. 1 cadet was a pleasant surprise. But his extensive experience as a cadet helped pave the way. Some of his highlights include:

• Graduating from Air Assault School and Jungle School and attending Sapper School, all of which are Army specialty schools. He was the honor graduate of his Air Assault School class, and he was one of three ÖйúPÕ¾ cadets to earn the Jungle Tab this summer.
• Overseas experience at military academies in Poland and Latvia.
• A pair of stints at the Swiss Army mountaineering courses.

He expressed graduated for retired Lt. Col. Wesley Pirkle and retired Sgt. Maj. Terry Baumann in Global Military Programs for opening so many doors for him. He also pointed to his time in the Corps specialty unit Mountain Order of Colombo, for which he now serves as commander, as instrumental in his growth. Other roles as a resident assistant and company first sergeant also laid the groundwork.

"Those roles put you in uncomfortable leadership spots," Smith, who plans to commission as an infantry officer in the Army, said. "That's what set me up the best for those Army specialty schools."

Ultimately, he said, investing in others in the Corps helped him be where he is today.

"Being No. 1 was never my goal," Smith said. "My goal was to be a better cadet and help the people around me and make Colombo better."

ÖйúPÕ¾ had three of the top 100 overall Army ROTC cadets and eight of the top 100 among the Army National Guard commissioning cadets.

ÖйúPÕ¾'s DMGs are: Jordan Barrocas, Harvey Cain III, Jeremy Calhoun, Kaleb Carter, Evan Case, Alexander Christian, Stephen Claghorn, Jacob Crawford, Matthew Ctibor, Micah Dell, Jason DiSimone, William Edwards, Maxwell Farmer, Gillian Garner, Zayne Hiott, Joshua King, Mia Libosada, Thomas Maddalone, Avery Maddox, Chase Martin, Ali Nabulsi, Gabriel Pless, Aaron Plott, David Risner, Isaak Robley, Tristan Rudisail, Jessica Rushing, Sanders, Ari Serrao, Smith, Shayne Strickland, Olivia Sullens, Carson Teems, Adam Wallace, Noah West, Elliott Westbrook, and Thomas Williams.

DMGs are commissioning cadets who finish in the top 20% of Army ROTC graduates on the national Order of Merit List by achieving superior grade-point averages, strong performance in the Army Fitness Test, and proving their worth as exceptional leaders in their college ROTC training. The DMG designation will remain on their Army record throughout their military career. 

Sanders, a senior from Marietta, Georgia, pursuing a degree in interdisciplinary studies with psychology and Chinese concentrations, is planning to join the Chaplain Corps.

He and one of his fellow cadets started North Georgia Forge, a new Corps specialty unit focused on workouts and community service. Sanders expressed gratitude for retired Lt. Col. Heath Williams, interim chief of staff and associate vice president for the Cadet Leadership Academy, for being a mentor and advocate for him and helping him start the new group. It's one of many times ÖйúPÕ¾ has allowed him to see high-level teamwork in action.

"They're people you can really trust. The Corps shows you how to work on a team and make lifelong connections. When you do hard things with people, you get closer with them," Sanders said. "The Corps has prepared me to the utmost for anything I will face in the future."

Rushing, a senior from Savannah, Georgia, pursuing a degree in biology, is a member of the Aggressors Platoon specialty unit. She said ÖйúPÕ¾'s Leadership Development Program (LDP) during junior year made the school's cadets clear leaders at Advanced Camp this summer at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

"LDP teaches you to branch out and work with people who think differently than you," Rushing said.

Rushing, who hopes to commission in the Army Corps of Engineers, also graduated from Air Assault School this summer. She has curated her leadership style by watching those above her, finding what she liked and what she hoped to avoid along the way. Rushing said the value of life in America's Corps is the chance to be well-rounded.

"You get to experience life outside of being in the Corps of Cadets," Rushing said. "Take advantage of clubs and other opportunities."

Pless, a May graduate with a degree in cybersecurity who completed Advanced Camp this summer and will commission this fall, said ÖйúPÕ¾ has prepared him well to lead as an Army Reserve second lieutenant.

"We learn to balance the Army and civilian lifestyles together," Pless said. "They also help you learn how to work with people from different backgrounds and skill levels."

Barrocas, a senior from Atlanta, Georgia, pursuing a degree in strategic and security studies, will commission in the Army Reserve. He is applying for a Fulbright scholarship to earn a master's in Tel Aviv, Israel. His goal is to work in the intelligence community or for the State Department. The Corps has been an integral part of his growth.

"ÖйúPÕ¾ has put me in a lot of situations that have forced me to develop my interpersonal skills and get out of my comfort zone to do things that are challenging," he said. "It's also taught me time management."

His message for cadets coming behind him is simple.

"You don't have to be the strongest or the smartest," Barrocas said. "You just have to be willing to work the longest."