MEDIA CONTACT: Lisa Freed
561-297-3022, lfreed@fau.edu

FAU Commissions Second Lieutenant
into United States Army

BOCA RATON, FL (December 29, 2005) - Florida Atlantic University helped fulfill the dreams of Cadet Ranston V. Harvey, as he became a second lieutenant commissioned into the U.S. Army on December 21 through the university's Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). Harvey received the honor of Distinguished Military Graduate, putting him in the top 20 percent of ROTC cadets across the nation.

A native of Houston, Texas, Harvey joined the army in December 1989 and attended basic combat training and motor transport operator advanced individual training at Fort Dix, N.J. He spent the next 12 years as a logistics specialist, photojournalist, editor and public affairs supervisor.

Harvey came to FAU in 2002 from Hunter Army Air Field in Georgia through the Green-to-Gold Program, which allows a soldier to pursue a degree and a commission through ROTC in lieu of continued service as a soldier on active duty. This month, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in biology and was selected for the Scabbard and Blade Society within ROTC - an honorary society that recognizes dedicated and well-performing cadets. Harvey now will return to the distinguished ranks of the Army as a professional leader in the rank of second lieutenant.

FAU, which participates in the ROTC training program in conjunction with Florida International University's host program, has commissioned four other second lieutenants - Capt. Dena Delucia in 2001, 1st Lt. Kassandra Robinson in 2003, 2nd Lt. Roberto Rodriguez in 2004 and 2nd Lt. Uwem Ekpo earlier this year.

FAU's program, which is expanding, now has three freshman, two sophomores and one junior involved and anticipates at least four more freshman and two sophomores being involved this Spring 2006 semester - including participants from Palm Beach Community College and Broward Community College. More than 80 cadets make up the program throughout the South Florida area.

For more information, contact Maj. Ken Harris at 561-297-0722, 305-785-4869 or e-mail kgharris@fau.edu.

-FAU-