Meet Abigail O.

Class of 2025 graduate and WVU Army ROTC Cadet Abigail Ott was recently commissioned as a second lieutenant.

Ott, of Haymarket, Virginia, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and will assess onto active duty as an Army Nurse Corps officer. She was a three-year Army ROTC National High School Scholarship recipient.

The WVU Army ROTC Mountaineer Battalion commissioned Ott and 18 other cadets as second lieutenants during the annual Spring Commissioning Ceremony on May 14 at the WVU Mountainlair.

Col. Mike Farmer, commander of the 4th “All-American” Brigade of U.S. Army Cadet Command, was the keynote speaker for the event. Lt. Col. Eron Hilty, professor of military science, and Master Sgt. William O’Neal, senior military science instructor, presented the cadets for commissioning.

Other cadets commissioning Kyle Butler, Liam Carlin, Sean Carrell, Matthew Chehovin, Andrew Cunningham, Collin Edwards, John T. “JT” Fetty, Sean Garvey, Andrew Garvin, Samuel Glazier, Dylan Long, Kadin Maxey, Connor McClelland, Griffin Mills, Paul Rayner, John Sotardi, Landen Starkey, and Katherine Swesey.

Army ROTC is the premier, four-year progressive leadership development program on campus. During classes, leadership labs, physical training and field training exercises, cadets learn firsthand what it takes to lead others, motivate groups and conduct missions as an officer in the U.S. Army.

Cadets are required to complete a 35-day leadership assessment at Fort Knox, Kentucky, known as Advanced Camp. Upon earning their degrees, cadets commission as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army on Active duty, in the Army National Guard or in the Army Reserve.