Highlander Battalion cadets commissioned as U.S. Army officers during moving ceremony at Presbyterian College
2nd Lt. Jy Nunley, 2nd Lt. Walker Matthews, and 2nd Lt. Hannah Rikabi
Seven cadets from the Highlander Battalion raised their right hands Friday afternoon in Edmunds Hall at Presbyterian College and swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution, marking their official commissioning as second lieutenants in the United States Army.
The 2025 Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony was both solemn and celebratory as cadets from Presbyterian College, Lander University, and Newberry College were recognized for completing the rigorous Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program and accepted their new leadership roles in the U.S. Army.
Presbyterian College president Dr. Anita Gustafson opened the ceremony by honoring the history, service, and legacy of the Highlander Battalion, and welcoming a distinguished group of guests.
“This ceremony continues a proud tradition of Presbyterian College,” Gustafson said. “For more than a century, PC has been instrumental in producing commissioned officers who have served our nation with distinction.
“To our soon-to-be officers, the education and training you received through the Highlander Battalion prepared you not just academically, but morally and ethically for the profound responsibilities that await you. As you take your oath today, know that you carry with you the pride and confidence of Presbyterian College, of Lander University, of Newberry College, of your families, and of your communities.”
Maj. Gen. Robin Stillwell
Adjutant General
S.C. Army National Guard
A General’s Guidance
Maj. Gen. Robin Stilwell, the adjutant general of the S.C. Army National Guard, delivering a keynote address to graduating cadets that combined humor, humility, and heartfelt wisdom drawn from more than 35 years of service. He thanked the cadets for their decision to serve, celebrated the support of their families, and encouraged them to live up to the immense responsibility they were about to undertake.
“Congratulations, not only to the cadets but also to the parents and families,” Stilwell said. “Last year at this very same time, my son was raising his right hand and becoming a lieutenant of infantry. That was a proud moment—but also, I’ll admit, a happy one, because it meant financial independence.”
That anecdote drew laughter from the crowd, but Stilwell quickly turned to deeper reflections, especially as he acknowledged the presence of Ann Hampton, mother of the late Capt. Kimberly Hampton, a 1998 graduate of Presbyterian College who was the first female combat pilot to be killed by hostile fire after her helicopter was shot down in Iraq in 2004.
“My wife is a Gold Star child,” he said. “There are those among us who serve in uniform, those who serve in our families, and those who sacrifice—but Gold Star families have served and sacrificed beyond the call of duty. God bless you.”
Stilwell offered the cadets six pieces of advice he said would serve them not only in uniform but throughout life: be authentic, support fellow leaders, take care of soldiers, appreciate each assignment, keep learning, and live by the Golden Rule.
“Don’t be who you think a lieutenant should be,” he said. “Be yourself. Your soldiers will know if you’re not being real.”
He warned the newly minted officers not to mistake leadership for ambition and urged them to build their reputations not only through individual achievement but by how well they treated others.
“Your leaders will judge you not just on what you do but on how you treat the people around you,” he said. “Put the needs of the organization above yourself.”
Stilwell stressed that no matter the mission, soldiers must always be a leader’s first priority. “The Army is about people. Make decisions with their best interest in mind. If you take care of your soldiers, your soldiers will take care of you.”
He also encouraged the cadets to embrace each post and assignment with gratitude.
“Appreciate where you are,” he said. “Some of the greatest lessons in my career came from the least glamorous jobs. Each role prepares you for the next—and the people you meet along the way will shape you.”
Stilwell emphasized humility as the gateway to wisdom. “You won’t know everything—and no one expects you to. Learn from your NCOs. They’re not just training soldiers—they’re training you.”
He concluded with a familiar phrase that carried special meaning just days before Mother’s Day: “Call your mama.”
The crowd laughed again—but with a knowing nod to the importance of family support for service members at every stage.
The ceremony included the time-honored pinning of rank insignia by loved ones and the first salute to a non-commissioned officer, a tradition that symbolizes the newly commissioned officer’s respect for enlisted service.
As the cadets took their oaths and received their commissions, the significance of their choice was evident.
“You are joining a very small slice of the population—less than 1 percent—who serve this country in uniform,” Stilwell reminded them. “What you are doing is not just commendable. It is extraordinary.”
2nd Lt. Walker Matthews with they Wysor Saber, presented to him by Cynthia Ivey, the great-granddaughter of Col. Robert Wysor.
A Ceremony of Symbols
The ceremony also included the presentation of the Capt. Kimberly Hampton Leadership Award, one of the Highlander Battalion’s most meaningful honors. Named in memory of Hampton, the award recognizes a junior cadet who exemplifies her extraordinary leadership, academic excellence, and commitment to service.
Cadet Josh Williams with Ann Hampton.
Hampton, who graduated cum laude with a degree in English and a minor in athletic coaching, was an elite student-athlete—ranked 28th in the nation in singles tennis and 18th in doubles. She served as cadet commander of the Highlander Battalion before going on to graduate first in her aviation class at Fort Rucker, Ala. In 2019, she was inducted into the 82nd Airborne All-American Hall of Fame. Her mother, Ann, an honorary alumna of the college, presented the 2025 award to Cadet Joshua Williams, honoring his leadership potential and embodiment of the PC motto: “While we live, we serve.”
Another highlight of the commissioning ceremony was the presentation of the Wysor Saber, one of the Highlander Battalion’s oldest and most prestigious awards. Now in its 93rd year, the saber is presented annually to an outstanding senior cadet who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, dedication, and potential for future service.
The award is named in honor of Col. Robert E. Wysor Jr., a decorated veteran of both World Wars who once served as the head of the ROTC unit at Presbyterian College. A graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, Col. Wysor was awarded the Silver Star for his service in World War I and later received the Legion of Merit during World War II for his work as a planning and training officer at Camp Blanding, Florida.
Presenting this year’s award was Cynthia Ivey, Wysor’s great-granddaughter and the granddaughter of Lt. Col. Benjamin Franklin Ivey Jr., a 1948 PC graduate, Wysor Saber recipient, and former professor of military science at the college. The 2025 Wysor Saber was awarded to Cadet Walker Matthews.
About the Highlander Battalion
The Highlander Battalion is a tri-college ROTC program that includes cadets from Presbyterian College, Lander University, and Newberry College. With a legacy rooted in tradition and leadership, the program prepares students for active duty and reserve service in the United States Army through physical training, academic instruction, and leadership development.
Presbyterian College seniors and former cadets who were commissioned include:
- 2nd Walker Matthews – Aviation, Active Duty
- 2nd Jy Nunley – Transportation, S.C. Army National Guard
- 2nd Hannah Rikabi – Chemical, S.C. Army National Guard
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