Santa Clara University ROTC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Students First, Cadets Second

Interested in finding out what other Cadets think of the Santa Clara University ROTC Battalion? Here's where you can learn about the ROTC experience from motivated students just like you.

Hi! We are the current cadets in the Bronco Battalion. Feel free to contact any of us if you have questions about the life of a cadet or Army ROTC in general. We look forward to hearing from you!

Ally Ha

Name: Ally Ha
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Class: 2009
School: Stanford University
Major: Biology
Minor: Chinese
Email Address: allyha at stanford.edu
Extracurriculars: alpha Kappa Delta Phi, Stanford Student Enterprises Ad Agency, PreMed AMSA, Ranger Challenge
Interests: Reading, Running, Baking/Cooking, Eating, Napping, Watching Movies, New Adventures
Best Thing About Being in the Bronco Battalion: Meeting new people, having the opportunity to constantly challenge myself mentally and physically.

Andrew Smith

Name: Andrew C. Smith
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Class: 2009
School: Santa Clara University
Major: Civil Engineering
Minor:
Email Address: andrewsmith87 at gmail.com
Extracurriculars: Solar Decathlon, Sailing, Intramural Soccer, Football
Interests: Skiing, Hiking, Mountain Biking


Best Thing About Being in the Bronco Battalion: The best thing about the Bronco Battalion is its unit cohesion.

Brittany Clark

Name: Brittany Clark
Hometown: Shawnee, KS
Class: 2009
School: Santa Clara University
Major: Communications
Minor: Spanish
Email Address: brittanyclark2 at gmail.com
Extracurriculars: Student Ambassador, Community Council, Arrupe - tutoring elementary students, Immersion Trips, Luau, Dance
Interests: Volleyball, Basketball, Traveling
Best Thing About Being in the Bronco Battalion: I feel constantly challenged to go outside of my comfort zone. I've gotten to do so many cool things like helicopter rides, rappelling, and paintballing. Not to mention, we have white water rafting, hiking, and ski trips just for fun.

Lauren Okada

Name: Lauren Okada
Hometown: Honolulu, HI
Class: 2009
School: Santa Clara University
Major: Accounting
Minor: Japanese Studies
Email Address: lauren808 at gmail.com
Extracurriculars: Scabbard & Blade Honor Society, Hawaii Club and Luau, Filipino Club, ROTC Bonding Activities

Interests: Reading, Napping, Eating...a lot
Best Thing About Being in the Bronco Battalion: Having people surround you who are competent and compassionate about others. Being able to count on the person next to me to help complete the mission and is the biggest difference between a ROTC class and normal classroom. The camaderie that you experience in this program help overcome your fears while the leadership lessons challenge you both mentally and physically developing you to your fullest potential.

Benjamin Zembik

Name: Benjamin Thomas Zembik
Hometown: Orange County, CA
Class: 2009
School: Santa Clara University
Major: Political Science
Minor:
Email Address: BZembik at gmail.com
Extracurriculars: Intramural Sports

Interests: Ice Hockey, Soccer

Best Thing About Being in the Bronco Battalion: Provides great leadership opportunities.

Joe Signorelli

Name: Joe Signorelli
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Class: 2009
School: Santa Clara University
Major: History
Minor:
Email Address: joe.signorelli at us.army.mil
Extracurriculars: Color Guard, Bataan Death March Marathon
Interests: Cars, Reading About and Studying Tactics
Best Thing About Being in the Bronco Battalion: The best thing about the Bronco Battalion is that it is an easy way to make good friends that will help push you to better yourself.

Alexander Kneefel

Name: Alexander Kneefel
Hometown: Fresno, CA
Class: 2009
School: Santa Clara University
Major: Civil Engineering
Minor:
Email Address: akneefel at gmail.com
Extracurriculars: : SCU Boxing, American Society of Civil Engineers, Intramural Sports
Interests: Working out, TV
Best Thing About Being in the Bronco Battalion: The free MREs.

Richel Galila

Name: Richel Galila
Hometown: San Mateo, CA
Class: 2009
School: Santa Clara University
Major: Political Science
Minor:
Email Address: RGalila at scu.edu
Extracurriculars: ROTC


Interests: Boxing
Best Thing About Being in the Bronco Battalion: FTX (Field Training Exercises).

Augustine Alpha

Name: Augustine Alpha
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Class: 2009
School: San Jose State University
Major: Nursing
Minor:
Email Address: Alphastino at yahoo.com
Extracurriculars: : Soccer, Volleyball, Jogging
Interests: Anything fun - games, sports, traveling, meeting & interacting with people of various backgrounds, helping other people and family
Best Thing About Being in the Bronco Battalion: Interacting with cadets of various backgrounds and learning how to become a good leader in a fun way.

Erick Gustafson

Name: Erick Gustafson
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Class: 2009
School: Santa Clara University
Major: Political Science
Minor: German
Email Address: egustafson at scu.edu

Extracurriculars: ROTC

Interests: Watching the Phillies win the World Series


Best Thing About Being in the Bronco Battalion: The other cadets.

Donald Frazier

Name: Donald S. Frazier II
Hometown: Marnia, CA
Class: 2009
School: San Jose State University
Major: English
Minor: Military Science
Email Address: donald.frazier2 at ar-usasoc.soc.mil
Extracurriculars: : Hockey, 4x4
Interests: Sports, Politics
Best Thing About Being in the Bronco Battalion: Camaraderie

Kenneth Justo

Name: Kenneth Justo
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Class: 2009
School: San Jose State University
Major: Communications Studies
Minor: Military Science
Email Address: kenjusto at gmail.com
Extracurriculars: :
Interests: Hockey, Golf, Riding my motorcycle, Gym
Best Thing About Being in the Bronco Battalion: The best thing about the Bronco Battalion is that you get to meet different people with different leadership qualities. With that, you are not only able to identify your own strengths and weaknesses, but you are also able to identify others and take with you what you learn to be a better leader.

Erick Aaron Aldama

Name: Erick Aaron Aldama
Hometown: San Jose,CA
Class: 2009
School: San Jose State University
Major: Sociology
Minor: Military Science, Social Science
Email Address: erickaldama at gmail.com
Extracurriculars: Ice Hockey
Interests: Ice Hockey
Best Thing About Being in the Bronco Battalion: Words cannot express the way I feel.

Benny Tran

Name: Benny Tran
Hometown: Kaneohe, HI
Class: 2010
School: Santa Clara University
Major: Biology
Minor:
Email Address: BTran1 at scu.edu

Extracurriculars: Intramural Sports, Ranger Challenge, Bataan Memorial Death March, O-Chem TA

Interests: Hiking, Outdoor Activities, Sports

Best Thing About Being in the Bronco Battalion: The close knit family atmosphere and emotional and physical support available from fellow cadets and cadre.

Jeffery Nelson

Name: Jeffery J. Nelson Jr
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Class: 2010
School: San Jose State University
Major: Justice Studies
Minor: Photography
Email Address: Redvsblue2003 at yahoo.com
Extracurriculars: Riding My Motorcycle, Snowboarding, Backpacking, Mountain Biking, Playing With My Dog, Brewing My Own Beer
Interests: Board games, Video Games, Movies, Family, Making People Laugh
Best Thing About Being in the Bronco Battalion: Associating with a group of people who make you want to better yourself.

Christopher Beddow

Name: Christopher Beddow
Hometown: Billings, MT
Class: 2011
School: Santa Clara University University
Major: Political Science
Minor: Arabic, History
Email Address: cbeddow at scu.edu
Extracurriculars: Political Clubs, Newspaper Columnist, Intramural Sports
Interests: National Geographic, Hiking, Languages, Foreign Travel
Best Thing About Being in the Bronco Battalion: Coming back to the dorms covered in mud after a lab.

John Amann

Name: John Amann
Hometown: Exeter,CA
Class: 2011
School: Santa Clara University
Major: Political Science
Minor: Philosophy
Email Address: JAmann at scu.edu
Extracurriculars: Sports (Intramurals and Random Pick Up Games), Hanging Out With Friends
Interests: Discussing Politics and Life, Dodgers and Lakers
Best Thing About Being in the Bronco Battalion: The best thing is the camaraderie. I have gotten the opportunity to get to know so many awesome people, that without the Battalion, I would not have gotten to know and become friends with. We are like a fraternity. It is great to see these people on a frequent occasion and get to know them better.

Ann Thompson

Name: Ann Thompson
Hometown: Paso Robles, CA
Class: 2011
School: Stanford University
Major: History, Spanish
Minor:
Email Address: ann1 at stanford.edu
Extracurriculars: Cornerstone Christian Fellowship, Reformed University Fellowship, Chi Omega, Color Guard
Interests: Volleyball, Basketball, Traveling

Best Thing About Being in the Bronco Battalion: Coming home from PT in the morning to find that everyone is still asleep! In all seriousness, I love getting to know the cadre and other cadets outside of "the Stanford bubble." There are so many opportunities to get involved in the battalion and to try things I'd never do otherwise, from Airborne school to carrying the flag at Stanford football games to patrolling with paintball guns at a FTX. We even have BBQs and go on whitewater rafting and ski trips! The higher ranking cadets and cadre take an active interest in my own development, and are always so supportive. Beyond ROTC, there are so many amazing, diverse career paths and education opportunities to choose from.

Oliver Ennis

Name: Oliver Ennis
Hometown: Syosset, NY
Class: 2011
School: Stanford University
Major: History
Minor:
Email Address: oennis at stanford.edu
Extracurriculars: Sigma Nu
Interests: Reading, Movies, Philosophy, International Relations, Football, and Wrestling
Best Thing About Being in the Bronco Battalion: Getting off campus, meeting the other cadets and cadre, staying in shape, and learning about the military.

Jimmy Ruck

Name: Jimmy Ruck
Hometown: Millbrae,CA
Class: 2011
School: Stanford University
Major: History
Minor:
Email Address: jaruck at stanford.edu
Extracurriculars: Kappa Sigma, Stanford Conservative Society
Interests: Giants Baseball, Bay Area, Reading, Sentimental Moments
Best Thing About Being in the Bronco Battalion: It provides the best possible leadership training course that anyone could have in college.

Tinh Nguyen

Name: Tinh Nguyen
Hometown: San Jose, Ca
Class: 2012
School: Santa Clara University
Major: Civil Engineering
Minor:
Email Address: tinhman13 at yahoo.com
Extracurriculars:
Interests: Sushi, Sleep
Best Thing About Being in the Bronco Battalion: Good leadership and physical fitness (PT).

Katie McCaffree

Name: Katherine McCaffree
Hometown: Tacoma, WA
Class: 2012
School: Stanford University
Major: Biology
Minor:
Email Address: scard12 at stanford.edu
Extracurriculars:
Interests: Reading, Writing, Music, Figure Skating, Piano, Cooking, Movies, Sleeping

Best Thing About Being in the Bronco Battalion: Meeting new people outside the Stanford campus and challenging myself physically and mentally, and learning to be a leader.

Contact Information

We highly recommend the Army ROTC experience to anyone interested, and we'll be happy to share our experiences with you!

MS Year Name Email Address
IV Ally Ha allyha at stanford.edu
IV Brittany Clark brittanyclark2 at gmail.com
IV Lauren Okada lauren808 at gmail.com
IV Andrew C. Smith andrewsmith87 at gmail.com
IV Alexander Kneefel akneefel at gmail.com
IV Benjamin Zembik BZembik at gmail.com
IV Joe Signorelli joe.signorelli at us.army.mil
IV Richel Galila RGalila at scu.edu
IV Augustine Alpha Alphastino at yahoo.com
IV Donald Frazier donald.frazier2 at ar-usasoc.soc.mil
IV Erick Gustafson Egustafson at scu.edu
IV Kenneth Justo kenjusto at gmail.com
IV Erick Aldama erickaldama at gmail.com
III Jeffery Nelson Redvsblue2003 at yahoo.com
III Benny Tran BTran1 at scu.edu
II John Amann JAmann at scu.edu
II Christopher Beddow cbeddow at scu.edu
II Oliver Ennis oennis at stanford.edu
II Ann Thompson ann1 at stanford.edu
II Jimmy Ruck jaruck at stanford.edu
I Katie McCaffree scard12 at stanford.edu
I Tinh Nguyen tinhman13 at yahoo.com