A Second RHS NJROTC Cadet Captures A Full Navy Scholarship

(December 13, 2011 – Riverhead, NY) On December 7, 2011 RHS NJROTC Cadet Lieutenant Amanda Gallo was awarded a $180,000 Navy scholarship to the college of her choice. U.S. Navy Commander John Skarin is able to handpick six ROTC cadets to receive the scholarship in the district under his command. Amanda was one of the six. The rest of the cadets from Riverhead High School, who applied for the same scholarship, will be chosen on the basis of their applications to a national board. The second RHS senior cadet just notified that he, too, would receive a $180,000 scholarship to the college of his choice is Cadet Lieutenant Jr. Grade Brian Weinhardt, the Operations Officer for the RHS NJROTC unit.

As the Operations Officer, Brian coordinates all the events and trips that the cadets participate in throughout the year. Brian is in the National Honor Society, the French Foreign Language Honor Society, the Outdoors Club, and is the “number one” golfer on the Varsity Golf Team. He is an “AP Scholar” and an honor roll student with a 97.39 grade point average. In addition to being in ROTC, Brian is on the cusp of becoming an Eagle Scout.

“I finished my project, the paperwork has been submitted, and I’m just waiting for the process to be completed,” he explains. “My Eagle Scout project was refurbishing the exterior of the Baiting Hollow Library,” he continues. “There were only a handful of applicants that were Eagle Scouts, and I think that helped me get the scholarship.”

“Brian has been a really committed, hardworking cadet for four years,” adds NJROTC Commander Lt. Col. Peter McCarthy. “He is the mainstay on the unit’s Academic Team and is on both the Armed and Unarmed Drill Teams.”

Brian will enter the Navy after graduating from college as an Ensign. His first choice in colleges is the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, or The George Washington University. He plans to major in aerospace engineering and then law. He ultimately wants to become a “JAG” in the Navy.

“I knew as a freshman that this is what I wanted to do,” states Brian, “and I’m very excited that it’s all going to happen as I hoped it would.”