HOUGHTON, N.Y. — On May 9, Houghton College hosted a United States Army Commissioning Ceremony for graduating senior and Lewiston native, Jordan Latouche.
The ceremony included an invocation by Lieutenant Paulette, pastor for the Salvation Army, recognition given by Saint Bonaventure professor of military science, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Zehnder, remarks by Houghton College President Shirley Mullen, and a Blessing of the Bars by Dr. Michael Jordan, Houghton College’s dean of the chapel.
In the traditional Silver Dollar Salute, a new second lieutenant proudly hands a shiny silver dollar to the first enlisted soldier who salutes him or her.
Latouche graduated with a Bachelor of Science in information technology management, with a minor in military science.
Latouche was an active participant in the ROTC program. His activities in ROTC included field training exercises each semester, 6 a.m. physical training, as well as color guard and one four-week leadership development and assessment course at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., in the summer of his junior year. At this course, Latouche was evaluated on skills learned in his first three years in ROTC. These skills include land navigation, small unit tactics, marksmanship, teamwork and many others.
Latouche has also played a very active role on the Houghton campus, serving on his class cabinet all four years: as a social chair, vice president and president for the last two years. He spent his senior year as a member of the executive cabinet of the Houghton College Student Government Association, where he held the position of speaker of the senate.
His high involvement on campus and in ROTC has helped to develop his leadership ability and time management skills, as well as further educate him on what it means to be a leader.
Latouche is married to Katelyn Hodgkins, who works at Houghton College.
Latouche will be commissioned as a military intelligence officer, and after completing four months of training at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., he will take on a tactical intelligence officer position in the Vermont National Guard.
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