For five new graduates of Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC), commencement was followed by one more milestone celebration, their Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) commissioning ceremony.
Held May 16, the ceremony commemorated the cadets’ completion of the ROTC program and their transition from cadet or officer candidate to Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. The ceremony includes each candidate taking the oath of office, the pinning of bars, the first salute and the awarding of the commission.
Darhan Amundson, who earned a bachelor’s degree in biology, said commissioning carries deep meaning.
“This means that you’ve earned that stamp as a leader and that you did something that was really difficult,” he said. “You have to be driven to join ROTC.”
Amundson plans to attend medical school either during or after his four-year active-duty commitment in logistics, with the goal of becoming a general surgeon. He graduated from the Army’s Air Assault School and received the War of 1812 ROTC Award of Merit. He was also selected by the Professor of Military Science as the most outstanding cadet in the battalion.
For first-generation college graduate and Barrow County resident Ashley Villagomez, the ceremony marked another significant milestone.
“ROTC was not part of my original plan,” she said. “At first I was very introverted, but I became a command officer and had the chance to flourish.”
Villagomez, who earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, served as ROTC Battalion Commander, the highest cadet leadership position in the program. She is also the first in her family to serve in the military and will enter active duty in logistics.
Enna Lackey, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science with a concentration in international relations, will serve in active duty in medical services.
“This means so much to me,” she said. “It’s sealing the deal on my life path.”
Lackey received the Department of the Army Superior Cadet Decoration, one of the most prestigious awards an ROTC cadet can receive. She also earned the Daughters of the American Colonists Award for leadership, patriotism and academic excellence.
For Hannah Fuchko, the ceremony represented the continuation of a family tradition of military service.
“I’ve worked for this for four years,” she said. “Commissioning opens a new chapter and is a steppingstone for me to join a three-letter government agency.”
Fuchko, who earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, commissioned into the Georgia National Guard in military intelligence. A distinguished military graduate, she is also a graduate of Air Assault School and recipient of the Military Officers Association of America Award, the Cincinnatus Medal and the Professor of Military Science Award.
Out of more than 5,000 cadets nationwide, Fuchko ranked 156th in the national Order of Merit, placing her in the top three percent. Among Reserve and National Guard cadets, she ranked 26th out of more than 3,500 nationally, placing her in the top one percent and second among all Guard and Reserve cadets in Georgia.
Shakira Jean-Jules, who earned a bachelor’s degree in health science with a concentration in public health, served as the ROTC Battalion Operations Officer, planning and coordinating training operations for the entire cadet battalion. She will serve in the Georgia National Guard in chemical operations.
“Today means a lot more to me,” she said. “We all worked really hard physically and mentally and pushed our bodies further than we thought we could.”
Lieutenant Colonel Weston Layfield, U.S. Army, professor of military science at University of Georgia Army ROTC — which oversees GGC’s Grizzly Company — said the program’s success is especially rewarding.
Each year, cadets are evaluated on physical fitness, academic performance, extracurricular involvement and performance during Cadet Summer Training.
“This year, the seniors of UGA and GGC held the highest average Order of Merit Score within the 6th Brigade Cadet Command and placed first among 42 schools across the Southeast and Caribbean,” Layfield said.
“I have a passion for developing future officers. I have no doubt that they’ll bring incredible energy, talent and commitment to their units and our Army.”
Photo caption: Five Georgia Gwinnett College graduates, Shakira Jean-Jules, Hannah Fuchko, Ashley Villagomez, Enna Lackey and Darhan Amundson, were commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army and Georgia National Guard during the Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony on Saturday, May 16, 2026, in the CISCO Auditorium. Photo Dan Melograna