There’s an old saying heard around the Military Sciences Building at Colorado State University: “Rams help Rams.”
That mantra has recently taken on new meaning thanks to the generosity of a Ram Battalion alumnus as well as two Army ROTC cadets, who helped spread that spirit and shined at one of the country’s top student conferences on national affairs.
Ram Battalion Army ROTC cadets Lauren Hare, a CSU student, and CJ Anderson, a student at the University of Northern Colorado, attended the MSC Student Conference on National Affairs (SCONA) in February, thanks to alumnus Bob Halverson, a 1963 CSU graduate who rose to the rank of major general in the Army National Guard.
The SCONA conference attracts more than 200 students from the nation’s military academies, such as West Point and the U.S. Naval Academy, as well as senior military colleges, like The Citadel. As part of this, Hare and Anderson spent a week at Texas A&M University, participating in roundtables designed to get a taste of developing public policy proposals.
Hare’s roundtable won the group presentation for its policy paper, in which she served as the primary briefer during the final presentation. She explained that they had to essentially think like diplomats, negotiating and drafting policies to solve global problems.
The team drafted a policy to help minimize outer space waste by creating a plan that would standardize how satellites are manufactured around the world. It was an unforgettable experience, she said.
“It was really exciting,” said Hare, who is majoring in biomedical sciences. “It was honestly the best group project that I’ve done in my life. It was an excellent collaborative effort and a testament to what’s possible with a bunch of people with a common goal.”
Hare expressed gratitude for Halverson’s generosity, in which the alumnus — a member of the CSU ROTC Wall of Fame — secured the SCONA seats and funded travel and per diem for the cadets.
“These intergenerational connections are a huge deal,” she said. “We have also had cadets from past years come and talk with us. It’s a testament to how close knit of a community Ram Battalion is.”
Halverson, who had the opportunity to read the policy paper produced after the conference, commended the work of Hare and her roundtable members.
“I’ve received a lot of briefings in my career, and that one was one of the better ones — particularly from somebody as young as she is,” said Halverson, who served nearly 40 years in the military. “It was very well written.”
“I've received a lot of briefings in my career, and that one was one of the better ones — particularly from somebody as young as she is.”
Halverson explained that SCONA opens doors for young officers, exposing them to strategic issues on a national level. It gives them a leg up when dealing with international issues, he said, adding that there will likely be future opportunities for Ram Battalion cadets to attend this prestigious conference.
All of this is part of an ongoing trend within the Military Sciences Building in which past and present members of Ram Battalion are connected through giving and service, according to Lt. Col. Matthew Tillman, who oversees the battalion of more than 130 cadets.
Tillman explained that it means a lot to have an alumnus like Halverson helping the next generation of military leaders from CSU.
“We do a lot of great things in Northern Colorado,” Tillman said, “and not many people know about it. So, to have somebody working to help you advance the brand is a tremendous help.”
Halverson said his commitment to helping current Ram Battalion cadets stems from his experiences at CSU and because of faculty members like Col. Robert W. Patterson, who helped shape him into a leader.
That preparation continues today with cadets like Hare and Anderson.
“It’s really important to realize that the education these youngsters are getting at Colorado State is top notch,” Halverson said. “I have received comments from a couple senior people there (at SCONA), and it was very evident that they were well prepared and are very bright, young people.”
Back from SCONA, Hare said the experience has opened her eyes to public policy and how she can weave it into her public health interests in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
It also has helped her sharpen her leadership skills even more. Most importantly, she said she’s looking forward to helping the next generation of Ram Battalion cadets as an alumnus one day.
“When somebody provides you with that kind of opportunity, you can’t help but want to pay it forward,” she said. “We’re so passionate about what we stand for and what we do.”