Citadel Class of 2016 graduate Anthony Milani awarded John O. Willson ring

2016 May 9

Presented each year to the senior cadet voted by classmates as the finest, purest and most courteous, the John O. Willson ring is a highly coveted honor among graduating cadets.

Cadet Anthony Milani, 2016 recipient of the John O. Willson Ring Award and native of Redwood City, California, has earned recognition from his peers for his principled leadership during his four years at The Citadel. In addition to being named to the Dean's List several times, Milani has earned Gold Stars for his outstanding academic performance. An electrical engineering major and Company Commander, he commissioned into the U.S. Army on May 6, 2016.

The award is named after Dr. John O. Willson, a Citadel Class of 1862 graduate, and Confederate Cavalryman in Company F, Sixth South Carolina Cavalry, a unit comprised of Citadel cadets. Following graduation, Willson became a successful lawyer, preacher and editor and served as the second president of Lander College in Greenwood, South Carolina. In 1911, the John O. Willson ring fund was established to recognize the finest and most courteous cadet in each graduating class.

"As Company Commander, Cadet Milani had the responsibility of instilling the core values of honor, duty and respect into the cadets of Palmetto Battery," said Col. Myron C. Harrington, Jr., USMC (Ret.), member of The Citadel's Board of Visitors and presenter of the award. "His combination of academic success and leadership skills embody what it means to be a principled leader."

As part of the long-standing tradition of the award, Harrington also presented Milani with a letter from 2015's recipient of the award, Michael Goss. Next year, it will be Milani who will write a letter to the new recipient to be presented at the commencement of the Class of 2017.