Neuder named the Class of 2017's first honor graduate

2017 May 17

A South Carolina native was named the first honor graduate of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets Class of 2017. Board of Visitors Chair Lt. Gen. John B. Sams Jr. presented the award to the graduate at the commencement ceremony held Saturday, May 6, at McAlister Field House.

Joel P. Neuder Jr. of Spartanburg, South Carolina, graduated with a degree in civil engineering and sustained a perfect 4.0 grade point average every semester. Neuder earned numerous scholarships while attending The Citadel, such as the Ambrose Hampton scholarship and the Smith-Barnett scholarship. While a cadet, he held various positions within the Corps, including battalion clerk, company squad corporal, regimental operations NCO, and most recently, regimental academic officer. His immediate plans include attending Clemson University to pursue a doctoral degree in civil engineering.

The David Shingler Spell First Honor Graduate Award is presented to the first-class cadet graduate who has earned the highest cumulative grade point ratio based on all courses taken at The Citadel. The recipient receives the traditional scholarship medal, an inscribed plaque, and a stipend to be used for educational expenses at the graduate level or at the discretion of the recipient.