Stephen F. Austin State University

Two Stephen F. Austin State University students have been named distinguished military graduates by the U.S. Army ROTC program. Jonathan McCloud of Allen and Jake Ard of Lufkin are among eight SFA students who will graduate as commissioned officers during the
2006-2007 school year.

According to Lt. Col. Jeffrey A. Pike, chair of the military science department at SFA, a cadet must be in the top 20 percent of the nation's
3,806 Mission Set 2007 lieutenants to be judged a Distinguished Military Graduate.

McCloud, a senior business major and 2003 graduate of Allen High School, will commission in August 2007. He has served as community service chair for Phi Delta Theta, commanding officer for the Austin Raiders and executive officer and Cadet of the Semester for the ROTC program. McCloud ranked in the top 7% of graduates in the nation. He is the son of Martin and Susan McCloud of Allen.

Ard, a senior, will commission in December 2006 at the same time he receives his nursing degree. He has been inducted into Sigma Theta Tau national honor society. In addition to the national honor, both McCloud and Ard were named distinguished military students by the SFA military science department. Ard is the son of James and Sherrie Ewings of Woodville and James and Susan Ard of Cleveland.