BLACKSBURG, Va., May 23, 2005 – Midshipman First Class Kenneth P. Dittig, a graduating senior at Virginia Tech and member of the university’s Corps of Cadets, has been awarded the Admiral James L. Holloway, Jr. Award, presented annually by the Navy League to the top-ranked graduating Naval Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) midshipman in the nation.
The award reflects Dittig’s outstanding performance in all areas of midshipman life, including leadership, scholarship, and military performance. Dittig, son of Mark and Barbara Dittig of Williamsburg, Va., majored in economics in the College of Science and minored in leadership. He graduated with a 3.79 cumulative grade point average.
Dittig held numerous leadership positions in the Corps of Cadets and the Navy battalion during his time at Virginia Tech, including Charlie Company commander and Navy Battalion commander during his senior year. Dittig was commissioned an ensign and student naval aviator May 13 at ceremonies held on the Blacksburg campus.
There are 57 Naval ROTC units in 71 different colleges and universities throughout the United States and approximately 1,000 Naval ROTC midshipmen receive commissions in the U.S. Navy each year.