This past December, Daniel J. Tabacchi, MinE’07, became the highest-ranked Army ROTC cadet in the university’s history.

Each year, graduating Army ROTC cadets are ranked against others in the nation, receiving up to 40 points for their academic performance, 45 points for leadership skills and 15 points for performance in physical activities. Tabacchi earned a ranking of 95.54, placing him at No. 11 out of 4,100 cadets nationwide.

Tabacchi’s score on the order of merit list also placed him at No. 1 in a four-state region that includes Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois and Oklahoma.

“He is the highest-ranked cadet we have ever had,” says Lt. Col. William L. DeMalade, professor and chair of Missouri S&T’s military science department. “It was his individual drive and his striving for excellence in each of those areas that earned him the ranking.”

Tabacchi is now a commissioned second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. In May, he will begin basic officer training.