Generations of cadets honor military veterans through tradition, service, and the pursuit of ever better.
Students in uniform have been a fixture at the University of Rochester since World War II, thanks to the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC). This college-based program prepares students to become officers in the US Navy or Marine Corps through a blend of academic study, physical training, and leadership development. Through shared traditions and a dedication to service, Rochester’s NROTC program fosters a sense of duty and camaraderie that spans generations.
Students and alumni of NROTC at the University of Rochester share immense pride in their program and outcomes. Let’s meet a few of them.
Alexander Dudek ’15, ’24S (MBA): Success in the fleet and beyond
Lieutenant Alexander Dudek currently serves as the aviation officer for Rochester NRTOC. As a graduate of the NROTC program, he sees the traditions and work ethic he experienced as a student continue today, allowing him to mentor and give back to the next generation of cadets.
Originally from Fairport, New York, Dudek received his commission through NROTC Rochester in May 2015. He has served as a helicopter pilot stationed across the United States and aboard aircraft carriers. He credits his time at Rochester with creating a strong foundation: “This set me up for success in the fleet, life, and beyond.” The training, community, and friendships Dudek gained at Rochester have continued to follow him, strengthening his connection to the University and his profession.
Reflecting on his journey, he notes, “I realize how everything has come full circle. My friends from this unit are now the fully trained and equipped officers,” just like those he admired when he was a student, and in turn, current students will evolve into. His network of friends, many of whom were once students at Rochester, are now stationed worldwide on land and sea, on nuclear submarines and destroyers, serving as engineers, pilots, and more.
Rachel Yorke ’25: The making of a marine
Rachel Yorke hails from Summit, New York, and is majoring in politics, philosophy, and economics. As an NROTC scholarship recipient with full tuition to the University of Rochester, doors have swung open for Yorke that otherwise might not have, including summer internship opportunities and trips to Washington, DC, and the Norwegian Embassy for networking events.
Yorke is a marine-option midshipman (MIDN). And since she has already passed Officer Candidates School (OCS), she can call herself a “marine” proper. After graduation in spring 2025, she will be commissioned as a second lieutenant and continue her training.
Oliver White ’27: Learning life lessons
Oliver White, a statistics major from Easton, Maryland, has no problem waking up for early morning runs and drills. That’s because he recognizes the impact NROTC has already made on his collegiate career—and no doubt will continue to do so after graduation. He shared, matter-of-factly, “Waking up that early guarantees productivity. It’s rewarding, tiring, and worth it.”
As a navy-option MIDN, White was inspired by his family’s legacy of military service, which fueled his own desire to serve. As a sophomore on scholarship, he uses his experience to support first-year cadets. “We keep each other accountable,” he shares. According to White, NROTC teaches valuable life skills, like time management, productivity, and communication, which are necessary when balancing a full-time student schedule with the program’s additional demands.
Veterans Day 5K: An annual tradition
For more than a decade, the Veterans Day 5K has been an annual tradition for NROTC cadets and alumni. In honor of Veterans Day, ROTC programs from colleges across the region come to the University of Rochester to run in formation with community members.
The route takes runners to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Highland Park, where veterans are present, waiting to share their stories. Dudek explains, “This is a powerful moment to remember those who came before us and remind us why we’ve made the choice to serve.”
This will be White’s second year to run the Veterans Day 5K. He looks forward to running again this year and listening to the veterans. Last year, while running through the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, White made a point to touch every memorial marker as a way to connect with each serviceperson who went before him.
Yorke will run this year’s 5K for the fourth and final time as a student. Her favorite part of the day is interacting and networking with cadets from other area ROTC programs. On a normal day, the schools compete, but during this event, everyone is reminded that no matter their branch or school, they each made the choice to raise their right hands and say the oath.
Dudek ran the 5K when he was a student and has continued to do so in his role as an officer in the program. “As an alumnus, it’s nice to see we’re still doing this. It means even more to me now than it did as a student.”
ROTC students have a unique college experience. Unlike military academy students, they can blend their military commitments with a more typical student experience. In uniform or not, the character and dedication of these students remain steadfast, even when they are physically removed from their military brethren undertaking full-time military training. This run reconnects cadets to the larger military network and community.
Connected through legacy
After this academic semester, Dudek’s “shore tour” in Rochester will end, and he will be stationed on the USS Tripoli out of San Diego, California. Through every conversation and interaction, Dudek has made it his mission in Rochester to build up every cadet to impact the world positively. He is thankful to the NROTC students for bringing him back to the “why” they all serve.
Every day, Rochester’s NROTC cadets and alumni honor the legacy of those who served before them, living the Navy’s motto of “Honor, Courage, Commitment,” augmented with the University of Rochester’s own motto, Meliora—meaning “ever better.” For Dudek, Yorke, and White, these mottos transcend their daily lives, embodying their commitment to their country and a tradition that connects them to generations of servicemembers past and future.
