Posts: Brasilia, Brazil / Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil /
Moscow, Russia |
Author: Oklahoma Christian
University |
Source: Oklahoma Christian
University
http://blogs.oc.edu/ee/index.php?/ocnews/oc_bestows_honorary_degree_on_fallen_soldier/
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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Feb. 18, 2004 - The late Kyle Seitsinger is the
first graduate of Oklahoma Christian University's Class of 2004.
Oklahoma Christian bestowed an honorary Bachelor of Science degree on
Seitsinger during a special ceremony following Wednesday's chapel
service. Kyle's father Dan, mother Jo and sister Karla accepted the
diploma from OC president Dr. Mike O'Neal and Vice President of
Academic Affairs Dr. Jeanine Varner.
Seitsinger, an Army Reserves sergeant, died along with seven other
soldiers in Afghanistan on Jan. 29, when a weapons cache expoloded. He
enrolled at Oklahoma Christian in the fall of 2000 and served several
tours of duty during his time as a student. He last was called to
active duty in November 2003, just 12 months short of his scheduled
graduation. Seitsinger was a dual major in journalism and Spanish.
Seitsinger graduated from Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Mo.,
in May 1993. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps on Dec. 7, 1993. During
his six-and-a-half-year tour of duty, Seitsinger guarded U.S. embassies
in Brasilia, Moscow and the consulate in Rio de Janeiro. At each of his
stops, men of his company gave spontaneous awards to Seitsinger for his
leadership style. Seitsinger also was an expert marksman and rifle
instructor at Camp Pendleton. He was named "Top Gun" at his embassy
school graduation in Quantico, Va.
At Oklahoma Christian, Seitsinger worked for the Talon,
the student newspaper, serving as an editor for two years. In 2002, he
was selected as one of 16 student journalists to participate in the
Summer Institute in Journalism sponsored by the Coalition of Christian
Colleges and Universities. His assignments included interviews with the
Colombian president as well as U.S. representatives Ernest Istook and
J.C. Watts.
In 2003, Seitsinger spent six months in Costa Rica in a program
designed to immerse the learner in the Spanish language. He aspired to
be an international correspondent living and reporting out of South
America.
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