Orry Young is an emerging leader, thanks to the experiences he has had in the Army ROTC program and at UGA. As the current student commander of the Bulldog Battalion, UGA’s Army ROTC unit, Orry has been the recipient of various leadership awards. He will be commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant when he graduates in the spring.
Hometown:
Cartersville
High School:
Cartersville High School
Degree objective:
B.A. in history, minor in military science
Other degrees:
A.A. in history, Georgia Highlands College
Expected graduation:
spring 2013
University highlights, achievements, awards and scholarships:
Before I transferred to UGA, I attended Georgia Highlands College in my hometown of Cartersville. During my time at GHC, I was an active member of Phi Theta Kappa, the two-year college international honor society. I served as the president of the Alpha Psi Omicron chapter, leading local fundraisers and service projects such as those benefiting the Bartow County “Give a Kid a Chance” program. My fellow PTK officers and I also organized fundraisers for our GHC Relay for Life team to benefit the American Cancer Society. Our GHC chapter won the Outstanding Officer Team Award at the 2011 Phi Theta Kappa International Convention in Seattle, Wash. I also served as a representative and later as secretary for the Georgia Highlands Student Government Association. I was a member of the GHC Honors Program and the Emerging Leaders Program and was selected as a member of the 2011 Coca-Cola All-Georgia Academic Team. I graduated summa cum laude from GHC in the spring of 2011.
The summer prior to transferring to UGA, I attended the Army’s Leaders Training Course (LTC) at Fort Knox, Ky. This four-week training program allowed me to begin Army ROTC as a junior transfer student. Upon completion of LTC, I was awarded a two year scholarship from Army Cadet Command. During my first year in the UGA Army ROTC Battalion, I was fortunate enough to serve as a squad leader and later as the operations sergeant major. I received the Gold Army Physical Fitness Award, an Award of Excellence from the Joe C. Alderman Memorial Chapter of the Special Forces Association, the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Award, and the Department of the Army Superior Cadet Award.
This past summer I was granted the opportunity to attend the U.S. Army Airborne School at Fort Benning. Later in the summer, I, along with my fellow third-year (MS III) cadets, attended the Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) at Fort Lewis, Wash. This course is a requirement for all Army cadets who wish to receive a commission upon graduation. At LDAC, I was ranked number one among more than 200 cadets and received the Warrior Forge Commander’s Leadership Award.
This year, I am serving as student commander of the Bulldog Battalion, the UGA’s Army ROTC unit.
Family Ties to UGA:
My sister, Kristen Young, graduated cum laude from UGA in December of 2011 with her bachelors degree in early childhood education. She was very active at UGA, serving as president of Sigma Alpha Omega sorority as well as in the leadership of the Wesley Foundation for three years. She has been one of my main influences throughout my life and especially in my decision to transfer to UGA.
I chose to attend UGA because…
I grew up going to ball games in Athens with my family, so since I was young I have always had the desire to one day attend UGA. Athens itself has always been appealing to me for its diversity and music scene. There is a place for everyone here and so many opportunities for students to get the most out of their college experience. Add that to the university’s outstanding academic reputation and student life and I found a special place that I do not regret attending.
My favorite things to do on campus are…
Other than my obsession with Larry’s Giant Subs down on the first floor of the Tate Student Center, exercising is among one of my favorite things to do while on campus. Ramsey is an outstanding facility that I recommend to new students. If a short workout before class is in order, an early morning run through campus never lets me down.
When I have free time, I like…
I really enjoy the water, so anytime I get a chance to go fishing or swimming I’m all over it. And when the opportunity arises, I like to go to concerts downtown at venues such as the Georgia Theater or the 40 Watt.
The craziest thing I’ve done is…
One of the great things about being an AROTC cadet are the vast opportunities available to attend extra training. Being granted the chance to attend the U.S. Army Airborne School at Fort Benning is by far the craziest thing I have done so far. Parachuting from a C-130 aircraft at 1250 feet definitely got my heart pounding.
My favorite place to study is…
I like studying with the fewest amount of distractions possible, and with the large campus and the outstanding facilities that the university offers to its students, I can. Either the library on North Campus or the reading room on the third floor of the Miller Learning Center are among my favorites.
My favorite professor is…
Master Sergeant Aaron Stringer has by far had the biggest impact on my college career here at UGA. He was our instructor for the third-year (MS III) Army ROTC cadets last year. Whether we were conducting physical training early in the morning, listening to lectures in the classroom at the Military Building, or training at Whitehall Forest, MSG Stringer pushed his students to their limits and developed their leadership qualities. Consistency in his training and disciplinary measures helped prepare his cadets for their future Army careers.
If I could share an afternoon with anyone, I would love to share it with…
Jimmy Buffet. He’s a laid back guy who knows how to have a good time.I love the beach and the water, so to have the opportunity to hang out with him would be a blast. Not to mention, I’m a huge fan of his music and books.
If I knew I could not fail, I would…
start a fishing charter business somewhere in Florida after I retire. Fishing has always been one of my favorite hobbies, so to be able to share that with others would be a great opportunity and a ton of fun.
If money was not a consideration, I would love to…
I would spend an entire year doing the two things I love more than anything. I would spend half the year scuba diving and the other half snow skiing. I would try to travel to as many places as possible around the world, exploring some of the most popular reefs, ship wrecks, mountain ranges and parks.
After graduation, I plan to…
I, along with the others in my Army ROTC class will receive commissions from the U.S. Army as 2nd Lieutenants next spring. My service obligation is eight years, at least four of those to be served as an active duty officer. In a few months, all of the seniors in my Army ROTC class will receive their branches, duty stations and orders, so I do not yet know exactly what job I will have. I have always dreamed of being a pilot, so I’m shooting for aviation as my first choice.
The one UGA experience I will always remember will be…
Obviously, attending UGA has given me more than enough experiences to remember. The one that stands out in my mind is volunteering for the color guard detail for the UGA/Mississippi State football game last fall at Sanford Stadium.
