CHARLESTON – Two Columbia students were among the more than 400 members of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets Class of 2025 who received their degrees during a commencement ceremony held on May 3 at The Citadel.
Jake Debenport and Matalyn Schellinger, both from Columbia, earned their degrees and joined the ranks of the Citadel’s storied Long Gray Line—the collective name for the college’s alumni.
Graduates were recognized by Gen. Glenn W. Walters, USMC (Ret.), Citadel President and a 1979 alumnus. This year’s top academic programs included Intelligence and Security Studies, Mechanical Engineering, Management, Criminal Justice, Political Science, and Business disciplines such as Finance, Marketing, and Business Development.
Approximately 30 percent of the Class of 2025 accepted commissions as officers in branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, continuing the institution’s legacy of leadership and service.
The Citadel, South Carolina’s renowned military college, educates around 2,300 cadets each year. While military service is not mandatory, many graduates choose to pursue military careers. The Citadel Graduate College also offers a wide variety of degree and certificate programs, both online and in the evenings, to support lifelong learning.
