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Cadet Carson Risdon of Smiths Station won first place in The University of Alabama ROTC’s 2022 McKinley Marksmanship Award Competition.
Named and endowed by distinguished Alabama Corps of Cadets alumnus John K. McKinley, the competition consisted of tests of marksmanship with both pistols and rifles. It is open to both contracted and non-contracted cadets who meet certain minimum criteria with regard to their GPA, fitness scores and good standing in the ROTC Program.
Risdon is a senior studying political science. He has been assigned to the Field Artillery branch and will report to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, upon graduation in May. His short-term Army goals are to graduate from the Field Artillery Basic Officer Leadership Course, Ranger School and Airborne School, and serve as a Fire Support Officer in the 82nd Airborne Division.

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The University of Alabama, part of The University of Alabama System, is the state’s flagship university. UA shapes a better world through its teaching, research and service. With a global reputation for excellence, UA provides an inclusive, forward-thinking environment and nearly 200 degree programs on a beautiful, student-centered campus. A leader in cutting-edge research, UA advances discovery, creative inquiry and knowledge through more than 30 research centers. As the state’s largest higher education institution, UA drives economic growth in Alabama and beyond.