Four graduating seniors who served as cadets in the U.S. Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) at St. Bonaventure University were commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army on Friday.

The commissioning ceremony, held at the university’s Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, was followed by the silver dollar salute, a traditional event in which each newly commissioned officer hands a silver dollar to the first soldier who salutes them. Cadets choose someone instrumental in their upbringing, education, or training for this honor.

The cadets are part of the Seneca ROTC Battalion, which comprises cadets from St. Bonaventure, Alfred State College, Alfred University, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, Houghton University, and Jamestown Community College.

Seneca Battalion cadets commissioned at St. Bonaventure on Friday include:

Second Lieutenant Gavin Piskutz, who will graduate from St. Bonaventure with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Law & Society, is the son of Cheryl and William Piskutz of Gansevoort, New York. He commissioned into active duty as an ordnance officer, explosive ordnance disposal select. As a cadet, he served as cadet battalion commander and captain of the Ranger Challenge Team. A distinguished military graduate, he received the George C. Marshall Award, the VFW Leadership Award, the Military Science Award, and the Western New York Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America Award. His lieutenant bars were pinned by his parents.

Second Lieutenant Daniel Schiffhauer, who will graduate with honors from St. Bonaventure with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Economics and Finance, and a minor in Law & Society, is the son of Wayne and Lynn Schiffhauer of East Aurora, New York. He commissioned as an officer with the New York National Guard Engineers. A distinguished military graduate, Schiffhauer served the battalion as cadet executive officer and cadet supply officer. He received the Military Science Award, the Western New York Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America Award, and the Superior Cadet Award. His lieutenant bars were pinned by his parents.

Second Lieutenant Tyler Armak, who will graduate from Alfred University with a bachelor’s degree in Ceramic Engineering and a minor in Religious Studies, is the son of John and Melissa Armak of Long Beach, New York. He commissioned into active duty as an officer with the U.S. Army Engineers. Armak served as cadet platoon leader and cadet logistics officer. He received the Western New York Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America Award. His lieutenant bars were pinned by his parents.

Second Lieutenant Frank Pecoraro-Frayre, who will graduate from Alfred University with a bachelor’s degree in Art & Design with a focus on ceramics, is the son of Johnny Pecoraro and Georgina de Pecoraro of Sacramento, California. He commissioned into active duty as a field artillery officer. He served as cadet training officer and received the Western New York Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America Award and the VFW Award. His lieutenant bars were pinned by his parents and sisters Genesis and Iliana Pecoraro-Frayre.

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About the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, St. Bonaventure University is a community committed to transforming the lives of our students inside and outside the classroom, inspiring in them a lifelong commitment to service and citizenship. Out of 167 regional universities in the North, St. Bonaventure was ranked #6 for value and #14 for innovation by U.S. News and World Report (2024).