St. John’s Cadet Earns Prestigious ROTC Scholastic Honor

Relocating from Poland at a young age, Mikolaj Radaszkiewicz needed to determine where life in the United States would take him. He only knew he wanted to serve others.

Years later, the St. John’s University senior is one of the most honored ROTC cadets in the nation.

Mikolaj, Battalion Commander of the Red Storm Battalion Army ROTC unit, was recently named an ROTC Student of the Year in a nationwide competition sponsored by the Navy Federal Credit Union. Chosen from among 15 national finalists, he was one of three students selected, one each to represent US Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps ROTC programs.

The senior Homeland Security student, who boasts a 3.97 grade point average, is the first St. John’s cadet to win the prestigious award, recognizing cadets for their leadership skills, military and academic excellence, and commitment to service.

His selection comes with a $6,500 scholarship award and a $5,000 donation to the Red Storm Battalion. Mikolaj and his fellow winners will be celebrated during the Go Bowling Military Bowl college football game on December 28, and across Navy Federal’s social media channels.   

“It is such an honor to win this award,” Mikolaj, 21, said. “I really was not expecting to be a winner. There were many great candidates with great résumés. I was humbled to win.”  

Mikolaj’s journey to a national ROTC award winner began in Elk, Poland, a city of 62,000 in the country’s northeastern corner. He came to the United States with his family at age five, settling in Queens, NY, and attending high school at Unity Center for Urban Technologies in Manhattan, NY.  

A gifted student, he chose St. John’s for its affordability and proximity to his new home. He joined the Red Storm Battalion to repay the University’s generosity and to thank his adopted country for its welcome.

After nearly four years of physical training, classroom study, and field work, he is a leader his fellow cadets admire and emulate.

“Cadet Radaszkiewicz is a leader of character, performance, and achievement,” Lt. Col. Cole M. Therkildsen, Professor, Military Science, said. “He excels academically and provides mentorship to all as Cadet Battalion Commander. He is committed to serving the country and others.”

Mikolaj’s military ambitions began in his living room while he watched the Academy Award-winning war epic Black Hawk Down with his father in their Glendale, NY, home.

“I was six years old. We were watching the movie and I thought it was the coolest thing ever,” Mikolaj recalled. “When I saw it, I said, ‘This is what I want to do.’ I knew I wanted to give back somehow.”

Mikolaj admitted the Student of the Year application process, which began more than one year ago, was a challenge. Uncomfortable discussing his qualifications, he let his résumé speak for itself, adding as little window dressing as possible.

“I know you have to sell yourself; you must almost brag about your accomplishments,” he said. “That is not easy for me, but when I saw that Navy Federal provides a stipend for the Red Storm Battalion, I thought it was a great way to help the program that soon will be behind me.”  

In addition to his ROTC commitments, Mikolaj, known as “Rad” to his fellow cadets, is a member of the Polish Culture Club, Homeland Security Club, and the President’s Society—the University’s highest undergraduate student honor. He is also the outgoing President of the Red Storm Battalion Finance Committee and the Military Science Club.

Mikolaj will graduate in May and deploy to Fort Huachuca, AZ for officer training. He plans to pursue an Army intelligence officer career and credits St. John’s and the Red Storm Battalion for making his ambitions possible.

“St. John’s and the ROTC program shaped me into who I am today,” Mikolaj said. “When I heard I won, I got in front of our entire program and told them I could not have done it without them.”