The SAR MAGAZINE is the official quarterly publication of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution published quarterly.
Issue link: http://sar.epubxp.com/i/604650
8 SAR MAGAZINE In the SAR spirit of celebrating America's Revolutionary heritage, Dr. J. Phillip "Jack" London was an award presenter during the U.S. Naval Academy Division of Humanities & Social Sciences Prizes and Awards ceremony in Annapolis, Md. on May 20. This year, London presented the SAR Prize to Midshipman Alex Brecht for the best research paper in American history. London has also started a new tradition with the Capt. Samuel Nicholson Naval and Marine Corps History and Leadership Award. The award was created by London in 2014 to honor the graduating midshipman who has demonstrated academic excellence in history and leadership within the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. This year's recipient was Midshipman Peter McGee. The title of his winning paper was "The French Victory in the Battle of the Chesapeake: The Emerging French Perspective." Peter received a certificate from London, and his name was engraved on the award plaque under last year's inaugural winner, Midshipman Caleb J. Drogowski. Peter, who was also named the Class of 2015 History Honors Student, received his commission in Navy Intelligence. Capt. Nicholson served in the Continental Navy, winning numerous prizes at sea during the Revolutionary War. He is one of three Continental Navy captains to whom London can trace his collateral ancestral ties, giving the award a personal significance. Nicholson was later commissioned by President George Washington to be the first commander of the USS Constitution ("Old Ironsides"). When he died in 1811, Nicholson was the senior ranking officer in the U.S. Navy. London is executive chairman and chairman of the board of CACI International, a $3.6 billion, NYSE company providing IT solutions and services in support of national security missions and government transformation for intelligence, defense, and federal civilian customers. London has long been interested in promoting naval history. His family has a proud history of sea service. London graduated from both the Naval Academy and Naval Postgraduate School, and served 12 years in the Navy on active duty, plus another 12 years in the Navy Reserve. He is a board member of the Naval Historical Foundation and the Navy Memorial Foundation. He previously served six years on the U.S. Naval Institute's board of directors. With the Capt. Samuel Nicholson Award, he has made new history at the Naval Academy, honoring and nurturing tomorrow's naval leaders. Cadet Meghan Wentz received the SAR Award May 21 at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Cadet Wentz was honored for her excellence in research and writing on United States history. Two West Point classmates—Maryland Compatriot Doug Stuart, a member of the ROTC/JROTC and Service Academies Liaison committees, and Georgia Compatriot Frank Hart, a former history instructor at West Point, made the presentation. U.S. Naval Academy U.S. Military Academy at West Point U.S. Service Academy SAR Awards Above, Jack London presented the SAR Prize to Midshipman Alex Brecht for the best reasearch paper in American history; left, London bestowed the Capt. Samuel Nicholson Award to Midshipman Peter McGee. Maryland Compatriot Doug Stuart and Georgia Compatriot Frank Hart honored Cadet Meghan Wentz with the SAR Award.