CHICAGO — Madeline Crowell, a freshman on the DePaul women’s basketball team, will take the oath of enlistment for the U.S. Army on Jan. 19 prior to the Blue Demons 2 p.m. BIG EAST Conference game against Villanova at McGrath-Phillips Arena on the Lincoln Park Campus.

Prior to the singing of the national anthem, Crowell’s oath will be administered by Lt. Col. Christopher Clay, professor of Military Science of the Rambler Battalion, which is headquartered out of Loyola University. The battalion includes the campuses of DePaul, Loyola, North Park, Northeastern Illinois and Northwestern.

“I have always wanted to serve in the Army — it runs in the blood,” said Crowell, whose grandfather and uncle also served in the Army.

“I have always had pride for my family’s military history and now I want to forge my own Army path. I love this country and this is a step in the right direction — serving my country and fulfilling my dream of becoming an Army officer,” she said.

“To give the oath in front of my teammates is a pretty profound experience because they are seeing me take a step towards my future and my plans after graduation. The DePaul Army ROTC and the DePaul basketball team are both my other families. To have both present, along with my mom and dad, just seems right. I am looking forward to completing the oath and becoming an official cadet,” Crowell said.

“The Army is one of the two things that Ms. Crowell is really passionate about. The DePaul University basketball team is definitely the other,” said Sgt. 1st Class Marc Westenbarger, the senior military instructor of the battalion.

“People say that whenever you are part of team sport it becomes a part of your family and the Army is no different; the Army is one big family,” Westenbarger said.

“Ms. Crowell as a MS I (freshman) is way ahead of her peers. She is currently serving in a leadership role which is normally reserved for a junior-level cadet. Ms. Crowell stepped up to fill the position of squad leader, and is exceeding all of our cadre’s expectations. She is currently in the process of becoming a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army and is on a dedicated path to be a very successful one,” he said.

“To have this ceremony in front of her teammates and the DePaul community is ideal,” he added.

DePaul head coach Doug Bruno appreciates the significance of the oath of enlistment.

“Every time the national anthem is played before any basketball game, I always take that opportunity to thank those who serve our country in the military and remember those who have sacrificed their lives defending our freedom,” Bruno said.

“It is an honor that Madeline wants to take her oath of enlistment in front of her DePaul basketball family and make a commitment to serve her country like so many other 18-to-22-year-olds in the USA. The pledge that she is making on Sunday to the Army shows bravery, dedication and patriotism,” he said.

“At DePaul, our 18-to-22-year-olds compete on the court and in classroom, while those who serve in our military choose to fight for our country. I am so proud of Madeline — she works hard on the court every day as a student-athlete to make our team better. I know that she will be an excellent officer in the U.S. Army,” Bruno said.

Sunday’s game against Villanova will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1.


Media Contact:
Alicia Pope
apope8@depaul.edu
(773) 325-4740