Louise Nowak
Louise Nowak, a Carroll University student, is the first woman ever awarded the Commandant's Trophy from U.S. Marine Corps Officer Candidate School (OCS). The Commandant's Trophy is the highest award given to an officer candidate.
Nowak earned the honor above 400 male peers in recognition of her academic performance, physical ability and leadership skills. In addition to the Commandant's Trophy, Nowak was awarded the Honor Grad Award for the highest average score and the Marine Corps Association Gung Ho Award for 1st Platoon, Golf Company. Prior to OCS, Nowak served from 2006 to 2010 on deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. She is a senior at Carroll University majoring in exercise science.
Brigadier General James W. Bierman, Jr. presented a trophy to Carroll University in recognition of Nowak on Feb. 20 in the Stackner Ballroom at Carroll.