Frog of the Week
By David Reese
Features editor

Sam Denton has come a long way while at TCU. Denton came to the university after living in Austin his entire life.

While in high school, Denton participated in numerous activities including wrestling, newspaper and theater. He played the role of a minister in the play, “The Rivers and the Rabines.”

While at TCU, Denton has spent most of his four years participating in the Army ROTC program. This year, he serves as cadet lieutenant colonel, the highest student cadet ranking. He also serves as battalion commander.

“Being battalion commander has given me a broader view with planning, working out details and tasking down,” Denton said.

Denton said another huge reward included serving as platoon sergeant of Ranger Challenge in fall 2001. He said the challenge is referred to as the “varsity sport of ROTC.”

Denton said the event is an annual competition with about seven events including the M-16 weapon disassembly/re-assembly and a ruck run, which is about 6.2 miles in full combat gear.

Denton said he credits his success to numerous people including his girlfriend of 2 1/2 years, Katie Swetala, a senior advertising/public relations and history major.

“She has been so supportive of me,” he said. “She is not only my girlfriend, but my best friend as well.”

Denton will graduate in May with a degree in speech communication and a minor in history. He said he will be commissioned in the Army the day before graduation. Denton said he will attend an officers’ basic training course Fort Huachuca in Arizona. He said he will train to be a military intelligence officer.

David Reese
d.w.reese@tcu.edu