When Violet Diest walked across the Greater Latrobe graduation stage in 2025, she wasn’t just thinking about college. She was thinking about purpose. At Penn State University, she found it in the Navy Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (NROTC) program. Early mornings, tough training, and teamwork began shaping her into the leader she had always wanted to become. ROTC is a program that some colleges offer that prepare students to become officers in the U.S. Military, NROTC is the naval branch of ROTC.
Even though she joined ROTC in college, Violet knew she wanted to be a part of the military early on. Her interest was sparked when her brother enlisted in the navy during her sophomore year of high school; however, she did not always consider ROTC. Her journey began with looking into the Naval Academy, and then Violet realized that “I wanted some college experience.” She then figured out she wanted to be involved in the military but not “full on military. So I decided on ROTC,” she said.
Violet chose to join Penn State’s Navy ROTC program. To prepare to get into this program in high school, Violet maintained a good academic record, as they looked at her GPA and SAT score, as well as good physical fitness. The recommended SAT score is above 1200, but ideally above 1400, and a good GPA is above 3.5+. Violet said, “There is a physical fitness test, which is push-ups, planks, and a mile and a half run,” and she made sure she was prepared in those aspects.
Penn State’s NROTC program consists of a unit of about 180 people, and it is in one of three areas where NROTC programs can be found in Pennsylvania. Other Pennsylvanian NROTC programs are clustered around Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, or Philadelphia.
Once she was accepted at the start of her senior year, the NROTC program didn’t begin until the summer of her freshman year of college. The program was in Chicago with actual U.S. Navy members. Participants get to do the gas chamber, damage control, which is similar to firefighting, and IT, which stands for intense training, “It’s difficult, but it’s so rewarding,” said Violet.
As soon as she got to college, she immediately got rewards for being a part of the NROTC program. Violet’s tuition is fully paid for through scholarships from the NROTC program. She does still have to pay for room and board, but a full tuition scholarship is a luxury many students dream of. Violet is majoring in chemistry, and she said, “For the Navy, it’s very STEM-heavy.”
After her time is done with the ROTC program, “I plan on going on submarines,” she said, “I want to use my major a little bit with nuclear chemistry, but I’m okay with separating from that and learning a lot for the Navy.”
However, she does not necessarily plan on being in the Navy forever: “Once I am out of the Navy, maybe I’ll become a chemistry teacher, maybe I’ll get my doctorate in chemistry, I’m not quite sure yet.” There is no need for her to be set on what she wants to do after this journey, for this new chapter of her life is just beginning. She still has three and a half years left with the NROTC program and at least five years in the Navy before she will have to worry about any steps after.
Violet is one of many Greater Latrobe graduates who plan on helping to serve our country. Violet’s journey from Greater Latrobe to Penn State’s NROTC program shows how dedication, purpose, and service can shape both a future and a leader.
