The Palmetto Medal recognizes exceptional performance reflecting great credit on The Citadel and the state of South Carolina. Established by the Board of Visitors, the award is presented to those whose service to the college or state is particularly noteworthy. With the exception of honorary degrees, the Palmetto Medal is the highest honor awarded by The Citadel.
Two individuals who embody the college’s definition of principled leaders were chosen for the honor this year. Members of the Board of Visitors presented the Palmetto Medal awards during the military review parade on March 22.
Cadet Colonel Sam E. Wilson serves as the 2024-2025 regimental commander, chosen by the president and commandant of The Citadel through a rigorous rank board selection. In this role, he leads more than 2,200 cadets, guiding their professional leadership development, upholding both individual and unit accountability, and strengthening command cohesion.
Last summer at Fort Knox, Cadet Wilson was ranked 12th on the Order of Merit List of more than 5,000 Army ROTC cadets nationwide, and he was the first cadet to attend the Special Forces Survive Evade Resist Escape High-Risk Training. Before his junior year, Wilson successfully completed the Special Forces Combat Diver Qualification Course, the Army’s most challenging school with the highest attrition rate.
Wilson has been recognized for his academic success, earning President’s List, Commandant’s List and Gold Star honors for maintaining a 4.0 GPA all seven semesters as an English and History double major. He was selected for the Distinguished Scholars Program, which promotes intellectual discourse and global citizenship. As a four-year member of the Honors Program, he placed first at the National Collegiate Honors Program Conference for his presentation on the discipline system at military academies and colleges. He received the prestigious Killam Fellowship administered by Fulbright Canada and spent the fall semester of his junior year at the Royal Military College of Canada. He will travel to Italy in March to compete internationally with The Citadel’s Law of Armed Conflict Team.
Never content to rest on his achievements, Wilson is committed to strengthening The Citadel through his unwavering dedication to mentoring subordinate leaders and improving the lives of his fellow cadets by example through his leadership and humility.
In recognition of his outstanding service to The Citadel, his community and the state of South Carolina, the Board of Visitors proudly awards Cadet Colonel Sam E. Wilson the 2025 Palmetto Medal.