ROTC Cadet Nina Erickson Named Student Speaker for UVA Wise’s 2026 Commencement

Cadet Nina Erickson is a senior health and wellness major in the UVA Wise Army ROTC program. A native of Loudoun County, Virginia, Erickson has served in several leadership roles within the program, from public affairs officer to battalion executive officer, and will cap off her time with one final role: student speaker at Commencement. 

Erickson comes from a military family, with several members having served before her, including her brother, UVA Wise alumnus Russell Erickson ’25, who commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps last year. Originally planning to play basketball, Erickson said she had always believed that was the path she would follow until a campus tour arranged by her father introduced her to the ROTC program, where she quickly found her footing and never looked back.

From there, she began taking on a range of opportunities within the program, including positions in communications, cadet leadership and staff operations. She completed a Master Fitness Trainer internship, where she logged 300 hours training cadets physically, applying what she has learned in her health and wellness studies. She also made history as the first female from UVA Wise to graduate from Air Assault School.

“ROTC has taught me to take the things I have learned and give back,” said Erickson. “Going to different conferences and being able to represent the program on a national level has meant so much.”

After commissioning, Erickson plans to head to Arizona to begin her military career, where she will branch in military intelligence, becoming the first in the UVA Wise program to branch directly into that field. From there, she hopes to end up in a tight-knit community overseas, ideally in Europe, working with special forces or human intelligence units in an environment that mirrors the small, dedicated community she has found in UVA Wise Army ROTC. 

Reflecting on her time at UVA Wise, Erickson said one of the best parts of her experience has been the people. 

“I’ve never felt so poured into and invested in,” Erickson said. “It’s so easy to mess up my name, but all my professors get it right. Coming from a busy area, that means so much to me. The willingness to pour into you. You can come here and be your own person, and you’re supported the entire way. That is something I don’t think you can get at a big university.”

When thinking of those who specifically left their mark, Erickson was quick to mention her friends Kourtney, Will and Levi for helping her come out of her shell and be the person she is today. She also pointed to her brother, Russell, as an important influence, recalling when they competed in the Mountain Man Memorial Ruck March, placing first together in the heavy military half-marathon. This year, she completed the full marathon on her own, finishing first among the female participants and sixth overall in the heavy military full marathon.

Erickson also took a moment to reflect on the mentors who have guided her throughout her ROTC experience. 

“I would really like to thank Sergeant Cascarelle and Colonel Redman, who have been great mentors for me,” Erickson said. “They’ve shaped me not only as a cadet, but as a really good human being, just chasing after character more than success, and I think that has been one of the most important parts of the person I am becoming.”

Erickson is slated to give her remarks at Commencement on May 9 at 10 a.m. in the David J. Prior Convocation Center.