CADET CHOICE AWARD NOMINEES – Jan. 15, 2009

WEST POINT, N.Y. – Cadets at the U.S. Military Academy announced today the nominees for the 2nd Annual Cadet Choice Award for the movie character that best exemplifies West Point leadership.

          The nominees are:

• Bruce Wayne in “The Dark Knight”
• Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg in “Valkyrie”
• Dr. Henry Walton "Indiana" Jones, Jr. in “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”
• John Hancock in “Hancock”
• Harvey Milk in “Milk”
• James Bond in “Quantum of Solace”

         “West Point is all about producing leaders of character,” said the cadet public affairs officer, Cristin Browne.  “Leaders influence people to accomplish the mission and improve the organization.”

         “A leader of character seeks to discover the truth, decides what is right, and acts accordingly. Furthermore, West Point values are Duty, Honor, Country,” said Browne.  “That leadership, those values, are what this award celebrates.”

         “We understand the cultural power of movies, here and abroad,” said Browne.  “And this award, from America's future leaders, is a statement about what constitutes the best in character and leadership as presented by America's leading exporters of popular culture.”

         The 4,400 members of the Corps of Cadets vote on the award with the winner announced in mid-February.

         Later in the spring, the cadets will invite the screenwriters, producers, director, and actor to West Point for a formal awards presentation of a Tarbucket: the tall ornate black and gold cadet parade hat with a feather plume.