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Our Mighty Citadel

Connor Fuhrman

The Lure of Bagpipes

With his nearly trimmed hair and slightly oversized glasses, Cadet Connor Fuhrman, an electrical engineering major from Austin, Texas, gives off a bookish appearance that does not match the unkempt party-loving lacrosse player of his high school days who played hooky and caused his parents sleepless nights.

“I was hanging out with the wrong crowd and constantly getting in trouble,” he said.

In his senior year, Fuhrman dropped out of high school altogether.

How did Fuhrman go from being a high school dropout to being one of the highest-ranking cadets at The Citadel—a cadet who consistently earned Gold Stars for superior academic performance?

With a good deal of pressure from his parents, Fuhrman got his GED and began taking classes at a community college, and then his father—Michael Fuhrman, ’91, stepped in and insisted that Fuhrman attend a pre-knob visit at The Citadel.

It was at parade, as the haunting notes of Scotland the Brave sounded from the bagpipers marching on Summerall Field, that Fuhrman first felt a connection to his father’s alma mater. At the Episcopal school he attended from first grade until he dropped out as a senior, bagpipers had played on St. Andrew’s Day and other days throughout the year. As he heard the bagpipes echo across campus, Fuhrman knew that it was time to turn his life around.

The rest of the story is about a young man who accepted a challenge, who juggled academics and cadet life, and who eventually found his path forward. Fuhrman not only majored in electrical engineering, he heaped two minors—applied math and aerospace science—on top of an already rigorous course load. He has plans to pursue a doctorate in electrical engineering with a focus on robotics.

“The Citadel breeds excellence in people. Because it is a small college, you get a lot of individual attention, and it is unique in the fact that you have structure and discipline. When you have structure and discipline, and then you gradually get a little more leash, you learn to succeed in your own time.”

With a stellar academic record and having earned the position of regimental academic officer, Fuhrman has a bright future before him... and his parents can sleep easier.

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#1 Public College in the South

The Citadel has been ranked #1 Public College in the South offering up to a master's degree by U.S. News & World Report for 10 years in a row.

1 in 3 Cadets Earn a Commission

Approximately 1 in 3 cadets earn a commission into the U.S. Armed Forces upon graduation.

Citadel Graduate College

The Citadel Graduate College offers 25 graduate degrees programs with 22 concentration options, 25 graduate certificates and 10 undergraduate degree completion programs.

11:1 Student-Faculty Ratio

The 11:1 student-faculty ratio ensures direct access to nationally recognized scholars.

2,300 Cadets

Approximately 2,300 students comprise the South Carolina Corps of Cadets at The Citadel.

Over 90% Cadet Placement

Over 90% of Cadets report professional employment, military, or graduate school acceptance within 6 months of graduation, which is significantly above the national average.

$250,690,056 Raised

20,784 donors contributed to the Foundation for Leadership campaign, a 6 year effort to support the college.

Over 1,100 Non-Traditional Students

The Citadel Graduate College has a population of over 1,100 students, 23% of whom are a part of the undergraduate degree completion program.

16 Varsity Athletic Teams

The Citadel is part of the Division I Southern Conference with 9 men's varsity teams and 7 women's varsity teams.

Learning in 23 Countries

Citadel cadets and students study abroad in 23 countries across several continents.

22% Veteran Students

22% of the Citadel Graduate College are veteran students studying locally and abroad with The Citadel ranked as #1 Public College for Veterans in the South.

24 Undergraduate Majors

The Citadel offers 24 undergraduate majors and 39 minors.

#1 College for Alumni Giving in the South

The Citadel is ranked #1 College for Alumni Giving in the South with a current alumni network of over 39,000 people.

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