The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff will commission Cadet Bryan Wade as a Second Lieutenant during its Spring Commencement Ceremony on May 9. Wade, who is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Music with an emphasis in Business, is a member of the university’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program.
The commissioning highlights the university’s focus on preparing students for leadership roles both in military and civilian life. The Division of Military Science at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff aims to develop leaders who are competent and adaptable for service as commissioned officers in the U.S. Army.
Wade, originally from Maumelle, Arkansas, has been involved in several campus activities during his time at the university. He served as clarinet section leader for four years and was Drum Major with the Marching Musical Machine of the Mid-South (M4) during his final year. In addition to his ROTC involvement, he is also a professional musician who has performed at venues such as the French Embassy, White House, Kennedy Center, and Harlem Armory.
Following graduation, Wade plans to attend law school next spring at William H. Bowen School of Law at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to pursue a Juris Doctor degree focused on Entertainment Law while continuing his military career as a Second Lieutenant.
Wade has also been active outside academics and music through membership in Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity for three years. He said he hopes to advance music in America while building a career that brings together leadership, service, law, and arts.
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff competes athletically as the Golden Lions and supports community development through outreach programs serving diverse populations; it operates within the University of Arkansas System and maintains campuses in Pine Bluff and North Little Rock. The institution recognizes excellence through awards such as Distinguished Teaching Award and maintains a faculty-to-student ratio of 15 to 1 according to its official website.
