Renovated for Duty: Auburn Naval ROTC

Auburn’s Naval ROTC program requires more than just a sound mind and body.

To graduate and be commissioned in the United States Navy or Marine Corps, midshipmen undergo a rigorous academic courseload and demanding physical training. Leadership reaction courses, military inspections and continuous professional development all prepare them to one day perform, lead and excel inside the U.S. Military.

In recent years, the program’s continued growth had outpaced its current facilities, but thanks to the generosity of donors on Tiger Giving Day 2026, the Auburn Naval ROTC program received more than $18,000 to renovate its study spaces.

The newly completed lounge inside the William F. Nichols Center is outfitted with whiteboards, new technology, modern study resources and comfortable furniture that aids and improves reflection, collaboration and academic success.

“Tiger Giving Day created a more conducive environment for studying by adding new desks and improving the overall study space,” said 1/C Midshipman (MIDN) Will Culwell.

“The new furniture makes the space feel a lot more lively and gives us the opportunity to study both individually and in groups,” added MIDN 2/C Kenna Powell.

The spaces’ updates and renovations have increased how many, and how often, midshipmen use the unit, said MIDN 2/C Grace Lampe. “The increased use of the unit helps support our academic success and creates more opportunities for midshipmen of all classes and majors to interact, collaborate and build stronger morale and teamwork throughout the unit.”

Among its several new features, the addition of much-needed outlets and charging ports helps midshipmen to remain in the space for longer periods of time to study, complete assignments and work together.

The new furniture helps them hold more people at once—a major benefit for this year’s especially large freshmen class—and encourages more midshipmen to use the unit as a place to gather outside of scheduled training.

Thanks to the contributions of donors, the Naval ROTC program will help develop the disciplined leaders of tomorrow—physically prepared, tactically proficient, academically grounded, and committed to serving our nation with the highest standards of integrity and excellence.

“The furniture improvement has really revamped the way we study and work together,” said MIDN 2/C Kenna Powell. “The new setting is almost tempting to go study in—it is well organized and consists of exactly what one would need to achieve their academic goal.”