Wilkes University's Air Force ROTC Detachment 752 honored the memory of one of its own Saturday during the annual Dining Out banquet with the naming of the Major Candice Adams Ismirle Leadership Lounge.

A photo plaque bearing the words of the late Ismirle, "Choose to celebrate life rather than simply survive it," will appear in the lounge. Ismirle died in February after a long battle with breast cancer.A Pleasant Valley High School graduate and Brodheadsville native, she graduated from Wilkes University in 2003 where she received commission as a lieutenant at the time of graduation with a bachelor's degree in communication studies. Working hard to move up the ranks, Ismirle worked in the military as a public affairs officer.Lt. Col. John Baum, the detachment's commanding officer, said he believed it was fitting to honor Ismirle's memory."Candice raised the bar and set the standard that all cadets should strive to achieve. She is a shining example of leadership and her legacy will live on through every cadet that passes through our halls," he said.In attendance of the dedication were Ismirle's husband, Lt. Col. Ryan L. Ismirle, twin sons 18-month-old Rafe and Ryder and her parents, Sandra and retired Sgt. Maj. Michael Adams.Ismirle taught at the Department of Defense's Defense Information School, training more than 1,470 students from all U.S. military branches, select foreign nations, and Department of Defense agencies. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer while teaching at the school. She shared her story through co-producing an award-winning multimedia documentary to raise awareness, during her cancer treatment.According to fellow 2003 Wilkes graduate Kyla Campbell, such choices reflected her best friend's dauntless spirit."That was her to a T," Campbell said. "Going forward and starting a family and doing things like that in the face of cancer was her way of saying, 'I'm going to live my life and move forward.' She never threw in the towel, ever."In July 2015 Ismirle was working in the Pentagon at the Headquarters Air Force's press desk as a media operations officer for the People Team before her medical retirement.She worked to provide public affairs guidance to 11 commands worldwide by recommending media strategies to senior Air Force leadership and creating media relations policies. Ismirle was responsible for covering some of the Air Force's most sensitive issues, such as sexual assault prevention and suicide awareness.Ismirle began her military public affairs career at Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center at Tinker Air Force Base, earning a promotion to deputy director of public affairs during her first assignment and was named the 2005 Air Force Material Command's Outstanding Public Affairs Company Grade Officer of the Year.Throughout her extensive communications work Ismirle won many awards including ALCOM's Company Grade Officer of the Year Award for two consecutive years. She coordinated media coverage for the first United States fighter plane intercepts of the Russian bomber aircraft since the end of the Cold War. Ismirle took home the 2007 Brig. Gen. Harry Dalton Award for public affairs communication excellence.As chief of public affairs for the 3rd Wing at JBER, Ismirle created Pacific Air Forces' No. 1 News Media Program while in 2008 her media team won the PACAF's Best Overall Communication Program and Best Crisis Communication Program."Detachment 752 is tremendously proud of Candice and her unwavering courage in the face of adversity. She personifies the Air Force Core Values of integrity, service and excellence while gracefully representing herself, Wilkes University, and the Officer Corps during her fight against cancer," Baum said.