SEHS JROTC Celebrates Amazing Accomplishments with Awards Ceremony

By Amanda Pevey

Elmore/Autauga News

Photos from EAN/SEHS JROTC

TOP PHOTO: HEADQUARTERS COMPANY RECEIVING THEIR STREAMER FOR THE COMING YEAR.

On April 6th the Stanhope Elmore High School Army JROTC Mustang Battalion held their Awards Day ceremony for the 2021-2022 school year. The ceremony took place at the SEHS gymnasium.

Over 165 cadets are in the SEHS Army JROTC program. They include the Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, and the Headquarters Company. The SAI (Senior Army Instructor) is Col. Charles Bonasera. The AI (Army Instructor) is 1^st Sergeant James Chambers. The CDR of Troops is Cadet LTC Raegan Blame.

Bonasera has been working at Stanhope Elmore High School for three years now. He has been in the military service for over 37 years and retired from the Alabama National Guard.

Chambers has been working at Stanhope Elmore High School for over 11 years. He has been in the military service for over 20 years and retired from the United States Army.

Presenters included Richard Dennis, Elmore County Board of Education Superintendent; Emilie Johnson, Elmore County CTE Director; Assistant Principal Jaclyn Taylor; Wendell Saxon, Board of Education member for District 2; Dale Bain, Board of Education member for District 1; Vice Chair Rick Wells from the General John Archer Elmore Chapter of Alabama Society Sons of the American Revolution; Andrea Harris from the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution; and all other military recruiters from the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, National Guard and the Coast Guard.

At the beginning of the ceremony, last year’s “Honor Company” streamer was removed so a new “Honor Company” would receive the streamer for this year. The Posting of the Colors, National Anthem, and the Army Song took placed and everyone in the audience, presenters, cadets, and command staff acknowledged by standing. Col. Bonasera presented the prestigious awards to the cadets along with their presenters. The SEHS JROTC Drill Team, which is one of the best drill teams in the State, performed during the awards ceremony. Once all of the awards were announced, the “Honor Company” for this year received their new streamer. At the end of the ceremony, all cadets stood up and said the Army JROTC Creed.

A special award was given to Roberto and Fawn Peralta, parents of Juliana Peralta and they were quite surprised to receive this honorary award. They received a Certificate of Appreciation from Bonasera and Chambers because their dedication to the JROTC program. The Peraltas have helped out with the Military Ball, drills, the pancake fundraiser, and much more.

Another special award was given to three foreign exchange students from Germany, Spain and Chile. They were Anna Golsch from Germany, Naroa Trejo from Spain and Laura Munoz from Chile. Each became an Honorary JROTC Cadet, all receiving a JROTC shirt and a plaque. “The doctrinal mission of JROTC is to motivate cadets into becoming better citizens,” said Col. Bonasera COL (Retired).

A Special Recognition Award was given to Wesley Morris, Band Director and the Stanhope Elmore Band for playing the National Anthem and the Army Song for the JROTC Awards Program.

For more information about the program, please visit their Facebook page at: www.Facebook.com/StanhopeElmoreHighSchoolJROTC.com

Below is the list of Awards and the cadets that received them.

•             Superior Cadet Award LET 1 – Danaveah Timmons

•             Superior Cadet Award LET 2- Phoenix Dale

•             Superior Cadet Award LET 3- April Walker

•             Superior Cadet Award LET 4- Haley Brown

•             Sons of the American Revolution Award- James Cord

•             Daughters of the American Revolution Award- Jada Webb

•             Military Order of World Wars Award- Maleah Beaufort

•             Daedelion Award- Tucker Ayers

•             Association of the United States Army Award- Ashlynn Grissett

•             Veterans of Foreign Wars Award- Christopher Payne

•             American Legion- Scholastic Excellence Award- Jaydyn Hurst

•             American Legion- General Military Excellence Award- Lanah Ray

•             Reserve Officers Association Award- Elizabeth Hicks

•             National Sojourners Award- Conner Russo

•             Scottish Rite Award- Alena Coleman

•             Military Officers Association of America Award- Justin Thicklin

•             Military Order of the Purple Heart Award- Jackson Wade

•             Noncommissioned Officers Association for JROTC Award- Kenneth Rogers

•             Kiwanis Leadership Award- Jose Roblero

•             United States Army Recruiting Command Award for JROTC- Clark Day

•             U.S. Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete Award- Jamiel Reeves

•             Alabama Army National Guard Army Values Award- Rodrick Arnold

•             Air National Guard Red-Tail Commendation Award- James Caylor

•             United States Marine Corp Leadership Award- Joseph Goodwin

•             United States Navy Leadership Award- Brian Chavez

•             United States Air Force Aim High Award- Paris Todd

•             The Enlisted Association JROTC Award- Christian Lunsford

•             United States Coast Guard Leadership Award- Chloe Shamblin

•             Warrant Officers Association Copper Award Freshman- Katelyn Mishoe

•             Warrant Officers Association Bronze Award Sophomore- Trinity Edwards

•             Warrant Officers Association Silver Award Junior- Keriana Cain

•             Warrant Officers Association Gold Award Senior- Austin Tucker

•             Principals Award- Harrison Townsend

•             Outstanding Female- April Walker

•             Outstanding Male- Kaden Pickett

•             Outstanding LET 1 Award Alpha Company- Angelica Perez

•             Outstanding LET 1 Award Bravo Company- Kerstina Mclain

•             Outstanding LET 1 Award Charlie Company- Kimberely Luckie

•             Outstanding LET 1 Award Delta Company- Jorja Gaddy

•             Outstanding LET 1 Award Echo Company- Zoie Stoudmire

•             Outstanding LET 1 Award Headquarters Company- Kassidy Lowman

•             Distinguished Cadet Ribbon N-1-1- Reagan Blame

•             Academic Excellence Ribbon N-1-2 LET 1- Shahollene Smith

•             Academic Excellence Ribbon N-1-2 LET 2- Christian Lunsford

•             Academic Excellence Ribbon N-1-2 LET 3- Christopher Payne

•             Academic Excellence Ribbon N-1-2 LET 4- Reagan Blame

•             SAI Leadership Ribbon N-3-1 LET 1- Joseph Goodwin

•             SAI Leadership Ribbon N-3-1 LET 2- Juliana Peralta

•             SAI Leadership Ribbon N-3-1 LET 3- Roderick Arnold

•             SAI Leadership Ribbon N-3-1 LET 4- Dayja Brown

•             Outstanding Color Guard Team Member of the Year Award- Ashlynn Grissette

•             Outstanding Academic Team Member of the Year Award- Juliana Peralta

•             Top 5 Cadet Challenge- Female #1- Ariel Gilchrist

•             Top 5 Cadet Challenge- Female #2- Jamiel Reeves

•             Top 5 Cadet Challenge-Female #3- Alena Coleman

•             Top 5 Cadet Challenge- Female #4- Haley Brown

•             Top 5 Cadet Challenge- Female #5- Trinity Edwards

•             Top 5 Cadet Challenge- Male #1- Jackson Wade

•             Top 5 Cadet Challenge- Male #2- Brandon Voltz

•             Top 5 Cadet Challenge- Male #3- Kristian Seals

•             Top 5 Cadet Challenge- Male #4- Christian Lunsford

•             Top 5 Cadet Challenge- Male #5- Connor Russo

•             Best Marching Company- Echo Company

•             Honor Company- Headquarters Company

•             Certificate of Appreciation- Parents; Roberto and Fawn Peralta

•             Foreign Exchange Student Anna Golsch from Germany- Honorary JROTC Cadet

•             Foreign Exchange Student Naroa Trejo Sanchez from Spain- Honorary JROTC Cadet

•             Foreign Exchange Student Laura Munoz from Chile- Honorary JROTC Cadet

•             Outstanding Staff Member Battalion Commander- Reagan Blame

•             Outstanding Staff Member Battalion Executive Officer- Madison McElrath

•             Outstanding Staff Member Battalion Command Sergeant Major- Kaden Pickett

•             Outstanding Staff Member Battalion Administration Officer- Jada Coleman

•             Outstanding Staff Member Battalion Security Officer- Sadie Burdett

•             Outstanding Staff Member Battalion Training Officer- Shemaiya Peak

•             Outstanding Staff Member Battalion Supply Officer- Ryan Doucette

•             Outstanding Staff Member Battalion Special Projects Officer- Maura Cone

ARMY JROTC CREED

I AM AN ARMY JUNIOR ROTC CADET.

I WILL ALWAYS CONDUCT MYSELF TO BRING CREDIT TO MY FAMILY, COUNTRY, SCHOOL, AND CORPS OF CADETS.

I AM LOYAL AND PATRIOTIC. I AM THE FUTURE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

I DO NOT LIE, CHEAT OR STEAL AND WILL ALWAYS BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR MY ACTIONS AND DEEDS.

I WILL ALWAYS PRACTICE GOOD CITIZENSHIP AND PATRIOTISM.

I WILL WORK HARD TO IMPROVE MY MIND AND STRENGTHEN MY BODY.

I WILL SEEK THE MONTEL OF LEADERSHIP AND STAND PREPARED TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION AND THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE.

MAY GOD GRANT ME THE STRENGTH TO ALWAYS LIVE BY THIS CREED.

SEE MORE PHOTOS BELOW!