SEHS Army JROTC Awards Ceremony recognizes Excellence

By Amanda Pevey

Elmore/Autauga News

On April 5^th the Stanhope Elmore High School Army JROTC Mustang Battalion held their annual Awards Day ceremony for the 2022-2023 school year. The ceremony was held in the SEHS gymnasium. There are over 110 cadets in the SEHS JROTC program this year which includes 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 Christopher (Christo) Payne.

Presenters this year included Wendell Saxon, Board of Education member for District 2; Dale Bain, Board of Education member for District 1; Ewell Fuller, Principal for SEHS; Compatriot Rick Wells from the General John Archer Elmore Chapter of Alabama Society of Sons 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 was removed so a new “Honor Company” would receive their new streamer for the 2022-2023 school year. Posting of the Colors National Anthem and Army Song was conducted.

Col. Bonasera presented the awards to the cadets along with the presenters. In the middle of the award ceremony, the JROTC Drill Team performed. At the end of the ceremony, the “Honor Company” for this year received their new streamer, and Headquarters Company was the new recipient. All cadets at the end said the Army National Creed.

“This is my twentieth year teaching JROTC,” said 1^st Sergeant Chambers. “It is very rewarding to watch my cadets grow from ninth grade first year cadets to seniors ready to go out and change the world.”

“We stand on four enduring tenants here in JROTC; Personal Responsibility, Leadership, Discipline, and Attention to Detail,” said Col. Bonasera. “We will continue to emphasize everyday how those tenants will change your life in a very positive way.”

For more information about the SEHS Army JROTC program, please visit their website at: https://www.mysehs.com/JROTC. You can also check out their Facebook page at: www.Facebook.com/StanhopeElmoreHighSchoolJROTC.

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 mantel 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.

Below is the list of Awards and the Cadet Recipient:

1.       Superior Cadet Award LET 1- Ramsey Grimes

•       Superior Cadet Award LET 2- Tereasha Peasant

•       Superior Cadet Award LET 3- Julianna Peralta

•       Superior Cadet Award LET 4- Rodrick Arnold

•       Sons of the American Revolution Award- James Caylor

•       Daughters of the American Revolution Award- Jorja Gaddy

•       Military Order of World Wars Award- Kassidy Lowman

•       Daedalian Award- Ashley Trejo

•       Association of the United States Army Award- Danaveah Timmons

1. Veterans of Foreign Wars Award- Tucker Ayers

1. American Legion- Scholastic Excellence Award- Maleah Beaufort

1. American Legion- General Military Excellence Award- Tyson Meadows

1. Reserve Officers Association Award- Trinity Whitten

1. National Sojourners Award- Kaylee Simmons

1. Scottish Rite Award- Hope Taylor

1. Military Officers Association of America Award- Jackson Wade

1. Military Order of the Purple Heart Award- Keriana Cain

1. Noncommissioned Officers Association for JROTC Award- Zylan Foulks

1. Kiwanis Leadership Award- Harmonee Fair

• United States Army Recruiting Command Award for JROTC- Jamaria Levins

• U.S. Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete Award- Maria Escobar

• Alabama Army National Guard Army Values Award- Jamiel Reeves

• Air National Guard Red-Tail Commendation Award- Ashlynn Grissett

• United States Marine Corp Leadership Award- Tereasha Peasant

• United States Navy Leadership Award- Alexis Gissendanner

• United States Air Force Aim High Award- Christian Lunsford

• The Enlisted Association JROTC Award- Jada Webb

• United States Coast Guard Leadership Award- Elizabeth Hicks

• Warrant Officers Association Copper Award (Freshman)- Maria Esobar

• Warrant Officers Association Bronze Award (Sophomore)- William Griffen

• Warrant Officers Association Silver Award (Junior)- Bryan Chavez Castillo

• Warrant Officers Association Gold Award (Senior)- Lanah Ray

• Stanhope Elmore High School JROTC Cyber Patriot Award- Kennith Rogers

• PRINCIPALS AWARD- CJ Keeter

     Jeremy Kelley

     Sydney Davis

     Jordyn  Howard

     Jordan Lowery

    Kaleb Ledesma

• OUTSTANDING FEMALE- Julianna Peralta

• OUTSTANDING MALE- Rodrick Arnold

• OUTSTANDING LET 1 AWARD Alpha Company- Ryan Best

• OUTSTANDING LET 1 AWARD Bravo Company- Janiya King

• OUTSTANDING LET 1 AWARD Charlie Company- Aiden Sowell

• OUTSTANDING LET 1 AWARD Delta Company- Riley Harbin

• OUTSTANDING LET 1 AWARD Echo Company- Kirean Hurst

• OUTSTANDING LET 1 AWARD Headquarters Company- Tiffany Edwards

• Distinguished Cadet Ribbon N-1-1- Christopher Payne

• Academic Excellence Ribbon N-1-2  LET 1- Jessica Patton (GPA 4.1333)

      Academic Excellence Ribbon N-1-2 LET 1- Nicolas Frazier (GPA 4.1333)

• Academic Excellence Ribbon N-1-2 LET 2- Wyatt Harbin (GPA 4.0889)

• Academic Excellence Ribbon N-1-2 LET 3- Christian Lunsford (GPA 3.9892)

• Academic Excellence Ribbon N-1-2 LET 4- Christopher Payne (GPA 4.0321)

• SAI Leadership Ribbon N-3-1 LET 1- Ramsey Grimes

• SAI Leadership Ribbon N-3-1 LET 2- Crystal Sanchez Orozco

• SAI Leadership Ribbon N-3-1 LET 3- Jackson Wade

• SAI Leadership Ribbon N-3-1 LET 4- Alena Coleman

• TOP 5 CADET CHALLENGE- FEMALE #1- Tereasha Peasant

• TOP 5 CADET CHALLENGE- FEMALE #2- Jamiel Reeves

• TOP 5 CADET CHALLENGE- FEMALE #3- Lyric Robinson

• TOP 5 CADET CHALLENGE- FEMALE #4- Julianna Peralta

• TOP 5 CADET CHALLENGE- FEMALE #5- Maria Escobar

• TOP 5 CADET CHALLENGE- MALE #1- Taven Cox

• TOP 5 CADET CHALLENGE- MALE #2- Jackson Wade

• TOP 5 CADET CHALLENGE- MALE #3- William Griffin

• TOP 5 CADET CHALLENGE- MALE #4- Matthew Gainey

• TOP 5 CADET CHALLENGE MALE #5- Zylan Foulks

• JROTC Physical Fitness Ribbon N-2-2 (85% on all 5 Cadet Challenge)- Tereasha Peasant

         Jamiel Reeves

• JROTC Athletics Ribbon N-2-3 (50% on all 5 Cadet Challenge)-
• Kimberly Luckie
• Lyric Robinson
•  Kassidy Lowman
• Jania King
• Maria Escobar
• Becton Bodenheimer
• Ramsey Grimes
• Ashlynn Grissett
• Julianna Peralta
• Taven Cox
• Jackson Wade
• William Griffin
• Matthew Gainey

• Outstanding Color Guard Team Member of the Year Award- April Walker

• Outstanding Drill Team Member of the Year Award- Ashlynn Grissett

• Outstanding Academic Team Member of the Year Award- Kaylee Simmons

• Outstanding Physical Fitness Team Member of the Year Award- Taven Cox

• BEST MARCHING COMPANY- Echo Company (5^th Period)

• HONOR COMPANY RIBBON- Headquarters Company (7^th Period