SEHS Army JROTC Award Ceremony recognizes achievements and excellence

By Amanda Pevey

Elmore Autauga News

See award photos in gallery below.

On April 2nd, the Stanhope Elmore High School Army JROTC Mustang Battalion held their 13th annual Award Ceremony for the 2024-2025 school year. The ceremony was held in the SEHS gymnasium with 162 cadets in the SEHS JROTC program.

Leadership includes SAI (Senior Army Instructor) Command Sergeant Major Nathaniel Bartee, and AI (Army Instructor) Sergeant First Class Wayne Kindley.

Master of Ceremony was Cadet 2LT Emanuel Peralta. The singing of the National Anthem was performed by C/LTC Kaylee Simmons. The invocation was given by C/1SG Lyric Robinson.

Opening remarks were spoken by Principal Ewell Fuller. “To have a JROTC program like this, is a tremendous asset to this school, and to our community,” he said.

The Award Presentation began with City of Millbrook Mayor Al Kelley.

“I would like to thank these volunteers for all that you do, thank you to the Mustang Battalion for being here, I am so proud of you, the City is so proud of you. If there is anything that the city can ever do for this group, please don’t hesitate to call us,” said Mayor Kelley.

Mayor Kelley presented the Mayor’s Community Service Award of Excellence to cadets that have diligently worked in support of the city of Millbrook. Students who dedicate at least 150 hours of documented service through JROTC community service program earn this prestigious award.

Awards went to C/LTC Kaylee Simmons, C/CPT Quinterris Rivers, C/MAJ Harmonee Fair, C/CSM Zylan Foulks, and C/SGM William Griffin.

Superintendent Richard Dennis presented the Superior Cadet Awards.

Let 1 Superior Cadet Award is C/SFC Kloe Peterson. Let 2 Superior Cadet Award is C/2LT Emanuel Peralta. Let 3 Superior Cadet Award is C/CPT Nicholas Frazier. Let 4 Superior Cadet Award is C/CPT Quinterris Rivers.

Superintendent Dennis presented the Distinguished Cadet Awards.

This year’s recipients were Let 1 Distinguished Cadet Award is C/CPL Jonah Henderson. Let 2 Distinguished Cadet Award is C/1SG Alaya Holmes. Let 3 Distinguished Cadet Award is C/MAJ Maria Escobar. Let 4 Distinguished Cadet Award is C/CPT Danaveah Timmons.

Principal Ewell Fuller. presented the Principal’s Award for demonstrating exceptional dedication and hard work in the JROTC program and the local community. This year’s recipient is C/LTC Kaylee Simmons.

The Student Government Award goes to C/2LT Blake Schleinkofer, C/CPT Zoie Ball, C/MAJ Harmonee Fair, and C/LTC Kaylee Simmons.

Varsity Athletic Ribbon went to C/CPL Joseph Griffin, C/SGM William Griffin, C/CPT Gabriella Brown, C/2LT Emanuel Peralta, C/PVT Katie Haigler, C/PVT Liam Felio, C/1LT Ramsey Grimes, C/2LT Janiya King, C/1SG Elizabeth McShine, C/CPT Nicholas Frazier, C/CPT Kassidy Lowman.

Air National Guard Red-Tail Commendation Award went to C/1LT Taye Crawford.

SFC Kindley, AI presented the Alabama Army National Guard Army Values Award to C/PVT Dylan Chavez.

Norm Ginther presented the the American Legion Scholastic Excellence Award and the American Legion General Military Excellence Award. It went to C/CPT Zoie Ball. This year’s recipient of the General Military Excellence Award is C/CSM Zylan Foulks.

Emilie Johnson, Director of the Career Tech Education, presented the Association of the U.S. Army Award to C/CPL Rakeria Tyes.

Daedalian Award recipient was C/MAJ Maria Escobar.

Kathy Clements presented the Daughters of the American Revolution Award to C/LTC Kaylee Simmons.

Cindy Clem, President of Millbrook Kiwanis Club, presented the Kiwanis Leadership Award to C/CPT Daneaveah Timmons.

CPT Mike Jeffries presented the Military Officers Association Award to C/CPT Taven Cox.

SFC Kindley, presented the Military Order of the Purple Heart Award to C/1SG Aiden Sowell.

Military Order of World Wars Award was given to C/1LT Jasmine Snow.

Scottish Rite Award was given to: C/CPT Quinterrius Rivers.

Keith Lawrence presented the Sons of the American Revolution Award to C/2LT Emanuel Peralta.

SGT Rash, from the Prattville Recruiting Station, presented the U.S. Army Recruiting Award to C/CPL Crystal Hale and C/1SG Lyric Robinson.

SSG Palmore presented the US Air Force Aim High Award to C/CPL Kamori Gipson.

Heather Perdue, Assistant Principal, presented the U.S. Coast Guard Leadership Award to C/CPL Quindarius Cook.

The U.S. Marine Corp Leadership Award went to C/1SG Allison Acosta.

Coach Dunseith, Assistant Principal presented The US Navy Leadership Award to C/CPL Xavier Maddox.

The U.S. Space Force Award went to C/2LT Olivia Lawrence.

SFC Kindley, AI, presented the JROTC Athletics Award for getting 50% or higher on all 5 parts of the Cadet Challenge to C/SGM William Griffin, C/CPL Joseph Griffin, and C/2LT Blake Schleinkofer.

CSM Bartee, SAI, presented the Noncommissioned Officers Association for JROTC Award to C/2LT Janieh Wise.

Receiving the Warrant Officer Association Copper Award for the Freshmen Class is C/CPL Kevin McShine; Bronze Award for the Sophomore Class is C/SFC Jakayla Milton; Silver Award for the Junior Class is C/CPT Ashley Trejo; Gold Award for the Senior Class is C/CSM Zylan Foulks.

Reserve Officers Association Award went to C/1SG Aaiden Moorer.

SFC Kindley, AI, presented the Enlisted Association JROTC Award to C/PVT James Bruno.

Top 5 Cadet Challenge female awards, from fifth to first, went to C/CPT Tiffany Edwards, C/1LT Ramsey Grimes, C/SFC Neaheayia Palmore Graham, C/1SG Lyric Robinson, C/CPT Gabriella Brown.

This year’s recipients of the Top 5 Cadet Challenge Male award from fifth to first are, C/SFC Caleb Allen, C/2LT Emanuel Peralta, C/CPT Taven Cox, C/SGM William Griffin, C/CPL Joseph Griffin.

Bartee, SAI, presented the Senior Army Instructor Leadership Award to C/SFC Kloe Peterson, C/1LT Jasmine Snow, C/MAJ Maria Escobar, C/CSM Zylan Foulks, 1LT Katherine Bloch.

CSM Bartee recognized C/MAJ Maria Escobar for being chosen for the Vice President for the State of Alabama JROTC Officer Association.

CSM Bartee then pulled out a coin in his pocket and read what was on the coin. “Nothing Happens Until Something Moves” which is a transportation motto. “Here at SEHS, we have a cadet that nothing happens unless she is involved in it. This cadet makes everything happen for us. This cadet is 1LT Katherine Bloch.”

This year’s Honor Company is Alpha Company.

The 2025-2026 Top 5 Leadership awards for the Mustang Battalion were Cadet Captain Jasmine Snow, Cadet Captain Taven Cox, Executive Officer XO, Cadet Captain Nicholas Frazier, Command Sgt. Major 1SG Aiden Sowell, Battalion Commander Cadet Major Maria Escobar.

For more information about the SEHS Army JROTC program, please visit their website at www.mysehs.com/jrotc

Visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/share/163vJ1ofXz/?mibextid=wwXIfr