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Members of the unit pause for a photo with their Premier Unit Award—back row from left to right: Nathaniel Stevenson, Alexandria Martinez, Austin Field, William Wallace, Phil Wallace, and Jeremiah Sykes. Center Row left to right: Melissa Lopez, Dakota Tyger, Cole Bliss, Jade Schaeffer, Justin Vance-McKinney, Brandi Pike, Jordan Fletcher, and Cody Baidenmann. Front row kneeling left to right: Bert Asselin, Berenice Nunez, Eloisa Terrazas, Robbi Timmer, and Kade Jordan.
The NJROTC unit at Crook County High School has been selected for the Premier Unit award for area 13, standing out among 50 units, many of which have programs twice their size.
The award came as a surprise to CCHS NJROTC instructors Donny Jackson and Russ Robison.
“It’s for the 2011-2012 school year, and we are the number one unit in the northwest United States,” exclaimed Robison. “That is just over 50 units in 13 Northwestern states (including) Japan and Guam.
“The kids did great – they worked real hard. The effort was for community service, academic achievement and annual inspection results.”
Robison said that he was really surprised because their unit was up against other schools that have as many as 250 students in their ROTC program. Their unit received the award in the mail—a banner that was accompanied by a letter from Northwest Region Manager Captain Daniel Wenceslao.
The CCHS NJROTC unit has received several other awards throughout the year, including the regional 2011 Governor’s Volunteer Award in the outstanding Youth Volunteer Program category and the Distinguished Unit Award, with honors for their unit. More than 70 percent of the cadets achieved a 3.5 GPA during the 2010-2011 school year. Approximately 80 percent achieved a 3.25 or better.
“You are our premier unit, and we want to recognize you for your efforts,” said Wenceslao in his letter. “For the rest of the school year and until we recall this pennant, we are recognizing NJROTC Crook County as a premier unit.”
“We hope you display it proudly, and recognize that you have earned it through your hard work and dedication to citizenship.”
“We’re very excited because it’s a huge deal and only one unit in the whole area gets it, and we got it,” commented unit CCHS Cadet Commanding Officer Melissa Lopez. “I am very proud of everyone, because it took everyone’s effort.”
