Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School’s JROTC program has wrapped up another successful year as an Honor Unit of Distinction, marked by a series of achievements and events over the past two months.
On April 6, the MSD Drill Team competed at the Florida State Drill Championships in Lakeland, Florida, under the expert coaching of SFC Ramon Arias.
The team qualified for 11 events and outperformed 90+ teams nationwide. The Female Armed Platoon secured second place, the Male Armed Squad took third place, and the Male Unarmed Platoon also finished third.
On April 13, the JROTC hosted its annual Military Ball at the Coral Springs Marriott, where 200 cadets and their guests enjoyed a formal evening with plated dinners, military customs, and a silent auction.
The auction, supported by over 30 local vendors, raised more than $6,600 for the JROTC program, which will fund several scholarships for cadets.
Riley Anders was named the 2024 MSD JROTC Cadet of the Year, earning a $1,500 scholarship. She competed against 31 other cadets at the district level. She was recognized for having the 2nd highest ACT score and the 2nd highest total scholarship awards among over 6,000 JROTC students in Broward County.
The final major event was the JROTC Change of Command and Awards Ceremony.
JROTC instructors LTC Mark Anders and SFC Ramon Arias, with assistance from various service organizations, presented over 200 awards to deserving cadets.
The ceremony also included the announcement of the Fallen Cadet Scholarships, honoring Peter Wang, Alaina Petty, and Martin Duque.
This year’s recipients were Elizabeth Velasco, Gabriel Zapata-Rojas, and Taylor Weese, each receiving $1,000.
The evening concluded with the changing of command, marking the transition to new student leadership for the next year. The incoming leaders are Anthony Pellito (Battalion Commander), Carolina Biggers (Battalion Executive Officer), and Faisal Baig (Battalion Command Sergeant Major).
Despite the school year ending, the JROTC program continues with select students attending summer camps. Cadets will visit the Pensacola Naval Air Station for the National Flight Academy and participate in STEM activities at NOVA Southeastern University.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School’s JROTC invites new members to join the Eagles Battalion, offering leadership, community involvement, and personal development opportunities.
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- Sharon Aron Baron is a Parkland resident and editor of Talk Media. She has been covering Parkland news since 2012. Parkland Talk was created to provide News, Views, and Entertainment for the residents of Parkland.
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