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CORDOVA -- Cougar pride and American pride were demonstrated at the 2007-2008 Edisto High School Junior ROTC Awards Ceremony.
The Air Force JROTC program is designed to broaden the minds and experiences of cadets while teaching them skills, military demeanor and instilling self-discipline. Cadet Maj. Jocelyn Funchess is commander of the Edisto High AFJROTC.
The Edisto High Air Force JROTC unit earned the National Distinguished Unit Award with Merit for the fourth consecutive year -- an honor unrivaled in South Carolina. Other notable awards included the Outstanding Cadet awards presented to Cadet Jaslynn Wilson (ninth grade), Cadet Valoria Ritter (10th grade), Cadet Natasha Wade (11th grade) and Cadet Cassandra Green (12th grade) and the Outstanding Flight awards presented to Flight A for the first semester and Flight D for the second semester.
Click here to view video footage of the Edisto High School AFJROTC Drill Team in action.
For exceptional and significant achievement in 2007-2008, ribbons and certificates were presented to Cadet LaSandra Cleckley, Cadet Rashida Felder, Funchess, Green and Cadet Corey Hiott.
For outstanding performance in a position of AFJROTC leadership, ribbons and certificates were presented to Funchess and Green.
Lt. Col. Walter Davis recognized the 10 AFJROTC seniors -- Cadets Kadeldren Anthony, Cleckley, Justin Daff, Felder, Jermaine Fludd, Ernest Frazier, Funchess, Green, Hiott and Fredrick Johnson.
"Our program will certainly miss the leadership each of these young adults has provided during the past year," Davis said. "We wish them well in their future endeavors."
In addition, the following awards were presented: Cadet Charles Jones, Palmetto Marines Medal and Ribbon; Cadet Erika Jones and Cadet Angela McKinney, the Tuskegee Airmen Inc. Award; Cadet Robert Gleaton, the Non-Commissioned Officers Association Medal; Ritter, the Air Force Sergeants Association Medal; Cadet Aaron Duncan, the Military Order of the Purple Heart Medal; Cleckley, the Scottish Rite Medal; Cadet Jeff Browning, the Sons of the American Revolution Award; Cadet Ryan Bruner, the National Sojourners Award; Cadet Kadeldren Anthony, the VFW Award; Hiott, the Military Officers Association of America Award; Cadet Madison Lunn, the Military Order of World Wars Award; Cadet Quielah Ford, the Reserve Officers Association Award; Cadet Skyelah Ford, the American Veterans Award; Funchess, the Daughters of the American Revolution Award; Green, the American Legion Military Excellence Award; Cadet Nedra Block, the American Legion Scholastic Award; Cadet Havanna Holman, the Daedalian Award; and Cadet Natasha Wade, the Air Force Association Award.
Super Jock and Super Jill awards were presented to Frazier and Green, while the Tractor Jock and Tractor Jill awards were presented to Cadets Michael Varner and Angela Cheatham. The Sustained Performer Award was presented to Felder, and the Most Improved Award was given to Cadet Arthur Mills. Wade received the Einstein Award, and Green received the Best Dressed/Appearance Award. The Drill Sergeant Award was presented to Cadet Rodney Hughes-Smith, and Ritter received the Outstanding Flight Sergeant Award. The Outstanding Flight Commander was Lunn.
Many other unit medals and ribbons were presented during the program.
This is the sixth year Edisto High School/Orangeburg Consolidated School District Four has supported an AFJROTC program. The program has received the Outstanding JROTC Award for the last four years.
T&D Correspondent Sherryl Peters can be reached by e-mail at boykinbaby@surrealestate.com. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.