By Mary O’KEEFE

The Crescenta Valley High School JROTC is a successful and busy organization. Throughout the school year, and during the summer, the cadets work, train and perform at several events not only in Crescenta Valley but also beyond.

On May 20, the cadets were honored for their leadership and hard work at their annual End-of-Year Awards Banquet at Clark Magnet High School. Twenty-nine cadets received nationally recognized awards from 19 different organizations.

The cadets are the uniformed, respectful young adults who present the Color Guard at several events, most recently the Memorial Day service at Two Strike Park on Monday morning followed by a quick trip to the Glendale service. That was after they participated in Friday’s Lincoln 500.

The cadets work hard throughout the year training for their specific duties as well as keeping strong academically. Some are preparing for a future in the military but the majority of the kids who join JROTC have interests in other areas.

Ben Marchman, a cadet for four years, is not planning on a military career. He said the program has helped him with discipline and in his college applications.
Led by Lt. Col David Worley, JROTC has become well respected for its professionalism and counted on by many organizations around Crescenta Valley as a source of volunteers. They have been distinguished with the prestigious Air Force JROTC Distinguished Unit Award. Only about one third of the 882 units nationwide were selected for this award.

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The recipients are listed below along with the award received:

Gloria Han, junior, Air Force Association

Dillon Dejam, senior, Order of Daedalians Award

Benjamin Marchman, senior, American Legion Military Excellence Award – Gold Medal

Andre Khosrovian, senior, American Legion Military Excellence Award – Silver Medal

Paul Cooper, senior, American Legion Military Excellence Award – Silver Medal

Philip Park, senior, American Legion Military Excellence Award – Bronze Medal

Liliana Espino, senior, American Legion Military Excellence Award – Bronze Medal

Helen Bender, junior, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Award

Joanne Lee, junior, American Veterans (AMVETS) Award

Hee Ju Kang, junior, Reserve Officers Association of America (ROA) Award

Kevin Yang, junior, Reserve Officers Association of America (ROA) Award

Jennifer Choi, junior, Military Order of the World Wars Award

Aaron Torske, junior, Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Award

Vincent Hong, junior, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Award

Shawn Kim, junior, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Award

Sehoon Park, sophomore, National Sojourners Award

Daniel Jung , sophomore, Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) Award

Yae Rin Cho, junior, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Award

Jisun Paek, sophomore, Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) Award

Brandon Kim, freshman, Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA) Award

Amy Youm, sophomore, Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War Award

Karen Lee, sophomore, The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA) Award

Andrea Locicero, The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA) Award

Andrew Kim, freshman, Tuskegee Airmen AFJROTC Cadet Award

Anthony Kim, freshman, Tuskegee Airmen AFJROTC Cadet Award

Eric Stepanian, freshman, Celebrate Freedom Foundation Award

Vicky Song, freshman, Celebrate Freedom Foundation Award

Alen Lee, freshman, Non-Commissioned Officer Association Award

Liezel Dignos, freshman, Non-Commissioned Officer Association Award

Gloria Han was recognized by HQ AFJROTC as the 2012 Distinguished Cadet of the Year;  Dillon Dejam, senior, Ben Marchman ,senior, Gloria Han, junior, Yae Rin Cho sophomore, Jisun Paek sophomore and Andrea Locicero, freshman, were also recognized as recipients of the Outstanding Cadet Ribbon for their respective year groups.

  Mary Okeefe