The 31st Annual JROTC Cadet Review Ceremony was held Wednesday, March 28, 2018, at Provine High School. About 1,000 cadets from all seven JPS high schools and the Powell Military Academy participated in the ceremony. The purpose of the ceremony is to increase confidence, build teamwork and develop leadership skills. The event gives cadets an occasion to express pride in their schools and the JPS Corps of Cadets.
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| Scholastic Excellence Award winners and program participants. Col. Michael Stinnett and JPS Interim Superintendent Dr. Freddrick Murray presented Scholastic Excellence medals. |
The ceremony is a time each year to honor cadets who have maintained high levels of academic achievement at their schools. One cadet from each high school and the Powell Military academy were recognized with the Scholastic Excellence Award. The award is presented to the LET2 (Leadership, Education, Training) or higher cadet who exhibits the highest degree of excellence in academic areas. The 2017-2018 honorees are:
- C/MAJ Willie Day, Callaway High School
- C/MAJ Shalonda Watts, Forest Hill High School
- C/CPT Michael Lawrence, Jim Hill High School
- C/MAJ Sebastian A. Robinson, Lanier High School
- C/CPT Reshuanna Shelby, Murrah High School
- C/MAJ LaDarian Carter, Provine High School
- C/MAJ Shamia Thompson, Wingfield High School
- C/PFC Ralecia Robertson, Powell Academy of Military Science
JPS Interim Superintendent Dr. Freddrick Murray and Col. Michael Stinnett, Director, JROTC U.S. Army Cadet Command presented the Scholastic Excellence Awards.
As keynote speaker of the 2018 Cadet Review Ceremony, Stinnett urged cadets to make the most of their JROTC preparation and to be earnest in their future endeavors.
"The end result of your time in JROTC is you're postured for success," said Stinnett. "You're going to go off and do all kinds of great things in your communities, for your country, and things that most of your peers have never even thought of doing. You're going to be eager and ready to take the reins and get after it."
Before his current assignment, Stinnett served as the Division Engineer for the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York. He managed all engineering and infrastructure planning and projects for the division. During this time, he also deployed to Afghanistan where he served as the Joint Engineer Deputy Director and Plans Officer.
In his remarks, Dr. Murray issued a challenge to cadets to make the most of the training they received in the JROTC Program.
"This is a very important program within our system because it helps our students become more committed to their success and leadership," said Dr. Murray. "I want to challenge you to use the leadership, character, and the gifts that you learned from the JROTC to invest in the lives of each other—yourselves and your fellow cadets. You never know what kind of impact you will have and whose life you will influence as you travel."
Col. Paul Willis, Director of JPS JROTC Programs, gave closing remarks.
"This is the caliber of potential that we have in Jackson, Mississippi, and in Jackson Public Schools," said Willis. "Cadets, we are extremely proud of each and every one of you. We are counting on you to be our future leaders. We know that you have everything it takes. We want to continue to encourage you, and we ask that you continue to encourage each other."
The JPS JROTC Program is the largest in the state of Mississippi and among the largest in the region, consisting of Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Louisiana. The Army JROTC Program in JPS has been developed against a historical background of almost 81 years of experience. The first JROTC Program in Jackson was started at Central High School in l936. Since then, thousands of students have been exposed to the ideals of leadership, character development and citizenship training provided by JROTC.
