South Aiken High School’s Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) program received recognition again this year from Augusta University Professor of Military Science Lt. Col. Jeffrey Keenan as he announced two of the school’s NJROTC Cadets have earned distinction as JROTC Cadets of the Year on May 10, 2022.
Junior Savanna Welch and Sophomore Keira Tallent received the honor of being named the 2022 Augusta University JROTC Senior Cadet of the Year and 2022 Augusta University JROTC Junior Cadet of the Year, respectively. Savanna also received the Junior Cadet of the Year award in 2021.
“Cadets Welch and Tallent represent two of our most outstanding students,” said South Aiken High School Senior Naval Science Instructor Col. Claude Davis (Ret.) “They truly represent the best that South Aiken High School has to offer and represent our success in delivering a program and experience.”
A board of JROTC Instructors served as the panel that reviewed applications from seven high schools located in the Central Savannah River Area and selected one Senior and one Junior Cadet of the Year by identifying talent and leadership skills in qualifying students.
To be considered for the award, cadets needed to submit an essay detailing how the JROTC program has changed them along with a nomination letter from a JROTC instructor that highlights the cadet’s achievements.
“Earning the Cadet of the Year award twice was a major honor, and I am ultimately humbled by the opportunity,” Savanna said. “I believe I speak for both Cadet Tallent and I when I say being able to be a part of events like these is always an amazing experience and well worth the work to get there.”
Both cadets shared in their essays that NJROTC has provided them with a major boost in confidence and taught them how to be effective leaders.
“NJROTC has helped me grow greatly as a leader, providing me with the opportunity to attend a leadership academy at The Citadel this upcoming summer,” Keira stated. “NJROTC has also provided me with insight into how a job interview is conducted and how to properly manage the responsibilities of the job you are given.”
During the ceremony, each cadet received a plaque from the South Carolina National Guard as well as a trophy/plaque naming them as Cadet of the Year from the ROTC Department of Augusta University presented by Senior Military Science Instructor and Master Sergeant of the U.S. Army, Kevin File.
LINK TO DISTRICT PRESS RELEASE: 2022 PR CADETS OF THE YEAR