Congratulations to the 24 Aiken County Public School District high school seniors and military enlistees who were honored on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, during the annual Our Community Salutes Midland South Carolina gala held at the University of South Carolina Aiken's Convocation Center.
These students represent five ACPSD high schools and three branches of military service. They were each presented with a copy of the United States Constitution and a special challenge coin before taking their service oaths alongside a military veteran. The service oath was delivered by special guest speaker, former Army Staff Sergeant Clint Romesha, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry in battle with his unit of the 4th Infantry Division in defense of Combat Outpost Keating in the mountains of Kamdesh, Afghanistan, in 2009.
Military enlistees from the Class of 2022 include LaShiontea Aranda (North Augusta High/Army National Guard); Roman Balbag (North Augusta High/Marines); Johnny Blagg (South Aiken High/Marines); Gabriel Brown (Midland Valley High/Marines); John "Tucker" Christenses (South Aiken High/Navy); Wesley Ellis (North Augusta High/Army); Jackson Glover (Midland Valley High/Navy); Jeffrey Greenway (North Augusta High/Army); Cameron Hammonds (Aiken High/Navy); Kevin Harris (South Aiken High/Army); Portia Hubbs (South Aiken High/Navy); Jaylen Johnson (Aiken High/Navy); Joseph Jordan (North Augusta High/Marines); Grace McKenzie (North Augusta High/Army National Guard); Khalia Moody (Aiken High/Army National Guard); Robert Murphy (Silver Bluff High/Navy); Evan Price (North Augusta High/Army National Guard); Maria Racaza (Aiken High/Marines); Kenyce Rodriguez (North Augusta High/Navy); Katelyn Smith (Aiken High/Marines); Sydney Smith (Aiken High/Marines); Maliky Thomas (North Augusta High/Marines); Jada Tullis (North Augusta High/Army); Dakireah Wise (South Aiken High/Army National Guard).
North Augusta High School senior and U.S. Marines enlistee, Roman Balbag, was also named the first winner of the Gary Beikirch Award. Former Army Sergeant Beikirch, who passed away in December 2021, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic action during battle at the Dak Seang Special Forces A Camp in Kontum Province, Vietnam, on April 1, 1970. Roman was presented with the award by Sergeant Beikirch's daughters, Stephanie and Sarah.
Thank you to the members of the Midland Valley High School NJROTC who welcomed guests and served as escorts for the event, and the members of the North Augusta High School NJROTC Color Guard who posted the colors for the evening.
Congratulations again to these amazing young men and women and their families. We thank you so much for your selfless decision to serve our country in the armed forces.