This morning, the Warsaw Community High School’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps celebrated the completion of its second year with an awards ceremony.

Held at the Warsaw Performing Arts Center, with Sgt. Major Mark Whitford acting as MC, the students of the JROTC were granted a number of awards from organizations like the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Awards, Military Officers Association of American and others. Many of the awards required that the recipients be at least the top 25 percent of their class and show leadership and patriotic qualities.

Award recipients are as follows;

American Legion General Military Excellence Award

• Cadet Madison Wagoner

American Legion Scholastic Excellence Award

• Cadet LTC Gary Spratt

National Sojourners Award

• Cadet Trevor Owens

Scottish Rite of Freemasonry JROTC Award

• Cadet Craig Byrer

US Army Recruiting Command Award for JROTC

• Cadet Trenton Day

Sons of the American Revolution Award

• Cadet Brian Holloway

Daughters of the American Revolution Award

• Cadet CSM Jessica Morino

Association of US Army Award

• Cadet Nicholas Light

Military Officers Association of America Award

• Cadet Jacob Mikel

Reserve Officers Association Award

• Cadet Patrick Myer

Veterans of Foreign Wars Award

• Cadet Austin Ritenour

AMVETS Award

• Cadets Brandon Johnson and Bailey Whitford

Military Order of the Purple Heart Award

• Cadet Brianna Blanton

Maj. Fred Josellis noted that the Purple Heart is awarded to service men and women injured or killed in the line of duty. The MOPH is composed entirely of Purple Heart recipients. It is a very prestigious award for any ROTC officer to receive.

The Company of the Year was awarded to Echo Company.

Concluding the proceedings was a Change of Command ceremony. Cadet LTC Gary Spratt handed over the flag to Cadet CSM Jessica Morino. Spratt, who has been with the program since its inception, gave a brief speech. “Two years with the program, I’ve seen a lot of change.”

Spratt will be graduating, and Morino will take his post. “I love to see the improvement,” she said. “I hope to see this go up to the next level.”