La dirección de los programas de JROTC (cuerpo de entrenamiento de oficiales de la reserva juvenil) de Houston ISD homenajeó a sus seis cadetes más destacados de la Generación 2019 en una ceremonia que se llevó a cabo el sábado pasado.
Los seis estudiantes reconocidos este año representan a los programas de JROTC de HISD, 23 programas en total, y todos ellos fueron ascendidos al rango de cadete coronel, el más alto que pueden lograr.
«Esta es la culminación de varias lecciones que se enseñan en el correr del año lectivo», dijo el teniente coronel Cornell McGhee, director de los programas de JROTC de HISD. «Me siento honrado, orgulloso y satisfecho. Es maravilloso ver a los jóvenes como líderes de sus compañeros y poder hacer todo lo necesario para que sean la próxima generación de líderes de nuestro país».
Todos los años se celebra un acto formal para reconocer a los cadetes más sobresalientes del duodécimo grado.
Los cadetes acumulan puntos por sus calificaciones, destrezas de liderazgo y participación en actividades extracurriculares. Además, reciben puntos por su nivel de desempeño en una prueba de currículo de JROTC, una presentación oral, una evaluación personal que consiste en cortesía militar, conocimiento de sucesos de actualidad y buena presencia en uniforme de cadete, conocimientos de geografía, y una evaluación de técnicas de primeros auxilios tales como practicar reanimación cardiopulmonar, vendar heridas y atender a personas enfermas o heridas.
«Hoy es un día muy importante para el programa de JROTC de HISD», dijo Jacqueline Domínguez, cadete coronel de la Escuela Preparatoria Scarborough. «Todos tienen la oportunidad de ver lo que se ha logrado en las escuelas, y es algo para lo cual nos hemos esforzado mucho y nos hemos preparado durante todo el año».
Los mejores estudiantes del programa JROTC que se gradúan con la Generación 2019 y sus biografías (en inglés) son:
Jacqueline Dominguez, cadet colonel, Preparatoria Scarborough
Cadet Colonel Jacqueline Dominguez served as the Executive Officer of HISD’s 17th Army JROTC. Cadet Dominguez is ranked 2nd in her class out of 189 graduating seniors while maintaining a 4.25-grade point average. Dominguez has displayed exceptional leadership skills and has distinguished herself by serving as a member of the National Honor Society, Captain of the Legion of Doom Marching Band, and a journey member of St. Christopher’s Catholic Church. Cadet Colonel Dominguez served as commander of the Unarmed Drill Team, member of the Academics Team, Co-commander of the Color Guard Team, Superior Cadet Instructor, and has been the Battalion’s Outstanding Cadet for the past three years. Along with her many achievements in the JROTC Program, Cadet Dominguez is part of the Future’s academy and the EMERGE program. After graduation, Cadet Dominguez plans to attend the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts majoring in Astrophysics and Music Performance.
HISD JROTC 1st Brigade Commander (#2 Graduate)
Nicholas S. Kramer, cadet colonel, Preparatoria Lamar
Cadet Colonel Nicholas Kramer has served as the Cadet Battalion Commander of HISD’s 7th Army JROTC Battalion. Among his many achievements in the JROTC program, Cadet Colonel Kramer has been awarded the Department of the Army-Superior Cadet Medal, the Association of the U.S. Army Award, the National Sojourners Award, the Expert Marksman Award, the Lamar Cadet of the Year Award, the Superior Instructor Award, and numerous academic and achievement ribbons. He has been a finalist in the HISD JROTC Cadet Corps Leadership Selection Board competition for all four years he has participated. Cadet Colonel Kramer is Captain of the Lamar Congressional Debate Squad. He recently attained the rank of Eagle Scout. After graduation, plans to attend either the United States Military Academy or United States Naval Academy and major in Economics.
HISD JROTC 2nd Brigade Commander (#3 Graduate)
Anahi J. Tercero, cadet colonel, Preparatoria Bellaire
Cadet Colonel Anahi Tercero is a member of the Foreign Language Magnet Program and historian of the Italian Honor Society, in which she has tutored numerous students. Cadet Colonel Tercero has completed many volunteer hours with organizations such as the Houston Marathon, the Houston Food Bank, the Italian Culture and Community Center, and Wreaths Across America. She served as Battalion Commander, commander of the Unarmed Drill Team, member of the female physical training team, and member of the JROTC Leadership and Academic Bowl Academic team. She is a fellow in the HISD EMERGE and Emerging Latino Leaders Programs, member of the LULAC Chapter, and Interact club, and as a youth leader of her church youth group. After graduation, Cadet Colonel Tercero plans to enlist in the US Army and work as a Multichannel Transmission Systems Operator.
HISD JROTC 3rd Brigade Commander (#4 Graduate)
Allison Velasquez, cadet colonel, Preparatoria de la ley y la justicia
Cadet Colonel Allison Velasquez has served as the Cadet Battalion Commander of the HISD’S 15th Army JROTC Battalion. Among her JROTC accomplishments, Cadet Colonel Velasquez has been awarded the Superior Cadet Award, Student Government Award, Scholastic Excellence Award, National Honor Society Award, and was Awarded the Outstanding Battalion Commander 2018 JROTC Summer Camp Trophy. Among these accomplishments, Cadet Colonel Allison Velasquez has placed in a finalist position for the Outstanding Cadet Leadership Board for 3 consecutive years. Her involvement in her community goes beyond her JROTC program, she’s an active member of her church and is involved in a series of other campus organizations and extracurricular activities, clubs and programs. Cadet Velasquez will attend Bryn Mawr College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on a full-tuition scholarship, where she plans to major in Political Science.
HISD JROTC 4th Brigade Commander (#5 Graduate)
Gloria M. Romero, cadet colonel, Centro de Matemática, Ciencia y Tecnología Sam Houston
Cadet Colonel Gloria Romero has served as the Cadet Battalion Commander of HISD’s 1st Army JROTC Battalion. Among her many achievements in JROTC program, Cadet Colonel Romero has been awarded the Reserve Officers Association of America Medal, the JROTC Citizenship Award, the Daughters of The American Revolution Medal, the Superior Instructor Award, and numerous academic and achievement ribbons. She has been a finalist in the District’s Cadet Corps Leadership Qualification Board competition for the last two years. She served as captain of the JROTC Leadership and Academic Bowl Team and as a member of Color Guard and “Black Knight” Drill team. Cadet Colonel Romero will attend Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, where she will major in Biochemistry.
HISD JROTC 5th Brigade Commander (#6 Graduate)
Arianna Sandoval, cadet colonel, Preparatoria Heights
Cadet Colonel Arianna Sandoval has served as the Cadet Battalion Commander of HISD’s 2nd Army JROTC Battalion. Among her many achievements in the JROTC program, Cadet Colonel Sandoval has been awarded the Department of the Army-Superior Cadet Medal, the Association of the U.S. Army Award, the 5th Brigade Citizenship Award, the Military Officers Association of America Award, the Heights Cadet of the Year Award, the Superior Instructor Award and numerous academic and achievement ribbons and has been a finalist in the District Cadet Corps Leadership Selection Board competition for all four years she participated. She has been the Captain of both the JROTC Leadership and Academic Bowl Team and the Commander of the Heights JROTC “Rough Riders” Drill Team, for two years. Cadet Sandoval will attend Texas State University at San Marcos, where she will major in Criminal Justice.