Above Photo: Newsome Drill and Color Guard Teams competed at the Zephyrhills Drill Competition in February.
By Cadet Captain Raquel Janes and Cadet First Lieutenant Gwyneth Kaighin
The Battalion hosted its Thirteenth Annual Military Ball. Cadets from the Battalion’s Staff spent months preparing and planning to make sure the event was meticulously executed with 200 Cadets and their guests attending.
Cadets continue to strive for excellence not only as a Battalion but also as individuals. Battalion Commander, Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Mallory Hirn, received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Also rising through the competitive ranks, the Battalion’s Executive Officer, Cadet Major Dylan Renfro, was designated as the Hillsborough County Army Cadet of the Year and is now preparing to compete against the top Cadets from the other military branches for the title of Hillsborough County JROTC Cadet of the Year.
Cadet Private First Class Verity-Hope De La Garza, of Charlie Company, was selected as Cadet of the Month and Cadet Staff Sergeant Madeline Mauzy won the NCO of the Month Board.
Fourteen Wolfpack Cadets were recently inducted into Newsome’s Chapter of the National Technical Honor Society which recognizes the academic and leadership achievements of students within the Career Technical Education (CTE) fields of study.
The Battalion’s Specialty Teams have been working hard as well. The Cyber Patriot Team emerged victorious as back-to-back State Champions at the Gold Tier level! The Rifle Team remains undefeated at the County level for the seventh year in a row with an overall First Place performance at the Brandon Rifle Competition where Cadet Sergeant Logan Portugue finished first place overall.
To learn more about the Newsome JROTC Program and Cadet exploits, visit www.newsome jrotc.com.
