Shepard High School senior Lauren Sinisi announces award winners at the annual U.S. Air Force JROTC program awards ceremony. (Supplied photos)
Shepard JROTC closes year with awards ceremony
Shepard High School senior Deztini Dickerson accepts the Daughters of the American Revolution Award at the U.S. Air Force JROTC program awards ceremony.
The U.S. Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Shepard High School concluded its academic year recently with an awards ceremony honoring cadets who distinguished themselves.
Many national organizations presented awards to students for scholastic excellence, JROTC leadership and involvement, conduct, and military bearing.
Students named the top cadets in their academic class include freshman, Camila Krystek; sophomore, Patrick Corrigan; junior, John Anthony Alvarado; and, senior Emma Sacharian.
Shepard High School student Emily Armstrong poses with MSGT (ret.) Chris Saberniak after receiving the Air Force Sergeants’ Association Award at the U.S. Air Force JROTC program awards ceremony.
Students who won national awards included John Anthony Alvarado, Air Force Association Award for leadership and academic achievement in a non-senior cadet; Emma Sacharian, American Legion AFJROTC Scholastic Excellence Award; Kieran Haak, American Legion AFJROTC General Military Excellence Award.
Also, Christopher Warren, American Veterans (AMVETS) Award for character, academic excellence, and leadership; Lauren Sinisi, Reserve Organization of America Award for academic excellence and service to JROTC; Dulce Lopez, Military Order of World Wars Award for achievements and service in JROTC.
Also, Joseph Cardinal, Retired Enlisted Association Award for leadership; Colin Blanks, Military Officers Association of America award for military leadership, academic achievement, and character.
Also, Deztini Dickerson, Daughters of the American Revolution Award for academic achievement, leadership, military bearing and excellence in AFJROTC; Katherine Cain, Sons of the American Revolution Award for academic achievement, military bearing, and excellence in AFJROTC.
Also, Haylee Schaer, Veterans of Foreign Wars Award for military bearing and conduct, academic excellence, and leadership; Patrick Corrigan, National Sojourners Award for leadership and academic excellence; Dylan Tracy, Scottish Rite Southern Jurisdiction Award for academic excellence, dependability, patriotism, and self-discipline.
Also, Juan Hernandez, Military Order of the Purple Heart Award for leadership, support of JROTC activities, and academic achievement; Emily Armstrong, Air Force Sergeants Association Award for academic excellence, leadership, and discipline.
Also, Karol Kos, Air Commando Association Award for integrity, leadership, and self-discipline; Ravi Jahangir and Ahmad Hadad, Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated Award, for academic excellence and dedication to JROTC; and, Muhammad Siddiqui, Celebrate Freedom Foundation Award for academic excellence, positive attitude, courtesy, appearance, and judgment.
The Junior ROTC curriculum includes history, leadership, citizenship, physical fitness, and military drill. Students who enroll in JROTC, which fulfills the district’s physical education requirement, do not have any obligation to enlist in the military after high school.
Members of the U.S. Air Force JROTC colorguard team post colors at the start of the annual awards ceremony at Shepard High School.
Local News
Time for Ken Griffin to answer a few questions
Spread the loveBy Rich Miller Richard Irvin is a Republican. Period. Irvin might not be enough of a Republican for the purists. Democrats might want to weaken Irvin in the Republican primary for governor by pointing to some of the nice things he’s said about Democrats (including the governor) over the years. But Richard Irvin…
Income inequality tearing at social fabric
Spread the loveBy Jim Nowlan Household incomes in America have become more and more unequal over recent decades, as measured by the Gini Index of Inequality. American society has also become more sharply polarized, as measured by Donald Trump’s continuing, intense support in small town and rural America. I know why, or at least know…
Tabares backs West Lawn Branch Library
Spread the love Twenty-third Ward Ald. Silvana Tabares (left) recently toured the renovated West Lawn Branch Library, 4020 W. 63rd St.,, with new branch manager Mina Duarte. Details about the renovation’s may be found in the West Lawn column in the January 28 Greater Southwest News-Herald. –Supplied photo
Chuy backs Starbucks unionization
Spread the love U.S. Rep Jesús “Chuy” García (D-4th), white mask, recently stood with those who support unionization of Starbucks workers, outside a shop in the city. Workers are attempting to organize under the banner of Chicago and Midwest Joint Board, Workers United, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union. –Supplied photo
‘Grizzled’ sophomores help Naz beat Marist
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Nazareth’s “grizzled veterans” have won 19 of their first 20 games. The Roadrunners’ were victorious in a big East Suburban Catholic Conference showdown with Marist, with two sophomores doing most of the damage in a 53-42 win in LaGrange Park on Jan. 19. Nazareth improved to 19-1, 4-0.…
Postseason Sports Report: Area stars ready for state bowling and dancing
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The first two IHSA state tournaments for winter sports will take place this weekend, and an army of area athletes will be competing in both. The boys bowling and competitive dance championships will be held Friday and Saturday, with the bowlers heading to St. Clair Bowl in O’Fallon…
Strus tops former coach in Stagg’s win over Sandburg
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff writer Marty Strus has nothing but good things to say about his former high school coach, John Daniels. “He’s meant a ton to me,” Strus said of the coach he faced off against last week when his Stagg Chargers took on Sandburg. “He meant a lot to me as…
Palos Area Chamber dedicated to promoting area
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Dedicated to helping local area businesses strive is the Palos Area Chamber of Commerce. The chamber was formed in 1949 when a small group of merchants joined together for the purpose of advancing economic, industrial, professional, cultural, and civic welfare of the Palos Heights area. For 68 years, the Palos…
We need real solutions to crime
Spread the loveBy Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 Crime and safety concerns are the number one topic of all the calls and texts I receive. It seems that many politicians offer no solutions except the usual lists of ways to keep safe. I think everyone knows about locking…
Neighbors
Illinois child tax credit: who gets it, how much is it?
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com In the final hours of their spring legislative session, Illinois lawmakers approved a tax credit of up to about $300 for families with young children. The credit is available to Illinoisans with children under age 12 who qualify for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC. Although…
Illinois’ ban on ‘bump stocks’ remains in place despite U.S. Supreme Court decision
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – An Illinois law banning the sale and use of “bump stocks” and other devices that increase the firing power of semiautomatic weapons remains in place, at least for now, despite a U.S. Supreme Court decision Friday striking down a federal ban on such items. “Illinois law…
Another Choate Mental Health Center employee indicted for abuse of resident
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com Another caregiver at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna is facing charges for abusing a patient. A grand jury indicted Joseph A. Clark, 24, of Grand Chain, on a felony charge of aggravated battery and a misdemeanor charge of battery. Clark pinned a Choate resident to…
State highway shootings decline as critics sue over ‘dragnet surveillance’
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois State Police say an automated license plate reader program has helped the agency identify witnesses or suspects in 82 percent of highway shooting cases this year, including all eight that resulted in a death. But as the state looks to further expand its network of more than…
Illinois’ ban on ‘bump stocks’ remains in place despite U.S. Supreme Court decision
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – An Illinois law banning the sale and use of “bump stocks” and other devices that increase the firing power of semiautomatic weapons remains in place, at least for now, despite a U.S. Supreme Court decision Friday striking down a federal ban on such items. “Illinois law…
Just weeks before Republican National Convention, Illinois GOP chair announces resignation
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Halfway through the 2024 election cycle and just a few weeks away from the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Illinois GOP Chair Don Tracy on Wednesday announced his resignation as head of the state Republican Party. Tracy, who’d held the job since February 2021, explained his resignation in…
Pritzker signs bill creating new Department of Early Childhood
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation Tuesday creating a new cabinet-level state agency dedicated to early childhood education and development. The new Department of Early Childhood, which will become operational in July 2026, will take over programs currently housed across three state agencies, including funding for preschool…
Speaker Welch rebuffs lawsuit from would-be staff union as ‘forum shopping’
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch is urging a Cook County judge to dismiss a lawsuit members of his staff filed against him last month seeking to force recognition of their union. In a new filing Monday, attorneys for Welch argued the Illinois Legislative Staff Association has no…
Advocates say SCOTUS ruling paves way for law ensuring abusers have guns confiscated
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com After the U.S. Supreme Court last week upheld a federal law that bars those under domestic violence-related restraining orders from owning guns, victim advocates say Illinois lawmakers should pass a measure to ensure firearms are actually confiscated in those situations. The legislation has been stalled for more than…
Communities, commission push Pritzker admin for more prison plan details
By DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com Jimmy Soto spent more than 42 years wrongfully imprisoned in Illinois Department of Corrections facilities. In 2020, he was moved to the “F-House” at Stateville Correctional Center in Joliet, a condemned unit, not because he was being punished, but because it was where the facility was housing individuals…