The Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program of Maynard Evans High School has been a source of tremendous pride at Evans High School.The program with its 175 Cadet Corp, has been a path to a brighter future for many Cadets in hopes of a career in the military or an opportunity to obtain a college education. Cadets and instructors are elated at the success of the program.
As well they should be.
After successfully appearing for a third straight year in the State Championship ROTC field meet, the Evans ROTC program finishied in the top 10 percent in the National Academic Competition.
It gets better.
The Evans High School program in the 2006-2007 school year won its second ever Distinguished Unit Award (see article). The Distinguished Unit Award recognizes the personal growth and accomplishments of the cadets, the contributions of the instructors as mentors of the cadets, and the support of the school and community. The Distinguished Unit Award is limited to the best of the best of our nation’s Junior ROTC units.
The program has now taken on a level of respectability that is usually associated with wealthy, whiter towns, in some of Florida more affluent less diverse high schools.
Completing some 5,000 hours of community service to Pine Hills and other communities throughout Central Flordia. The Evans NJROTC has worked hard to build and maintain their reputation for developing upstanding young citizens.
This year the Unit produced five military scholarship recipients, Jonathan Strickert, Brandon Sims, Mandisa Donaldson, Marcus, Jackson and Charles Orr totaling $720,000 dollars. In addition, 10 Cadets enlisted in the United States Armed Forces.
Maynard Evans NJROTC was presented an Award of Excellence for its contribution to the Pine Hills community. A video produced on the ROTC program captured the Prestigious “Award of Distinction” from the communicators’ awards, due to the quality interviews given by the cadets. (Please contact this newspaper for copies of the video.)
Praised by state officials for its exemplary execution of the military precession of their color guard, the cadets are constantly called upon to perform ceremonial duties and community service for many civic organizations.
A shinning star in the Pine Hill community, The Evans High School Mighty Trojan NJROTC continues to be a producer of outstanding future leaders.
