Hard-working and dedicated JROTC members were recognized for their achievements on Thursday at Warren County High School (WCHS) during the Pioneer Battalion JROTC Awards Night.

The ceremony opened with the posting of the colors and the national anthem, which was performed by Cadet Kaci Bowdoin. The colors were posted by Cadet Alex Niedoba, who carried the U.S colors, Cadet Allison Sweatman who carried the Tennessee state flag and Cadets Aidan Young and Dyllan Betancourt served as left and right guards, respectively.

Cadets were honored across a variety of categories, all of which were:

• U.S. Marine Corps League Award, presented by Tom Cantrell and Richard Bodziony from Bobby Ray Detachment 1377, was given to Cadets Alex Niedoba and Allison Sweatman. Both cadets received certificates from the Marine Corps League certificates and checks for $250 to assist in future endeavors.

• The Veterans of Foreign Wars Award, which is two-prong and includes the VFW Leadership Award and VFW Academic Award, was presented by Ken Kesey and Mike Menth from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 5064. The VFW Leadership Award was presented to Cadet Lillie Seymour and the VFW Academic Award went to Cadet Christopher Morris. Both recipients were given VFW Certificates and checks for $100.

• The American Legion Award was presented by Kenney Sweeton and Jared Kennemer from American Legion Post 173 and Cadet Olivia Smartt received the award’s Scholastic Achievement and Cadet Dean Cooper was given the award for Military Excellence.

• Cadet Challenge Awards were awarded for cadets’ excellence in testing for physical fitness, which included the one-mile run, the V-sit and reach, curl-ups, pull-ups or flexed arm hand and shuttle run. Cadet Dean Cooper was the only cadet in the battalion this year to earn the Presidential Patch. In addition, National Fitness Patches were received by Cadets Marty Atkins, Miranda Austin, Dyllan Betancourt, Kaci Bowdoin, Gabriel Crain, Luis Gonzalez, Edgar Hernandez, Randy King, Tania Martinez, Christopher Morris, Alex Niedoba, Ulises Olalde, Danica Pearson, Tatiana Radny, Lillie Seymour and Aidan Young.

The top five males were Dean Cooper, Christopher Morris, Edgar Hernandez, Alex Niedoba and Aidan Young; the top five females were Marty Atkins, Danica Pearson, Allison Sweatman, Miranda Austin and Tania Martinez.

• Raiders were awarded the JROTC Adventure Training Ribbon as part of the Team Awards. First-year awards were issued to Cadets Kaitlyn Ballew, Thaddeus Barnoski, Maria Castillo, Alyssa Clayton, Dean Cooper, Gabriel Crain, Skyler DeYoung, Luis Gonzales, Liamm Grabein, Kaleb Hinkley, Chloe Jacobs, Kaden Lack, Alexander Lollar, Kaydence Steiz and Ashten Wolverton.

Second-year awards were given to Cadets Hangie Bocel, Edgar Hernandez, Tania Martinez, Christopher Morris, Olivia Smartt and Aidan Young.

Third-year awards went to Marty Atkins, Miranda Austin, Dyllan Betancourt, Lakelynn Garza, Randy King, Tatiana Radny, Lillie Seymour and Kayleb Whaley.

Fourth-year awards were earned by Alex Niedoba, Allison Sweatman and Braylon Torres.

Additionally, Cadets Marty Atkins, Dean Cooper, Christopher Morris, Randy King, Lillie Seymour and Aidan Young received their Raider arc and cord.

• The award for Best Raider Buddy Team of the Year was given to the top two-cadet team and a perpetual plaque with their names will be placed on display. The distinction of third-place male team went to Cadets Alexander Lollar and Luis Gonzales; second-place male team went to Cadets Aidan Young and Dean Cooper; second-place ladies team went to Cadets Lillie Seymour and Allison Sweatman; Cadets Christopher Morris and Randy King were chosen as the top male Raider team and Cadets Marty Atkins and Miranda Austin reserved the award for top Lady Raider team.

• Drill Team Awards were issued according to years. Cadets Kaci Bowdoin, Samantha Boyd, Dean Cooper, Liamm Grabein, Chloe Jacobs, Damien Lovvorn, Danica Pearson, Kevin Stewart and Logan Wockasen received first-year awards; Cadets Cheyenne Jacobs, Hannah Kesey, Alexander Lollar, Christopher Morris and Ashten Wolverton received second-year awards; third-year awards were given to Tania Martinez, Lillie Seymour and Olivia Smartt and Alex Niedoba was the sole recipient of the fourth-year award.

Cadets Cheyenne Jacobs, Alexander Lollar and Hannah Kesey earned the Drill Team arc and cord for this year.

• Drill Team Member of the Year was awarded to Cadet Alexander Lollar.

• Thirty-six cadets received distinction in the color guard, with awards being presented to Miranda Austin, Dyllan Betancourt, Hangie Bocel, Kaci Bowdoin, Maria Castillo, Alyssa Clayon, Dean Cooper, Makayla Foster, Marissa Fye, Lakelynn Garza, Liamm Grabein, Alexander Harrelson, Dyson Hejl, Edgar Hernandez, Kaleb Hinkley, Cheyenne Jacobs, Chloe Jacobs, Hannah Kesey, Randy King, Damien Lovvorn, Tania Martinez, Jackie Moran, Christopher Morris, Alex Niedoba, Danica Pearson, Lillie Seymour, Collin Sherwood, Kaden Shettles, Olivia Smartt, Allison Sweatman, Kayleb Whaley, Logan Wockasen, Ashten Wolverton and Aidan Young.

Arc, cords and medals were additionally awarded to Miranda Austin, Maria Castillo, Hannah Kesey, Randy King, Damien Lovvorn, Tania Martinez, Jackie Moran and Olivia Smartt.

• Color Guard Member of the Year went to Cadet Alex Niedoba

• Company of the Year Award was given to Alpha Company, led by Cadet CPT Allison Sweatman and Cadet 1SG Miranda Austin.

• Staff Sergeant Jeffrey Billings presented the Sons of the American Revolution Award to Cadet Kevin Stewart, Association of the United States Army Award to cadet Alexander Lollar, The 101st Airborne Division Association Award to Cadet Alex Niedoba, The 82nd Airborne Division Association Award to Cadet Christopher Morris, The Special Forces Association Award to Cadet Aidan Young, Daedalian JROTC Achievement Award to Cadet Maria Castillo, The Non-Commissioned Officers Association Award to Cadet Miranda Austin and The Retired Enlisted Association Award to Cadet Lakelynn Garza.

• JROTC Leadership LET-1 Male: Cadet Blake King

• JROTC Leadership LET-1 Female: Cadet Danica Pearson

• JROTC Leadership LET-2 Male: Cadet Dean Cooper

• JROTC Leadership LET-2 Female: Cadet Hannah Kesey

• JROTC Leadership LET-3 Male: Cadet Kevin Stewart

• JROTC Leadership LET-3 Female: Cadet Marty Atkins

• JROTC Leadership LET-4 Male: Cadet Aidan Young

• JROTC Leadership LET-4 Female: Cadet Allison Sweatman

• Most Improved Cadet Award, LET-I: Cadet Logan Wockasen

• Most Improved Cadet Award, LET-II: Cadet Luis Gonzalez

Sergeant Brice Bowles presented the following seven awards:

• Marina Corps Leadership Award: Cadet Damien Lovvorn

• Marine Corp Espirit de Corps Award: Cadet Eli Stalcup

• National Sojourners Award: Cadet Hangie Bocel

• Military Order of the Purple Heart: Cadet Randy King

• Military Officers Association of America Award: Cadet Tania Martinez

• Military Order of the World Wars Award: Cadet Dyllan Betancourt

• Vietnam Veterans Associations Award: Cadet Gabriel Crain

SFC Aaron McDermott presented the following awards:

• Cadets of the Year Boards: Kaleb Hinkley, Damien Lovvorn, Edgar Hernandez and Danica Pearson

• NCOs of the Year Boards: Dean Cooper, Alexander Lollar, Kevin Stewart, Hannah Kesey and Luis Gonzalez

• Officers of the Year Boards: Ashton Wolverton, Olivia Smartt and Marty Atkins

• Cadet of the Year: Danica Pearson

• NCO of the Year: Dean Cooper

• Officer of the Year: Olivia Smartt

Cadet, NCO and Officer of the Year will have their names engraved on a plaque to be placed in the JROTC area and received certificates, a trophy, backpacks from the Tennessee Army National Gard filled with swag and fuel cards from Realtors Crystal King and Gericia Taylor.

• American Veterans Association JROTC Recognition Award: Cadet Braylon Torres

• Warrant Officer Association Award: Cadet Jackie Moran

• Reserve Officer Association Award: Cadet Allison Sweatman

Graduating senior JROTC cadets were also recognized:

• Battalion Executive Officer Hangie Bocel, four years in Battalion. Bocel was on the Raider, Drill, Fitness and Color Guard teams. She will be attending Saint Carlos University in Guatemala.

• Bravo Company Commander Maria Castillo, four years in Battalion. Castilla was a member of the Raider, Fitness, Drill and Color Guard teams. She will be attending college.

• First-year Battalion Cadet Alyssa Clayton is new to Warren County and served on the Raider and Color Guard teams. She will be attending college.

• First-year Battalion Cadet Ulises Olalde was on the fitness team. He will be attending University of Tennessee in Chattanooga.

• Cadet Dyson Hejl has been a part of the Battalion for two years and was on the Raider team for a year. After graduation, Hejl will be enlisting in the U.S. Air Force.

• Battalion Operations Officer Braylon Torres has been in the Battalion for four years and was also on the Raider and Drill teams. He plans to enlist in the U.S. Army after graduation.

SSG Jeffrey Billings, who will be awarding the cadets with a check to represent the military’s commitment to their education for their service, and SFC Aaron McDermott recognized the following seniors who have enlisted in the military:

• Charlie Company Commander Christopher Morris has been in the Battalion for four years and was on the Raider, Drill, Fitness and Color Guard teams. Morris has enlisted in the U.S. Army and will attend Initial Entry Training after graduating from WCHS. For his commitment to military services, he will earn up to $80,578 for his education.

• Alpha Company Commander Allison Sweatman has been in the Battalion for four years and was a part of the Raider, Drill, Fitness and Color Guard teams in addition to the wrestling team, where she finished fifth in the regional tournament this year. Sweatman has enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves and will attend Initial Entry Training after graduation. After training, Sweatman plans to attend Cumberland University where she will receive up to $69,328 for her education.

The remaining seniors were recognized:

• Charlie Company First Sergeant Gabriel Crain has been in the Battalion for four years and was in the Raider and Fitness teams. He has enlisted in the Tennessee Army National Guard and attended basic combat training last summer in Fort Moore, Georgia. When he graduates, Crain will attend Infantry Advanced Individual Training at Fort Moore and, after, will enroll in Tennessee Tech University. For his service, Crain will earn up to $127,992 for his education.

• Battalion Commander Lillie Seymour has been in JROTC for four years and in the Pioneer Battalion for three of those. She was on the Raider, Drill, Fitness and Color Guard teams. Seymour was the caption of the drill team this year. She intends to enlist to the Tennessee Army National Guard and, after basic training and AIT, she will attend the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. For her service, she will earn up to $140,592 for her education.

• Bravo Company First Sergeant Aidan Young has been in the Battalion for four years and was on the Raider, fitness and color guard teams. Young enlisted in the Tennessee Army National Guard and will attend Basic Combat Training and AIT this summer. Upon graduating training, he plans to attend Middle Tennessee State University. For his service, he will earn up to $127,992 for education.

The above three seniors were presented with a check from SFC Aaron McDermott from the Tennessee Army National Guard.

• Battalion Command Sergeant Major Alex Niedoba was a four-year member of the Battalion and was on the Raider, drill, fitness and color guard teams. He was this year’s captain of the Raider team. Niedoba will attend Virginia Military Institute and enroll in the Senior Army ROTC program to commission as an Army officer. Based off his academic and JROTC performance in high school, he has earned a four-year senior Army ROTC scholarship worth up to $65,280 per year.

Academic Achievement Ribbons and Wreath were announced for the following cadets who achieved a GPA of 3.0 or higher:

• LET 1: Cadets Kaitlyn Ballew, Peyton Bandy, Marissa Fye, Chloe Jacobs, Blake King, Kayden Lack, Xane Mietling, Ulises Olalde, Danica Pearson, Harley Peterson and Logan Wockasen.

• LET 2: Cadets Thaddeus Barnoski, Kaci Bowdoin, Dean Cooper, Luis Gonzalez, Dyson Hejl, Edgar Hernandez, Cheyenne Jacobs, Hannah Kesey and Damian Lovvorn.

• LET 3: Cadets Marty Atkins, Miranda Austin, Dyllan Betancourt, Jackie Blas-Moran, Randy King, Alexander Lollar, Tania Martinez, Tatiana Radny, Olivia Smartt, Eli Stalcup and Ashten Wolverton.

• LET 4: Hangie Bocel, Maria Castillo, Christopher Morris, Alex Niedoba, Lillie Seymour, Allison Sweatman and Braylon Torres.

Academic Excellence ribbons were issued to the following cadets:

• LET 1: Peyton Bandy

• LET 2: Cheyenne Jacobs

• LET 3: Olivia Smartt

• LET 4: Lillie Seymour

• Distinguished Cadet Ribbon: Olivia Smartt, with a 4.29 GPA

• Cadets Olivia Smartt and Tania Martinez were inducted into the National Honor Society and received a JROTC National Honor Society cord.

• Freshman Superior Cadet Award: Kayden Lack and Danica Pearson

• Sophomore Superior Cadet Award: Dean Cooper and Cheyenne Jacobs

• Junior Superior Cadet Award: Randy King and Olivia Smartt

• Senior Superior Cadet Award: Alex Niedoba and Lillie Seymour

Senior Army Instructor LTC Chuck Palmer announced the 2025-2026 Company Leadership as follows:

• Alpha Company: First Sergeant Dean Cooper, Executive Officer Collin Sherwood and Commander Eli Stalcup

• Bravo Company: First Sergeant Luis Gonzalez, Executive Officer Kayleb Whaley and Commander Lakelynn Garza

• Charlie Company: First Sergeant Alexander Lollar, Executive Officer Ashten Wolverton and Commander Jackie Moran

Battalion command and staff were announced:

• BN S1: Cheyenne Jacobs, BN S1 NCO: Kaleb Hinkley

• BN S2: Haven Hodges

• BN S3: Dyllan Betancourt, BN S3 NCO: Kevin Stewart

• BN S4: Cheyenne Jacobs

• BN S5: Kaci Bowdoin

• BN CSM: Randy King, BN XO: Marty Atkins and BN Cdr: Olivia Smartt

• The Katy McKelvey Memorial Cadet of the Year Award was presented by McKelvey’s father John to Cadet Lillie Seymour. This award comes with a plaque and a check for $250 to assist in academic needs for her first year of college.

In addition to the above awards, a special recognition which has not been given in over 20 years in Warren County was reserved for a cadet whose heroism earned it.

“The Medal of Heroism is presented to Cadet Marty Atkins for extraordinary heroism in the face of imminent danger,” First Sgt. Howard read from a letter penned by U.S. Army Commanding Colonel Sherman C. Watson.

On January 27 of this year, Atkins leapt into action when she witnessed a vehicle accident and, without hesitation, she attempted to save the sole occupant of the car. According to reports, she jumped into the creek in freezing weather to break the glass from the vehicle and make multiple attempts to dislodge the trapped driver.

“Cadet Atkins’ display of courage, citizenship, patriotism and leadership exemplifies the highest ideals of the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps,” Howard continued. “Her selfless act reflects great credit upon herself, Warren County High School, 7th ROTC Brigade, Recruiting Command and the United States Army.”

The event concluded with refreshments provided by the booster club and all guests were invited.