STAFF REPORTS
Hays High School Marine Corps Junior ROTC Cadet Colonel Nathaniel Sigman completes the annual ceremony “Passing the Colors” to Cadet Major Kaitlyn Williamson. (Courtesy photo)
The Marine Corps Junior ROTC cadets from Hays High School gathered at the Performing Arts Center on the evening of May 5 to recognize several of their own for superior accomplishments during the school year, the culminating event of the organization.
The event started, as it has for the past 14 years, with the traditional recognition for the graduating cadets that have participated in the MCJROTC program all four years at Hays. The wish for “Fair Winds and Following Seas” went to graduating, fourth-year Cadets, C/Col Nathaniel Sigman, C/LtCol Ryan Druell, C/LtCol Bonnika Ashley, C/LtCol Nicole Williamson, and C/Maj Edbriel Manzo.
Each year, the cadets use this opportunity to make their annual contribution to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This year’s donation of $5,000 will grant the wish of 17-year-old Matthew from Kyle. In the last 15 years, the Marine Cadets at Hays have donated almost $42,000 to fulfill the dreams of local children with life-threatening diseases.
JROTC members have accumulated 3,500 hours of program-sponsored activities; several of which raise funds that allowed them to also provide $1,300 to the American Heart Association and over $1,200 to the American Cancer Society through the Relay for Life event.
“Involvement in the community and service to others is an integral part of our program and something the Marine Corps feels is a top priority in developing solid citizenship in the cadets,” said Maj. David Hamil, the Senior Marine Instructor at Hays.
While several of the graduating Cadets have earned scholarships to help further their education, two of the Hays Cadets were recognized for receiving scholarships that have a “military” connection.
C/LtCol Ryan Druell was awarded a $500 scholarship from the Austin Chapter of the Military Officer’s Association of America. He will use it in pursuit of a commission in the Marine Corps while he attends The Citadel.
C/SSgt Veronica Bentley has received a full, four-year Naval ROTC scholarship to the University of Texas, where she plans to attain her degree and a commission in the Marine Corps.
A number of students were honored with awards sponsored by local chapters and posts of national, patriotic-based organizations. The final and most-coveted award of the evening was the “Semper Fidelis Award,” presented to the cadet who demonstrated, above all others, the core values of the Marine Corps: Honor, Courage and Commitment. The ceremonial sword and wall-mount plaque was presented to C/LtCol Ryan Druell, one of the graduating fourth-year seniors. The occasion culminated with the “passing of the colors,” as C/Col Nathaniel Sigman relinquished his command of Rebel Battalion to next years’ Battalion Commander, C/Maj Kaitlyn Williamson.
According to Maj. Hamil, next years’ enrollment in this special program at Hays will be about 115 students, with half of that number returning for their second, third or fourth years as cadets.
