VALDOSTA — Lowndes High School Air Force Junior ROTC cadets were honored at Lowndes High School recently as community members, parents, staff, and school administrators rewarded the cadets for their accomplishments this past year.

In addition to distributing more than 40 awards, the unit was recognized by AFJROTC headquarters as a distinguished unit, an award limited to one third of the 879 AFJROTC programs worldwide.

Several guest presenters presented the national awards. These presenters and their organizations included Beulah Hennly (Daughters of the American Colonists and Daughters of the American Revolution), Lt. Col. (retired) Dean Failor (Air Force Association, and Order of Daedalians Gator Flight), SMSgt. David Smith (Air Force Sergeants Association), Nerma Dave (American Veterans), Richard Brown (Valdosta American Legion), Donald McArthur (Military Officers Association of America and Military Order of the Purple Heart), SSgt. Kerrey Allen (Georgia Air National Guard), Tom Stalvey (Hahira American Legion), Michael Black (Sons of the American Revolution), Herbert Lunden (Scottish Rites), Donald “Bush” Bryan (ROTC Scholarship), and Ray Wallis (Valdosta Veterans of Foreign Wars).

Special awards were presented to the instructors. Donald McArthur, on behalf of the Valdosta Military Officers Association of America), presented Maj. Norene Olsen with a $500 check to help the unit combat the current economic crisis. SMSgt Kurt Uelmen presented both MSgt. Bruce Minnick and Olsen with a flag shadow box that featured a flag flown over Iraq, thanking them for their continued efforts to watch after and help their dependents while the active-duty personnel were deployed.

The cadet awards and their winners included: 1812 Award, Tyler Schweisthal; Air Force Association (AFA) Academic and Leadership Award, Haley Sheppard; Air Force Sergeant’s Association (AFSA), Sean Chartier; Air National Guard Junior Military Bearing Award, Haley Sheppard; Air National Guard Senior Leadership Award, Christie Lynn Vann; American Legion Boys State, Michael Martinez, Adam Uelmen; American Legion Military Excellence Award, Dean Buckler; American Legion Scholastic, Christie Lynn Vann; American Veterans (AMVETS), Jennifer Garcia; Daedalian Academic and Leadership Award, Michael Martinez; Daedalian Military Achievement Award, Christie Lynn Vann; Daughters of the American Colonists (DAC) Award, Brittany Copeland; Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Award, Dean Buckler; Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Adam Uelmen; Military Order of the Purple Heart, Haley Sheppard; Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW), Christina Sherman; National Sojourners, Cameron Gary; Reserve Officers Association, Alex Scheib; Retired Enlisted Association (TREA) Award, Michael Martinez; Scottish Rite JROTC Americanism Award, Haley Sheppard; Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), Adam Uelmen; Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW), Brittany Copeland; Tuskegee Airman AFJROTC Award, Cameron Gary, Jennifer Garcia; Veterans of Foreign Wars, David Smith; Distinguished Cadet, Haley Sheppard; Outstanding Cadets, Christie Lynn Vann, Haley Sheppard, Cameron Gary, Jennifer Garcia; Honor Graduates, Dean Buckler, Sean Chartier, Rachel Johnson, David Smith, Christie Lynn Vann; ROTC Scholarship, Christie Lynn Vann.

Several local awards were presented by instructors Minnick and Olsen. The Leadership Ribbon was awarded to flight and group leaders including Dean Buckler, Cameron Gary, Rachel Johnson, Michael Martinez, Alex Scheib, Haley Sheppard, David Smith, Adam Uelmen, and Christie Lynn Vann. The Achievement Ribbon was given to Dean Buckler, Michael Martinez, Adam Uelmen, and Christie Lynn Vann for their leadership as members of the Group Staff. The Superior Performance Ribbon was earned by Haley Sheppard, Christina Sherman, Tyler Schweisthal, Adam Uelmen, and Christie Lynn Vann because of their selections as Cadet of the Quarter by their peers.

The Cadet Top Performer Award went to Michael Martinez and Haley Sheppard. The Co-Curricular Activities Leadership Ribbon was awarded to all team commanders including Dean Buckler, Sean Chartier, Brittany Copeland, Ben Garcia, Cameron Gary, Rachel Johnson, Michael Martinez, Alex Scheib, Haley Sheppard, David Smith, and Christie Lynn Vann.

The members of the Drill Team who went to more than 75 percent of all practices and competitions received the Drill Team Ribbon. Bianca Anderson, Dean Buckler, Tyler Callaghan, Robert Chartier, Sean Chartier, Brittany Copeland, Alex Elbert, Ben Garcia, Jennifer Garcia, Cameron Gary, Jalen Hardin, Samantha Hightower, Zach Huneycutt, Rachel Johnson, Nathanial Law, Michael Martinez, Trent McLeod, Katlyn Napier, Alex Scheib, Haley Sheppard, Christina Sherman, David Smith, Ar’riel Smithson, Anthony Thomas, Christie Lynn Vann, and Ebony Wilson all received the ribbon.

Color Guard Team Ribbon went to the color-guard members who had been at 75 percent of all color guard practices, performances, and competitions. Recipients included Bianca Anderson, Dean Buckler, Robert Chartier, Sean Chartier, Brittany Copeland, Alex Elbert, Ben Garcia, Jennifer Garcia, Cameron Gary, Samantha Hightower, Rachel Johnson, Nathanial Law, Michael Martinez, Trent McLeod, Katlyn Napier, Alex Scheib, Christina Sherman, Anthony Thomas, and Christie Lynn Vann.

Rifle Team members received the Rifle Team Ribbon for their efforts. Dean Buckler, Tyler Callaghan, Robert Chartier, Ben Garcia, Jennifer Garcia, Cameron Gary, Rachel Johnson, Michael Martinez, Alex Scheib, Haley Sheppard, Christina Sherman, David Smith, Anthony Thomas, and Christie Lynn Vann all received the Rifle Team Ribbon.

The Extreme Excellence Challenge (E2C) ribbon was given to those cadets who scored the best in push ups, sit ups, planks, lunges, V-sit reach, and the one mile run. Given to the highest scoring male and female in each category, the recipients included Blake Bradley, Dean Buckler, Robert Chartier, Alejandra Francis, Cameron Gary, John Green, Rachel Johnson, Michael Martinez, Tia’juana Sears, Haley Sheppard, Christina Sherman, and Christie Lynn Vann. In addition to the ribbon, Blake Bradley and Alejandra Francis each received an Air Force physical training outfit for running the fast mile during the year.

The Model Rocketry Badge went to Sean Chartier, Robert Chartier, Chris Harting, Michael Jasinski, Rachel Johnson, Katlyn Napier, Kyle Peavy, Tyler Schweisthal, Daniel Taylor, Anthony Thomas, and Christie Lynn Vann.

The evening concluded with a change of command ceremony. Cadet Col. Christie Lynn Vann, the second semester group commander, surrendered command of the GA-081st AFJROTC unit to Cadet Lt. Col. Adam Uelmen. Uelmen will command the unit during the Fall 2009 semester.