The stars were out at Lowndes High School recently as community members, parents, staff, and school administrators came out to honor the GA-081st Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp (JROTC) cadets for their accomplishments this past year. In addition to handing out 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. Those presenters and their organizations included Beulah Hennly (Daughters of the American Colonists and Daughters of the American Revolution), Col. (Retired) Nick Lacey (Air Force Association, and Order of Daedalians Gator Flight), SMSgt. David Smith (Air Force Sergeants Association), Nancy Horn (American Veterans), Lt. Col. (retired) Ed Kent (Valdosta American Legion), Donald McArthur (Military Officers Association of America and Military Order of the Purple Heart), TSgt. Steven Livingston (Georgia Air National Guard), Seab Miller (Hahira American Legion), Rouse Vallotton (Daedalian Military Achievement Award and Scholarship), Capt. Bill Conner (Reserve Officers Association), Herbert Lunden (Scottish Rites), and Robert Banks (Valdosta VFW).

The awards and their winners included: 1812 Award, Andrew Yorkey; Air Force Association (AFA) Academic and Leadership Award, Sean Chartier; Air Force Sergeant’s Association (AFSA), Leeanne Griffin; Air National Guard Junior Military Bearing Award, Dean Buckler; Air National Guard Senior Leadership Award, Courtnee Pettus; American Legion Boys State, Sean Chartier; American Legion Girls State, Lynn Vann; American Legion Military Excellence Award, Alex Scheib; American Legion Scholastic, Leeanne Griffin; American Veterans (AMVETS), Bryan Wynn; Congressman Hebert Advanced Placement Award (CHAPA), James Leach; Daedalian Academic and Leadership Award, Dean Buckler; Daedalian Military Achievement Award, James E. Kent III; Daughters of the American Colonists (DAC) Award, Astrid Scheib; Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Award, Courtnee Pettus; Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Alex Scheib; Military Order of the Purple Heart, James E. Kent III; Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW), Hunter Snyder; National Sojourners, Haley Sheppard; Reserve Officers Association, Katrina Phillips; Retired Enlisted Association (TREA) Award, Ben Garcia; Scottish Rite JROTC Americanism Award, Dean Buckler; Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), Blake Bradley; Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW), Cameron Gary; Tuskegee Airman AFJROTC Award, Adam Uelman and Darcy Skates; Veterans of Foreign Wars, Lynn Vann; Distinguished Cadet, Lynn Vann; Outstanding Cadets, Leeanne Griffin, Sean Chartier, Haley Sheppard, Cameron Gary; Honor Graduates, Leeanne Griffin, James E. Kent III, Courtnee Pettus, Katrina Phillips.

Several local awards were presented by instructors MSgt. Bruce Minnick and Major Norene Olsen. The Model Rocketry Badge went to Sean Chartier, Robert Chartier, Hunter Snyder, Everett Bottas, and Darcy Skates. The Leadership Ribbon was awarded to flight and group leaders including Dean Buckler, Ben Garcia, Leeanne Griffin, James E. Kent III, Courtnee Pettus, Katrina Phillips, Haley Sheppard, Hunter Snyder, Adam Uelman, and Bryan Wynn. The Achievement Ribbon was given to Leeanne Griffin, James Ed Kent III, Katrina Phillips, Lynn Vann, and Alex Scheib for their leadership as members of the Group Staff. The Superior Performance Ribbon was earned by Lynn Vann, Alex Scheib, Darcy Skates, Hunter Snyder, Adam Uelman, and Larry Harrell because of their selections as Cadet of the Quarter by their peers.

The Co-Curricular Activities Leadership Ribbon was awarded to all team commanders including Dean Buckler, Sean Chartier, Rachel Johnson, Samantha McMillian, Alex Scheib, Haley Sheppard, and Lynn Vann.

The Drill Competition Ribbon was given to those cadets who were on the drill teams that won at various AFJROTC competitions. Team members included Blake Bradley, Dean Buckler, Sean Chartier, Anthony Edmondson, Ahmad Ford, Cameron Gary, Justin Gottshall, Larry Harrell, Christopher Harting, Rhonda Hightower, Chance Pybas, Alex Scheib, Haley Sheppard, Darcy Skates, Anthony Thomas, William Smith, Hunter Synder, Adam Uelman, Lynn Vann, and Bryan Wynn.

The members of the Drill Team who went to more than 75 percent of all practices and competitions received the Drill Team Ribbon. Blake Bradley, Anthony Edmondson, Justin Gottshall, Rhonda Hightower, Zach Huneycutt, Alex Scheib, Darcy Skates, William Smith, Hunter Synder, Anthony Thomas, Adam Uelman, Lynn Vann, and Bryan Wynn 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 Dean Buckler, Sean Chartier, Cameron Gary, Rachel Johnson, Samantha McMillian, Chance Pybas, Alex Scheib, Hunter Synder, Anthony Thomas and Lynn Vann.

Rifle Team members received the Rifle Team Ribbon for their efforts. Blake Bradley, Dean Buckler, Sean Chartier, Cameron Gary, Justin Gottshall, Chance Pybas, Alex Scheib, Haley Sheppard, Darcy Skates, Anthony Thomas, and 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, Robert Chartier, Rachel Johnson , Kris Krizovsky, James Leach, Chance Pybas, Astrid Scheib, Haley Sheppard, Darcy Skates, Kory Wright, and Andrew Yorkey. In addition to the ribbon, Blake Bradley and Darcy Skates each received an Air Force warm up suit for running the fast mile during the year.

The evening concluded with a change of command ceremony. Cadet Col. James E Kent III, the second semester group commander, surrendered command of the GA-081st AFJROTC unit to Cadet Lt. Col. Lynn Vann. Cadet Vann will command the unit during the Fall 2008 semester.