Lee County JROTC cadets honored by DAR for citizenship and leadership

LEESBURG — Several Lee County High School JROTC cadets were recognized for outstanding citizenship, leadership and service during the school’s recent JROTC Honors Night, receiving awards from the Old Herod Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

Old Herod Chapter Regent Jane Washburn presented DAR Youth Citizenship Medals to ninth-grade Cadet Christopher Hoffman, 10th-grade Cadet Atiya Greene and 11th-grade Cadet Hailey Benstine.

According to Lee County High School JROTC Instructor Xavier Macer, the students were selected for consistently demonstrating the qualities of honor, service, courage, leadership and patriotism through their participation in the JROTC program.

The chapter also presented its annual DAR ROTC Bronze Medal to senior Cadet Gabrielle Vanderwalt.

The award recognizes an outstanding senior cadet who exemplifies dependability, good character, adherence to military discipline, leadership ability and a patriotic understanding of the importance of JROTC training. Recipients also must rank in the top 25% of their graduating class.

Macer said Vanderwalt has consistently demonstrated those qualities throughout her time in the program, making her this year’s recipient of the prestigious honor.

The annual recognition highlights the partnership between the Old Herod Chapter and the Lee County High School JROTC program in encouraging leadership, citizenship and service among students.

(Lynne Malone submitted this article on behalf of the Old Herod Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution).