May 10, 2005

32nd MCJROTC annual awards ceremony for the Campbell Union High School District

By Julie Davis Berry
Executive Editor

It was standing room only May 7 at Del Mar High School as family and friends filled the auditorium to celebrate the 32nd annual awards ceremony for the Campbell Union High School District Marine Corp Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.

Major Cross, Gunnery Sergeant Vega and Battalion Commander Dustin Dovala stand at attention on their way to the stage. Below: The award-winning drill team performs a stunt. Photos by Julie Davis Berry

The event began with the honor guard marching down the aisle. This was followed by the award winning drill team, which performed a jaw-dropping routine. After the color guard posted the colors Major Kelly Cross addressed the audience.

Kelly, who spent 22 years in active duty, first as an aircraft mechanic and then flying fighters for the Marine Corps clearly relishes his mentor role to the young men and women from five CUSD campuses. His warmth and sense of humor is appreciated by the men and women who follow his commands to a T.

“They were a great group of kids,” said Kelly as he turned the podium over to Westmont’s ROTC Battalion Commander Dustin Dovala who coordinated the well-run awards ceremony.

Dovala shared that he first joined the ROTC program so that he could attend Westmont. But he ended up learning the importance of an ROTC image on campus.

“I was treated differently by my teachers because I was able to stand up to Marine Corps standards,” he said. “I also met some great friends during this time, including my girlfriend of three and half years, Amanda Fisk. And, when I went to get my first job my new boss was my old ROTC commander. She still runs six miles a day and credits the ROTC with teaching her the leadership skills that earned her a management position.”

Several awards were given out at the ceremony:
American Legion Award for Scholastic Excellence This award was given to cadets who have performed amazingly in the academic facet of the program, as well as exhibited qualities of great leadership. The award was presented to Dustin Dovala, Patricia Lopez, Gina Belleci, Adara Beamesderfer and Sara Meyer.

American Legion Award for Military Excellence This award was given to those cadets who exhibited outstanding qualities of military leadership, discipline, character and citizenship. It was presented to Alex Doyle, Ilyn Vazquez, Marshall Angerman, Derek Felgham and Mann Pea.

Cadet William Whitney shows off a writing award he received at the ceremony. He received $500 for an essay he wrote on the ROTC.

Sons of the American Revolution award This award was given to junior cadets who exhibit the highest standards of leadership, bearing and overall excellence. The award was presented to Mathew Nelson, Brian Anderson, David Howard and Steven Fields.

Daughters of the American Revolution This award was given to those cadets who demonstrate qualities of dependability and good character, military discipline and leadership. It was presented to Ramneek Saini, Kira Congdon, Marisol Ortega, Lillian Quan and Jessica Tannehill.

Military Order of the World Wars Bronze Cross This award was given to an outstanding first year cadet who excels in all military and scholastic aspects of the program. The award was presented to Alisa Sieber, Christopher Rivas, Phoenix Paz, Ulyses Vasquez and Aliou Diallo.

Retired Officer’s Association award This award was given to cadet officers for outstanding academic achievement. It was presented to Jason Mahaffey, Brian Anderson, Brian Skipper, and Lisa McLaren.

Scottish Rite Award This award was given to cadets who demonstrate Americanism and leadership in and outside of their ROTC class. The award was presented to Samantha Casteneda, Cherise Womack, Gabriel Reifkind and Christina Poon.

National Sojourners Award This award was given to cadets who demonstrate the ideals of Americanism. It was presented to Samantha Fox, Jeffery Clark, Tony Crow, Joseph George and Evan Doxtad.

The final award was the Outstanding Cadet Award This award was given for overall excellence and contributions to the program. It was given to Gabriel Reifkind.

Following the awards portion of the ceremony was the Change of Command Ceremony for each high school. This yearly practice officially transfers command of the various schools from the former company commanders who are all graduating, to the new incoming commanders.

The Daughters of the American Revolution award was given to those cadets who demonstrate qualities of dependability and good character, military discipline and leadership. It was presented to Marisol Ortega, Lillian Quan, Jessica Tannehill, Ramneek Saini and Kira Congdon.

The guidon, which symbolizes the company itself, was ceremoniously passed from the old commander to the new. The old company commanders, Cadet Ramneek Saini (Westmont), Cadet Lisa McLaren (Prospect), Cadet Samantha Castaneda (Leigh), Cadet Patricia Lopez (Del Mar) and Cadet Bradley Hubbard (Branham) passed their guidon to the new company commanders, Matthew Nelson (Westmont), Marisol Ortega (Prospect), Adara Beamesderfer (Leigh), Marshall Angerman (Del Mar) and at this time there is no new commander for Branham.

After the ceremony Major Cross thanked parent volunteers for helping put on a successful ceremony. He gave special thanks to Lillian Quan for making the programs and to John and Pamela Dovala and Barney Leard for providing all the food. He then invited everyone outside for a scrumptious barbecue.

After the ceremony, as the barbecue line snaked across the campus, Major Cross shared his reasons for coming out of retirement to teach the MCJRROTC.

“Yes some of these kids will go on to military careers. But the main objective is that we want the students to identify leadership traits in themselves and look at other leaders and learn what they want to take from them. And, to step forward and take responsibility for their actions. I love working with these kids—it’s a great retirement job!”