Cape High JROTC's community service earns honors
Cape High's JROTC program prides itself on community service, and winning a Jefferson Award this year has been honor.
But ask any member of the high school group whether they do it for the Jefferson Award, and they'll say community service is part of their group's mission.
“We do this every year, not just because we're thinking of winning the Jefferson Award,” said David Collord, a junior.
For the fourth time in six years, Cape High's JROTC won a gold medallion for best overall group project given out by the Delaware Jefferson Awards Foundation. The group does so many events throughout the year, it's impossible to pick just one that earned them the award, said Sgt. Richard Hurt, JROTC teacher and mentor.
“Winning it this year was the first time I've been at a loss for words,” Hurt said.
Tenth-grader Esly Marin-Landa joined Hurt and two other students at the Jefferson Awards ceremony held in Wilmington in April. She said it was a who's who of attendees that included Gov. Jack Markell and U.S. senators Chris Coons and Tom Carper.
Esly said she believes they won for all the work they do for dozens of organizations throughout the year.
“It's impossible to list all the events that we do because there are so many,” she said.
All year long, she said, community groups across the state call Cape's JROTC to help with events. “When they call us, when they could call other schools, it's a real honor,” Esly said.
This year, she said, one of the most memorable events was the annual Harry K Foundation fundraiser that raised $200,000 and was attended by 50 cadets in full uniform who helped throughout the evening. Freshman Davi Martins said he also liked helping with poppy sales for Women's Auxiliary Post 17. “It's nice to help those who served us,” he said.
But Davi also enjoyed caroling at area nursing homes during the holidays.
“When you start singing, the residents start tearing up,” he said.
“It makes you realize that you have to live every second of your life,” said freshman Joseph Moreno.
