ROTC Award

Fox Valley ROTC Award

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The Fox Valley chapter is proud to present the ROTC Award to a cadet in each high school or college with a ROTC program in our area. Dale Bottom (d.bottom@comcast.net) is the Chairman of our ROTC program. Each school determines their recipient.

The purpose of the program is to recognize a ROTC student of superior leadership abilities and accomplishments, military bearing, and overall academic excellence. The winner of this award is a superior ROTC Cadet who exemplifies the high ideals and principles which motivated and sustained our patriot ancestors.

ROTC Certificate

The award consists of an embossed Bronze ROTC Certificate, a Bronze ROTC Medal and a uniform ribbon. College cadets receive a Silver ROTC Medal.

Click images to enlarge photos. See previous winners in the ROTC archive.

Fox Valley Schools with ROTC Programs

It is amazing that each of these schools with a ROTC program are less than 30 minutes from the grave of a soldier who fought in the American Revolution. Click on the number of miles to get the MapQuest directions from the school to the Patriot's grave. Click on the Patriot's name to see his biography and photos of his grave.

Town	ROTC High School	Service	Contact	Closest Patriot	Miles
Aurora	Aurora East High School	Navy	LCDR McNabb	Frederick Vaughan	1.52
Aurora	Marmion Military Academy	Army	MSgt Collins	John Gowdy	6.48
Aurora	US Naval Sea Cadets	Navy	LTJG Cabe	Frederick Vaughan	4.27
Bolingbrook	Bolingbrook High School	Air Force	Major Rukstalis	John Dudley	7.60
Frankfort	Lincoln-Way East High School	Air Force	Major Karagias	Charles Denny	3.62
Joliet	Joliet Central High School	Army	Major Jayco	John Cook	1.39
Joliet	Joliet West High School	Army	SSG Littlepage	John Cook	4.66
Lockport	Lockport Township - East Campus	Air Force	SMSgt Brauch	John Cook	5.37
Mooseheart	Mooseheart High School	Navy	Cmdr. Groters	John Gowdy	3.75
Naperville	US Naval Sea Cadets	Navy	LTJG Luzadder	John Dudley	0.69
New Lenox	Lincoln-Way Central High School	Air Force	Lt Col O'Connor	Charles Denny	3.94
Romeoville	Romeoville High School	Marines	MGYSgt Arvin	John Cook	8.78
Town	ROTC University or College	Service	Contact	Closest Patriot	Miles
DeKalb	Northern Illinois University	Army	SMG Jemerson	Abner Powers	19.95

See Photos of Previous Year's Award Winners in the ROTC Archive.

Photos of Current Year ROTC Award Winners

Amanda Glass

Dale Bottom presented the Bronze Good Citizenship medal to US Sea Cadet Petty Officer Amanda Glass of the Aurora Sea Cadets on June 7, 2008. Cadet Glass, who ran the ceremony, also won the VFW award. Amanda is taking flying lessons. She is a Certified Plane Captain and will soon return to LeMore Naval Air Station in California to renew her certification.

John Rylko

Bruce Talbot presented the Bronze Good Citizenship medal to US Sea Cadet Petty Officer John Rylko of the Naperville Ghost Rider Squadron on June 7, 2008. Cadet Rylko, a color guard member, won the "Team Spirit" award at the Flagship competition. The Ghost Rider squadron also scored the highest score ever obtained during the Semaphore competition.

Robert Espanosa

Dale Bottom presented the Bronze ROTC medal to Cadet Robert Espanosa at the ceremony for the Romeoville High School Marine JROTC program on May 15, 2008. Cadet Espanosa has enlisted in the Marine Corps, and will soon report to San Diego to begin his training. In addition to the SAR medal, he received a varsity letter and the Commandant's Award.

Michael Meyers

Dale Bottom presented the Bronze ROTC medal to Cadet Michael Meyers at the very impressive annual formal Dining Out ceremony for the Lockport High School Air Force JROTC program on May 4, 2008. Cadet Meyers also received a local leadership award given to only 5% of the students, and is a member of the "best flight" of the corps.

Sean Lee

Bruce Talbot presented the Bronze ROTC medal to Cadet Sean Lee at the annual ceremony for the Bolingbrook High School Air Force JROTC program on May 3, 2008. This great program has been named an "Honor Unit" (top 10%) by the Air Force. Cadet Lee plans on attending Southern Illinois University and his goal is to be a pilot flying jets for the Air Force.

John McCombs

Dale Bottom presented the Bronze ROTC medal to Cadet Major John McCombs at the annual ceremony for the Joliet Central High School JROTC program on April 30, 2008. John has a private pilot's licence. He was awarded a Navy ROTC scholarship to the University of Illinois. He will enter the aviation program and plans for a commission in the Marine Corps.

Tyler Walden

Dale Bottom presented the Bronze ROTC medal to Cadet Tyler Walden at the annual ceremony for the Joliet West High School JROTC program on April 30, 2008. His grandmother and mother attended and were demonstrably proud of him. Cadet Walden is highly praised by the staff. His interest is in computer applied technologies.

Cadet Kowalski

Henry Leonard, a long time member of the Fox Valley Chapter, presented the Silver ROTC medal to Cadet Kowalski at a ceremony for the Army ROTC program at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb on April 23, 2008.

Rojas

Dale Bottom presented the Bronze ROTC medal to Cadet Commander Antelmo Rojas at the annual ceremony for the Aurora East High School JROTC program on April 15, 2008. This is a great program with a lot of esprit de corps. Cadet Rojas plans to attend the U of I, but he is taking a year off to work to help a friend and fellow cadet with enormous medical expenses.

Joshua Stein

Bruce Talbot presented the Bronze ROTC medal to Cadet First Lt. Joshua J. Stein at the annual banquet on February 24, 2008. The speaker was Major General Daniel Bolger, a Marmion alum. Cadet Stein is an academic honor cadet and Marmion Academy Track Team member. He plans on attending Columbia University in New York City as a pre-med student.