Since the 1960’s, the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) has recognized the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program as an importance source for securing trained officers for our armed forces. Under the umbrella of the society’s National Defense committee, NSDAR has been presenting award recognition medals to top ranking cadets participating in ROTC programs throughout the United States at the high school, junior college and university level.

Recipients of the DAR ROTC medal must be in the upper 25% of both their ROTC classes and academic subjects. Throughout the academic year, the student cadet must have shown qualities of dependability and good character, adherence to military discipline, leadership ability and a fundamental patriotic understanding of the importance of ROTC training. Only one cadet per school is eligible for this recognition award and is presented at or near the end of the school year term. It is the unit commander’s responsibility for the selecting the junior or senior school student who met all of the eligible requirements to receive the Daughters of the American Revolution medal and certificate. Two cadets, both high school seniors, were honored by Color Country Chapter NSDAR in ceremonies recently held at their respective schools.

Devora Yesenia Garcia is a senior at Dixie High School JROTC and is currently the rank of Senior Master Sergeant entering her 4th year of Air Force JROTC. She is a vital member of the award-winning armed drill team where she displays leadership, poise, and the utmost discipline. Yesenia has helped her team win 2nd place at the 2021 Utah State Invitational Drill Meet and 1st place at the 2021 Army-sponsored drill meet. She has accrued over 40 hours of community service earned through events such as Wreaths Across America, community parades, and numerous service events for her school. She is also part of the Marine Corps League Devil Pups program, hoping to earn a spot at this year’s summer training camp.

Yesenia has been an integral part of her JROTC unit receiving the distinguished unit and outstanding organization award from Air Force JROTC Headquarters. Her individual awards include the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) award from Color Country Chapter in 2021 and the Celebrate Freedom Foundation Award of Excellence received in 2020. This information was provided by USAF SMSgt (Ret.) Kevin D. Robinson, Aerospace Science Instructor, Dixie High School, AFJROTC.

Ben Stock is Pine View High School’s Air Force Junior ROTC award recipient of the Daughters of the American Revolution medal from Color Country Chapter. He has distinguished himself at every level, to include Air Force Junior ROTC, academics and high school extracurricular activities. Ben was the Cadet Group Commander (Top Cadet of 225) of the cadet corps and was the overall number one cadet last year (#1 of 220).

During his sophomore year Ben was the Cadet of the Year (#1 of 188). Ben is the recipient of 4 national awards, The Daughters of the American Revolution, The Veterans of Foreign Wars Award, The American Veterans JROTC Recognition Award and The Air Force Association Award. Along with those awards he received the AFJROTC Distinguished Cadet Badge given to the outstanding cadet in each unit. Ben has received the Superior Performance Award (Top 10%) for the last 3 years. During a recent Staff Assistance Visit from headquarters Ben was recognized as a Top Performer in the corps (Top 1%) and to top it off, in the same year he was recognized by the local Elks Lodge as the Outstanding Cadet of the Year.

During the last 3 years Ben has personally accumulated 212 hours of community service and as the Operations Squadron Commander last year he directed over 3000 hours of community service by the cadet corps. He has the highest Physical Fitness Test score ever achieved in the program with a 98%. Ben completed the Marine Corps Devil Pups Program and finished in the top 5% of the Physical Fitness Test scores out of more than 200 participants. Last summer Ben was selected and attended the prestigious 4 Star Leadership Program put on by General Tommy Franks. You would think Ben doesn’t have time for anything else but he maintains a 3.974 GPA and is ranked in the top 12% of his class. He is the Drum Major for the Varsity Band and has been a member of the Honors Band and Pep Band while in high school. Ben recently finished competing in the region cross country championships with the boys’ cross country team taking 5th in state. He received a full ride ROTC scholarship and will be attending Brigham Young University in the fall. This information was provided by USAF Major (Ret.) Don Richardson, Aerospace Science Instructor, Pine View High School, AFJROTC.