Lower Dauphin High School's Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program recently held a ceremony in which student cadets received award ribbons and promotions.

The JROTC program is new to the high school and has more than 30 students enrolled this year. During the ceremony, the program's faculty instructor, retired Col. Chad D. Goyette, explained that the unit began as a company-level organization, but after a semester of training, the student cadre was able to reorganize as a battalion-level organization with promotions for several cadet officers and other cadet ranks.

Earning promotion to the rank of Cadet Lt. Col. was Alek McGlaughlin, who had previously served as cadet company commander. Cadet 1st Lts. Mason Barrick and Ryder Stahl earned promotions to cadet major. Cadet Staff Sgt. Gwendolyn Meloy was promoted to the rank of cadet captain. Cadet 1st Sgt. Maj. Megan Mayberry was promoted to the rank of cadet command sergeant major. Earning promotion to the rank of Cadet Pfc. were Nathan Crowl, Liam Weese, Luc Goore Cabrero, Scott Wiebner, Warren Rank, and Colton Lyons. Cadet privates earning promotion to the rank of cadet private E-2 included Matilda McDonald, Ayden Verbos, Blake Plecker-Werner, Seth Whitmoyer, and Audon Graybill.

Four awards were presented during the ceremony on Dec. 18. JLAB Ribbons were presented to those who served on the Falcon Battalion's JROTC Leadership and Academic Bowl (JLAB) competitive team; recipients also earned gold shoulder cords for their uniforms. The Varsity Sports Ribbon was presented to those who had achieved varsity status in any sport, the Parade Ribbon recognized those who aided the battalion in its support of the Hummelstown Halloween parade on Oct. 30, and the Recruiting Ribbon was given for participation with battalion recruiting and an informational trip to Lower Dauphin Middle School on Nov. 15.

Ten cadets earned multiple awards. Megan earned the Recruiting, Parade, and Varsity Sports ribbons. Ayden, Gwendolyn, Avery Troain, and Aaron Espenshade were presented with the JLAB, Recruiting, and Parade ribbons. Blake earned the Recruiting and Parade ribbons. Luc was presented with ribbons for JLAB and Recruiting. Landon Haines, Caleb Espenshade, and Elijah Neighbors were presented with ribbons for JLAB and Parade.

Another 13 cadets earned a single ribbon at the ceremony. These recipients were Liam Weese with a JLAB Ribbon; Ryder and Lusvin Vin-Lopez earning the Varsity Sports Ribbon; Mason, Liam Samples, Jay Coble, Amber Eshenour, Elijah, Matilda, Tyler Morris, Warren Rank, and Seth Whitmoyer earning the Parade Ribbon; and Alek McGlaughlin with the Recruiting Ribbon.