Tyler High School’s JROTC program recently honored its top cadets at the annual Year-End Awards Ceremony. One of the most prestigious recognitions was the Distinguished Cadet Award for Scholastic Excellence, a top national honor awarded to a single cadet each year.
This year’s recipient was Cadet Sergeant First Class Jesus Araujo, a junior who holds a 3.9 GPA and has been a standout leader in the JROTC program for the past two years. In addition to his academic excellence, Araujo is deeply involved in multiple JROTC teams—including Color Guard, Drill, Archery, Academic, and Physical Fitness—and is also a member of the JV1 Tennis Team.
“I was honestly really surprised to win this award,” Araujo said. “But I’ve been putting in a lot of effort these past two years, and it feels good to see it paying off. I’m super thankful for my JROTC family, and I’m excited to make next year even better!”
Also recognized were cadets who earned the Academic Excellence Award, presented to one student in each Leadership Education Training (LET) level for maintaining the highest academic average.
LET 1 – Cadet Monserrat Almazan (Physical Fitness Team)
LET 2 – Cadet Jesus Araujo
LET 3 – Cadet Josue Menera (Physical Fitness Team, JV Baseball Team)
LET 4 – Cadet Trinity Camp (Drill, Color Guard, Physical Fitness Teams)
“It’s one of our greatest pleasures to highlight the hard work the cadets have put in throughout the year,” said Army Instructor Sergeant First Class Samuel Tinker. “Especially with our Federal inspection this last year, they showed real teamwork and dedication, achieving one of the best scores on the hardest challenges that they are given once every three years. While the awards recognize some of the individual actions, I really hope it helps others see the great potential in each one of them.”
In addition to these top honors, dozens of cadets were celebrated for their leadership, commitment, and participation in team competitions throughout the year. The event highlighted the strength of the JROTC program, which continues to promote academic success, personal growth, and community service among its students.
For more information, contact Jennifer Hines at Jennifer.Hines@TylerISD.org.