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Ray High School Marine Corps JROTC (Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps) Cadets are one of the oldest units in Arizona. The Ray School District due to lack of government funds has taken sole responsibility of subsidizing or the program would close. ASARCO LLC the major employer in the Copper Basin area donated $10,000 to the program (Presenter: John Dorsey ASARCO Ray Mine General Manager). The cadets are freshman through seniors that come from the Copper Basin communities including Superior.
Bill Loehr | Submitted
The annual Ray High School Marine Corp. JROTC awards program and banquet was held late last month at the Kearny Elks Lodge.
After the Cadet call to attention and the Pledge of Allegiance, MSgt Willie Jordan welcomed everyone and outlined the activities the unit participated in this past year.
These activities included Memorial Services throughout the Copper Basin area and Superior; Drill Team participation in several parades including traveling to Tombstone, Apache Junction, Green Valley, Tucson and back home to Kearny; Color Guard for all home football, basketball and volleyball games, Central Arizona College, several Drill Meets, Arizona Rock Products Association, National Crime and Victims Week in Florence and parades.
Also participation in the Casa Grande High School Basic Leadership Course, Youth Leadership at ASU, ALLECA in Flagstaff, Ft. Huachuca Leadership and Senior Leadership Camps in Prescott.
Incentive trips included Old Tucson Fright Night, Tempe Paint Balling, Pima Air Museum, Camp Pendleton, Knott’s Berry Farm and Coronado Island Seal Training.
Before turning the microphone over to the narrator, MSgt. talked about the various community service projects the unit participated in and also thanked the community for the support during the Food Bank and Christmas basket food drive, Toys for Tots drive and also all the parents and volunteers who assisted during various trips during the year and especially during the concession stands.. “We would not have been able to pull that off without all of the support.
Narrator April Jordan then announced the following awards:
Women Marines Association presented to Cadets Alicen Baca and Addy Romero by MSgt Jordan; MOAA (Military Officers Association of America) presented to Cadets Seth Phillips, Jesse Perez and Cole Miller by Tom Ralph; National Society of Daughters of 1812 presented to Cadet Seth Phillips.
Also the Award of Merit (Military Order of World Wars) earned by Cadets Cody Arbizo, top Freshman, Wyatt Miller top Sophomore and Michael Carrillo, top Junior and presented by Richard L. Nelson; American Veterans (AMVETS) certificates presented to Cadets Taylor Ashby, Cody Gotto and Noah Stuart;the Daughters of the American Revolution Awardwent to Cadet Addy Romero and was presented by Linda R. Enz.
More awards included theNon-Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA) presented to Cadet Noah Stuart; Desert Mustang of Arizona which is voted on by the recipient’s peers was presented by John O’hara to Cadet Jesse Perez; the American Legion Bronze Medal for Military Excellence went to Cadet Noah Stuart and the Scholastic Excellence Medal was earned by Cadet Julia Coryell and were both presented by Mike Dinwiddie.
Still more awards included the Reserve Officers Association certificate presented to Cadet Wyatt Miller; the Fleet Reserve Association award presented to Cadet Charly Romero; the Military Order of the Purple Heart award to Cadet Jesse Perez by Frank Giroux; and Sons of the American Revolution award presented to Cadet Seth Phillips.
Certificates of Appreciation from Toys for Tots were presented by Josie Kakar-Delsi. This special award is given to cadets who took time out to assist the community and the ones who really count, the kids.
The next two awards are voted on by the recipient peers: Best Drill Cadet Cole Miller and Most Improved Cadet Ella Miller.
The shooting team of Cadets Wyatt Miller Cole Miller and Jesse Perez was honored next.
Each cadet then was recognized and given a packet containing all their awards:
Cadet Cody Cody Arbizo certificate of completion le-1, rifle drill team, color guard civic service, athletic participation.
Cadet Ella Miller certificate of completion le-1,- rifle drill, civic service.
Cadet Charly Romero certificate of completion le-1,- rifle drill, civic service, color guard athletic participation.
Cadet Bryan Terry certificate of completion le-1, -color guard ,-rifle drill, civic service.
Cadet Taylor Ashby certificate of completion le-2, 2 rifle drill team, 2 civic service.
Cadet Alicen Baca certificate of completion le-2, 2 color guard , 2 civic service .
Cadet Michael Carrillo certificate of completion le-2, 2 color guard, 2 rifle drill. team, civic service
Cadet Julia Coryell certificate of completion le-2 , 2 color guard, 2 rifle drill team, 2 civic service.
Cadet Robby Gillaspy certificate of completion le-2, 2 color guard, 2 rifle drill team, 2 civic service.
Cadet Cody (Conger) Gotto certificate of completion le-2, 2 color guard, 2 rifle drill team , 2 civic service.
Cadet Wyatt Miller certificate of completion le-2, 2 color guard, 2 rifle drill team, 2 civic service, rifle shooting team.
Cadet Noah Stuart certificate of completion le-2, 2 color guard, 2 rifle drill team, 2 civic service.
Cadet Addy Romero certificate of completion le-2, 2 color guard, 2 rifle drill team, 2 civic service.
Cadet Seth Phillipscertificate of completion le-3, 3 rifle drill team, 3 civic service, 3 color guard.
Graduating Seniors were honored by MSgt Jordan with a few words as he presented their packets.
Cadet Cole Millercertificate of completion le-4, 4 athletic participation, 4color guard, 4civic service,4rifle drill team, rifle shooting team. He is a busy working cadet, if he can remember what you told him 10 seconds ago, Jordan said.
CO Cadet Jesse Perez certificate of completion le-4, 4 athletic participation, 4 rifle drill team, 4 civic service, rifle shooting team. MSgt Jordan added, “what can I say…He knows everything already. Jesse has been with me since the 7thgrade, now he has the world in his hands just waiting for him in the Army, as a Military Police Officer. Lord help them.”
MSgt continued the program by recognizing the Booster Club and officers, Ginger Phillips, president, Frances Sims, vice president and April Jordan, treasurer.
Before closing MSgt introduced John Dorsey, Ray Mines Manager, representing Asarco who presented a check to the unit in the amount of $10,000.
Vicki started her career in the journalism field while attending Ray High School in Kearny with an excellent teacher who took her by the hand and guided her. She worked on the school newspaper and as a senior was a co-editor. Her dream was to go on to college to study journalism and eventually to travel the world reporting the news. This dream was interrupted by life circumstances. She stayed in Kearny and went to work for the Copper Basin News in 1964 as a typesetter. Her editor was Ira Q. Toler and he also was a good teacher. After marrying and having children, her desires to again work in the newspaper field surfaced. She responded to an ad for a position in advertising for the Copper Basin News which included selling, lay-out and design. She was hired on the spot. The business has greatly changed with technology and the introduction of desktop publishing. She was fortunate enough to be a part of it. She has now worked for Copper Area News Publishers on and off for over 30 years, starting when John Seater was the publisher. She has held many positions over the years, but is most proud to be named a reporter. She loves to write and is so grateful for being given that chance.
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