Venture Crew 415 at East Rowan High School Junior ROTC, sponsored by Faith American Legion Post 327, presented silver and gold awards recently.
Cadet Lt. Col. Shannon Elrod and Cadet Lt. Col. Jamie Patterson earned the Silver Award, Venturing’s highest.
Four cadets received the second highest, the Gold Award, at East Rowan’s Military Ball. Lt. Col. Telicia James, Capt. Jasmine James, 1st Lt. Winter Heno and Jamie Patterson received both awards at this ceremony.
Elrod is the 17-year-old daughter of Tim and Teresa Elrod of Salisbury. She is the battalion commander, drill team commander and former executive officer of the East JROTC program. She is a senior and plans to attend Rowan-Cabarrus Community College for two years then transfer to a university to become a veterinarian technician or an art teacher.
Patterson, daughter of Roy and Kathy Patterson of Rockwell, is battalion liaison officer and scuba team commander. She is a certified lifeguard, rappel master and scuba diver. She is involved in the Battalion Competition Color Guard and is a member of the National Honor Society. She attended Girls State last summer. She plans to go to college and become a registered nurse.
Telicia James, daughter of Marcus and Sherrie James, is a member of the drill and scuba teams and rappel master. She won the top female physical excellence medal. At school she has been on the track, cross country and soccer teams and is a member of the National Honor Society. She plans to study political science and foreign language in college.
Her sister, Jasmine James, is on the drill teamand scuba crew and is a rappel master and certified lifeguard. She has two physical excellence medals and tied for best drill cadet her sophomore year. She plans to major in criminal justice.
Winter Heno, daughter of Joyce Yates of Granite Quarry, is the command sergeant major of the battalion with a winning color guard for a year. She is head rappel master and the S-3 assistant. She is active with the drill and Raider teams. She has a varsity letter in softball and her ranger beret in JROTC and is active in the National Honor Society.
She plans to study criminal justice and forensic science in college and continuing a career in the Army.