Elizabethtown Area High School proudly recognized the achievements of its Navy National Defense Cadet Corps (NNDCC) cadets during the annual NNDCC Award Ceremony held on Wednesday, May 28. The celebration honored cadets who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, academic excellence, service, personal appearance, and military bearing throughout the year.

Elizabethtown Area High School is among a select group of high schools in Pennsylvania to offer the NNDCC program, a precursor to the Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC). Through this program, cadets develop the values of citizenship, responsibility, and a commitment to serving the United States.

The NNDCC curriculum includes coursework in civics, national security affairs, oceanography, and technology, complemented by hands-on leadership activities, community service, and military-based initiatives. The program is open to students in grades 9–12.

FC1 Michael Wilkinson, USN (RET) serves as the Naval Science Instructor and faculty advisor for Elizabethtown Area High School’s NNDCC program.

This year’s ceremony recognized the following cadets for their outstanding contributions and accomplishments:

• Lily-Ahna Glover received multiple honors, including the American Legion Military Excellence Award, the Daedalian Award and accompanying $100 check, the Military Officers Association of America Award, the Reserve Organization of America (ROA) Award, and the Surface Navy Association Stephen Decatur Award. She was also co-recipient of the American Veterans Award.
• Garrett Garber was presented with the American Legion Scholastic Award, the Daughters of the American Revolution Award, the Military Order of the Purple Heart Award, the National Sojourners Award, the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Award, and the Surface Navy Association Stephen Decatur Award. He was also co-recipient of the American Veterans Award.
• Juliet Sutton was recognized with the Military Order of the World Wars Award of Merit, the Marine Corps League Award, the Non Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA) JROTC Award, and a scholarship from the Harrisburg Chapter 76 of the National Sojourners to attend the Spirit of America Youth Leadership Conference.
• Stephen Polizzi earned the Navy League Theodore Roosevelt Medal, the Sons of the American Revolution Award, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Award, and the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) Medal.
• Joshua English received the Marine Corps League Award, the NCOA JROTC Award, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Award.
• Gracie Woodring was co-recipient of the American Veterans Award.
• AJ Ward was awarded a scholarship alongside Juliet Sutton to attend the National Sojourners Spirit of America Youth Leadership Conference.
• Bradley Schmitt was recognized with the NCOA JROTC Award.

Additionally, the following cadets received other NJROTC awards and promotions: Abigail Brosey, Noah Cupper, Bartolome Diaz, Keagen Dillinger, Nickolas Ellison, Madelynn Esposito, Jordyn Griswold, Mikhail Kauffman, Trenton Kautz, Chris Martin, Anthony Polizzi, Desmond Rice, Nickolas Risberg, and Damian Wagner.

Congratulations to all cadets for their outstanding performance and dedication to the NNDCC program at Elizabethtown Area High School.