St. Lucie West Centennial NJROTC Honors Cadets, Awards $5,600 in Scholarships

The Navy JROTC "Black Talon" Company at St. Lucie West Centennial High School filled its auditorium Tuesday with veterans, families, and decorated cadets as the unit handed out more than 30 individual awards and $5,600 in scholarships at its Annual End of the Year Awards Night Ceremony.

For the cadets who spent the school year drilling, studying, and logging community service hours, April 21 was the payoff. Representatives from more than a dozen veteran and civic organizations — including the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Vietnam Veterans Association Post No. 566, and the Treasure Coast Navy League — traveled to the Port St. Lucie campus to present awards recognizing achievement in leadership, academics, and physical fitness, district officials confirmed.

Four cadets earned scholarship money. Cadet Lieutenant Commander Brittany Burke, the unit's Naval Science 4 honor cadet, received a $2,100 Military Officers Association of America Scholarship. Cadet Seaman Andrew Toledo and Cadet Senior Chief Petty Officer Deanna Simpson each received $1,000 American Legion Post 318 awards, and Toledo also earned the $1,500 Treasure Coast Navy League Scholarship.

Cadet Seaman Gabriella Reigh swept the Naval Science 1 honors, earning both the Naval Science 1 Honor Cadet award — given to the cadet with the highest GPA in each year group — and the Naval Science 1 Distinguished Cadet award, the program's equivalent of Cadet of the Year. The Distinguished Cadet recognition weighs academics, physical fitness, community service, drill performance, and participation across all JROTC teams. Cadet Petty Officer First Class Andrew Witz-Schaffer earned both honors for Naval Science 2, and Burke claimed both for Naval Science 4.

Witz-Schaffer and Cadet Chief Petty Officer Nolan Hamel also received the Cadet Achievement Award, presented to cadets who have sustained superior performance throughout the year in both academics and unit responsibilities.

The evening closed with a Change of Command Ceremony, a formal military tradition that marked the unit's transition to new leadership. Cadet Lieutenant Commander Brandon Ramirez assumed command of the Black Talon Company. Cadet Lieutenant Deanna Simpson was named executive officer, and Cadet Senior Chief Petty Officer Brody Nestler became command senior chief. All graduating seniors received an NJROTC cord, and those who held unit staff positions were presented a stole. Principal Ayesha Boria presented the Distinguished Cadet awards; Assistant Principal Sandra Oliveira presented the Honor Cadet honors.

The new command team will lead the Black Talon Company into the 2026-27 school year. Parents and community members interested in the unit's activities, upcoming competitions, or JROTC enrollment can contact St. Lucie West Centennial High School directly. The program's next full season of drill, physical fitness events, and community service will begin this fall.

This article was generated with AI assistance using publicly available information. It was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication. TC Sentinel uses AI writing tools in accordance with FTC guidelines.