Fort Hood and state of Texas leaders joined Killeen ISD Wednesday to praise, honor and thank a small courageous group of service-minded high school seniors committed to enter the military.
During Killeen ISD’s annual Military Enlistment Recognition Ceremony, 52 soon-to-graduate seniors stepped across the Harker Heights High School auditorium stage to receive red, white and blue honor cords representing their commitment.
Superintendent King Davis draped a cord around each student and state Rep. Brad Buckley and Board President Brett Williams presented each with an honor coin and pin.
Fort Hood Garrison Commander Col. Mark McClellan welcomed the enlistees into the military.
Before students walked the stage, Capt. LaTasha Martin, commander of the U.S. Army Waco recruiting station told them she was in a high school classroom not so many years ago when she made the same commitment to serve.
“I had no intention of joining the military, but I did want to go to college,” said Martin, who earned scholarships to play college volleyball and perform on a cheer team.
When she found out about the advantages of service, she committed at age 17 to join the U.S. Army Reserve. Now, 26 years later she is a U.S. Army captain and set to do post graduate work courtesy of the military.
High school graduation is a worthy accomplishment, she said, “but in addition to that, we are here to recognize something far more profound,” noting that less than 1 percent of Americans join the military.
“When others choose a path of least resistance, you chose a path or purpose,” she said. “That speaks volumes about your character, your courage and the way you were raised.”
“You will form a brotherhood and sisterhood that will outlast any challenge that you can face … Congratulations graduates and welcome to the team.”
See photos at www.killeenisd.org/photos
Navy
Atlantis Aker
Christopher Ballard
McKayla Brehm
Isabell Cornell
Cynthia Jackson
Kingston Lovvorn
Ketie Moreno
Ariana Nobuo (Reserve)
Ty Oliver
Carina Pitre
Bailey Polvado
Sarah Rivera-Oldham
Kryztal Sablan
Re’Vynn Sanford
Evelyn Tamayo-Aguilar
Marine Corps
Chad Alexander, Jr.
Noah Carraway (Reserve)
Marrianne Jones
Jordan Jenkins
Audrianna Dedmon
Michael Hill (Reserve)
Estime Kalao (Reserve)
Joushua Navaez Torres
Ricardo Reyes-Barrera
John Rodriguez
Jacob Sims
Camden Whitehead
Air Force
Nehemiah Ghant
Leonardo Gonzalez
Edgar Gutierrez Gonzalez
Xander Kibble
Atreyu Laanan
Jeremiah Less
Johnathan Lewis
Kayden Love
Elias Mars
Kevin Pimental
Genesis Rodriguez-Lopez
Elizabeth Rosenberry
Riana San Nicolas
Army
Payton Ghee (Reserve)
Tyler Loniewski
Kenneth Nash, Jr.
Augustine Okooti (Reserve)
Bernardine Okooti (Reserve)
Jonah Perese (Reserve)
Chance Randall
Army National Guard
Sharmaine Briones
Armando Garcia, Jr.
Romello Mann
Vonadam McMenamin
Maxwell Smith