Valley Students Win Top Honors in JROTC Competition

Harlingen Family Dentistry Hosts Annual Event

by Bill Keltner/LFN

The annual JROTC Scholarship Competition is now a 10-year tradition thanks to the generosity of Dr Juan D. Villarreal, who has sponsored the event each year. The doctor also provides the venue for the competition at his Harlingen Family Dentistry center.

The students are required to present a portfolio summation in their implementing of the “Way to Happiness” precepts and the JROTC core values. They also must each make an oral and visual presentation before a panel of qualified judges. It requires a lot of work and preparation, but, they agree, it’s worth it. The three winners get a huge boost to their education with $6,000 in scholarships awarded to the top three Rio Grande Valley high school students.

The competition began in the conference room of the dentistry building. Public Relations and Community Affairs Director Gail Thomason welcomed and thanked all those who had participated in the program, and commended the dedication and enthusiasm of the students and the support of the judges who gave of their valuable time to the event.

Dr. Juan D. Villarreal next described his life-long interest in helping young people make something of themselves through a good education. He came from humble beginnings, but through his striving to advance himself through his military, academic, and professional careers, he now wishes to share with others that education is the key to his success, and will be that of the participants in the JROTC competition.

Villarreal next introduced the lead judge for the competition, LTG Ricardo S. Sanchez.

Sanchez talked about his life to the students. He said, “48 years ago, I was where you are today–on the threshold of my future. I knew I wanted to be in the military, and I stayed with that goal throughout my life. I traveled the world as a U.S. Army officer, and learned a lot about life. I learned that the value system that each of you candidates are talking about in this competition will serve you the rest of your life.“ He added: “My choice was the military–but, whatever you do, embrace these values in whatever you choose. Now–show us on the panel of judges that you can be a leader.”

After the remarks by Sanchez, each of the high school students then stood before the judges and explained why their entry should merit a scholarship. The process took more than an hour and the judges rendered their decisions:

The panel of judges chosen for this JROTC TWTH Scholarship Competition included the following: LTG General Sanchez, (US Army Retired); 1SGT Muhammad A. Cerda, Cameron County Juvenile Justice Department; Lisa Seiser-Editor, Valley Morning Star; Derick Garcia, Reporter, KVEO TV Ch 23;

Susan Francis, DAR State Corresponding Secretary and an attorney; Kathy Preddy, Resources Director, N. Cameron County United Way. Others contributing to the success of the Scholarship

Competition were: Tabulator-Janie Sandoval, RGV Credit Union, and John Hollingsworth, retired businessman serving as Timekeeper. Competition assistants were: Nancy Hentzell and Judy Emsley. The Portfolio Judges were: Judy Emsley-Educator (ret.) and Marsha Gramley-retired Principal.

The judges made their decision: The 2017 First Place winner is Ezelina Lopez of Harlingen High School. She will receive a $3,000 scholarship to be used at the institution of higher learning of her choice.

Second Place winner was David Garate of Rio Hondo High School. He will receive $2,000 in a scholarship fund.

Third Place winner was Daniel de la Cruz of Porter High School in Brownsville, Texas.

His scholarship is $1,000 to be used at the college or university of his choice upon graduation from high school.

This Event is sponsored each year by Dr. Juan Villarreal of Harlingen Family Dentistry. Anyone wishing more information about the JROTC Scholarship Competition is invited to Call Gail Thomason, Public Relations and Community Affairs Director at 956-428-5322.