John F. Kennedy High School’s Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps students are making history with their recent win at the JROTC Drill Championships in San Antonio, TX.
The JFK JROTC team took home second place at the regional competition on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, which featured 34 of the top competitive teams – three from Colorado and 31 from Texas. Teams competed in various competitions, including in exhibition drills, inspection, color guard, and regulation drills.
The JFK JROTC team was the only team representing DPS this year, racking home countless titles and awards, including placing first in exhibition drill, ninth in inspection and color guard, and 12th in regulation drill. This all resulted in a second place overall finish, the highest a DPS or Colorado school has ever placed.
“We weren’t in the familiarity and comfort of Denver, which makes this win very special as other teams had the advantage of familiarity, and echoes of cheer from their loved ones,” said JROTC student Thuy L. “This just truly shows how strong of a team we are, and makes overcoming future challenges look easy.”
The JROTC program at JFK High School is an invaluable part of the school community, teaching young students the kind of self-discipline, self-confidence, and leadership skills that can help them successfully meet the challenges of adulthood and their pursuits post high school.
“From when I started to where I am now, I have improved dramatically and I can say the same for every other girl on the team, new or not,” said Faiza A., JROTC student. “While we know we still have room for improvement, we push each other to be more polished, correct each other's mistakes, and work together as a team to grow and sharpen our skills for future drill meets.”
The strong finish qualifies the team to compete at the Army Drill Nationals and the High School Nationals in Daytona, FL the weekend of May 3-5, 2024.
“Success is not just about winning, but about the journey of hard work and dedication. It's the daily grind, the unwavering commitment, and the resilience that led us to victory,” said Lindsay Jimenez, JROTC student. “We will continue to push hard and work our best to succeed.”