Washingtonville JROTC recognizes leadership, service and shared success

Washingtonville High School’s JROTC Magic Battalion hosted its annual Awards Night on April 21, recognizing the accomplishments, leadership and dedication of its cadets throughout the 2025-2026 school year. The ceremony brought together students, families and staff to celebrate both individual achievement and the collective strength of the program.

Throughout the evening, cadets were honored for excellence in academics, leadership, service and military preparedness. The recognition reflected the wide-ranging skills cadets develop through the program, both inside and outside the classroom.

The event also highlighted the Class of 2026 seniors, many of whom will continue their paths in college, the armed forces and career fields tied to service and leadership. As the ceremony concluded, the Magic Battalion celebrated another year of growth, reinforcing its commitment to the values of duty, honor and country.

Check out a gallery of images from the event here!

Awards and Recipients

Daughters of the War of 1812 Award – C/1LT Elizabeth DeMeo
Daughters of the American Colonists – C/MSG Samantha Loyola
Daughters of the American Revolution – C/SGT Lily Tietjen
Daughters of the Colonial Wars – C/SSG Abigail Baisley

Military Order of the Purple Heart Leadership Award – C/CSM Ella Mitchell
Order of the Red Fox (Marist College) – C/MSG Ivan Cuadrado
U.S. Army Recruiting Command Award – C/2LT Brandon Martinez

VFW Scholastic Excellence – C/1LT Abigail Feagin
American Legion Scholastic Award – C/2LT Hayden Edwards
American Legion Leadership Award – C/2LT Myles Williams
JROTC Distinguished Cadet Award (Scholastic Excellence) – C/2LT Hayden Edwards

Sojourners Award – C/MSG Savannah Evans
Principal’s Award – C/LTC Isabella DeFrancesco

Hudson Valley Honor Flight Award –
C/MAJ Alexa Carlantone, C/LTC Isabella DeFrancesco, C/2LT Hayden Edwards

JROTC Academic Excellence Award –
C/SGT Melanie Wilkinson, C/SGT Connor Vitale, C/1SG Laylah Reynoso, C/2LT Jessie Barlow

JROTC Academic Achievement Award –
C/CPL Cayden Flint, C/PFC James Sullivan, C/MSG Ivan Cuadrado, C/SGT Hailey Malcolm

Sons of the American Revolution – C/2LT Dominick DiFrancesca
Association of the United States Army – C/MAJ Alexa Carlantone
Military Officers Association Award – C/2LT Myles Williams, C/1LT Ethan Pagan
Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War Award – C/MSG Jack Johnston
AMVETS Award – C/2LT Alex Marin

JROTC Commendation Medal –
C/SGT Matthew Tarace, C/MSG Samantha Loyola, C/SGT Melanie Wilkinson,
C/MSG Keturah Jordan, C/SGT Adrianna DeSimone, C/SGT Lily Tietjen,
C/CPL Cayden Flint, C/CPL Jayson Vargas, C/SSG Hailey Malcolm,
C/2LT Hayden Edwards, C/2LT Dominick DiFrancesca, C/MSG Savannah Evans,
C/CPL Morgan Sleight, C/CPL Chloe Colon

Citizenship Award – C/2LT Myles Williams, C/SGT Meline Wilkinson, C/2LT Christopher Wilger, C/PFC Hartley Rosenberg, C/MSG Krystian Rosa, C/1SGT Laylah Reynoso, C/1LT Ethan Pagan, C/PVT Maylah Nunez, C/2LT Nolan Nemeth, C/CSM Ella Mitchell, C/2LT Brandon Martinez, C/MSG Samantha Loyola, C/MSG Keturah Jordan, C/SFC Maggie Kawski, C/SGT Goddard, C/SSG Kathlynn Feliciano, C/SGT Zoey Feagin, C/2LT Abigail Feagin, C/MSG Savannah Evans, C/SGT Adrianna  DeSimone, C/2LT Elizabeth DeMeo, C/LTC Isabella DeFrancesco, C/SFC Ivan Cuadrado, C/MAJ Alexa Carlantone, C/SSG Isabella beams, C/CPL Abigail Baisley, C/1SG Abbey Premuto

Duty, Honor, Country (West Point Award) – C/SGT Hailey Vitale

U.S. Cavalry Gold – C/1LT Ethan Pagan
U.S. Cavalry Silver – C/SSG Abigail Baisley
U.S. Cavalry Bronze – C/SGT Adrianna DeSimone

Military Order of the World Wars – C/2LT Nolan Nemeth
JROTC Instructors Award – C/2LT Emma Mantali

Best Drill Team (Silver) – C/MSG Keturah Jordan
Best Drill Team (Gold) – C/LTC Isabella DeFrancesco

Perfect Attendance Award –
C/CPL Ryan Ramos, C/SGT Griffin Mann, C/MSG Evan Smith, C/PFC Timothy Allen,
C/PFC Alexander Penny, C/PFC Ethan Lopez, C/2LT Brandon Martinez, C/SFC Tyler Martinez

Leadership Development Service Award –
C/SGT Lily Tietjen, C/2LT Brandon Martinez, C/SSG Lucas Deyo,
C/1SG Emma Demus, C/1SG Abbey Premuto, C/SGT Hailey Vitale,
C/SSG Giovanni Piccharello, C/SSG Dylan Devaney, C/SGT Jake Kantor,
C/1SG Laylah Reynoso, C/SFC Matthew Tarace, C/MSG Evan Smith

Drill Team Excellence Award –
C/LTC Isabella DeFrancesco, C/MAJ Alexa Carlantone, C/2LT Emma Mantali,
C/SGT Hailey Vitale, C/2LT Hayden Edwards, C/MSG Keturah Jordan
Student Government Award – C/SGT Lily Tietjen

ROTC Athletic Award –
C/SSG Dylan Devaney, C/SGT Lily Tietjen, C/CPL Morgan Sleight, C/CPL Jenna Arrington

Personal Appearance Award – C/SGT Caroline Brennan, C/SGT Juliana Serrano

Cadet Proficiency Award – C/SGT Hailey Vitale

Outstanding Volunteer Service –
C/MSG Keturah Jordan, C/2LT Elizabeth DeMeo, C/MSG Samantha Loyola, C/1SG Laylah Reynoso

Color Guard Award – C/SGT Abigail Baisley

Army Instructor Award for Excellence – C/SGT Scott Zacarro
Army Instructor Award for Leadership – C/SSG Adrianna DeSimone
Senior Army Instructor Award for Excellence – C/MSG Samantha Loyola
Senior Army Instructor Award for Leadership – C/2LT Abigail Feagin

Superior Cadet Award – C/MSG Alixandra Alisca, C/MSG Keturah Jordan

Cadet Officer of the Year – C/MAJ Alexa Carlantone
Cadet NCO of the Year – C/MSG Keturah Jordan
Cadet of the Year – C/CSM Ella Mitchell