Philip Simmons High’s AFJROTC program has demonstrated its commitment to community service in the past year.
The school’s program is one out of approximately 870 AFJROTC units worldwide. It is one of 44 schools that has earned the “Silver Star” Community Service with Excellence Award for the 2022-2023 school year.
In addition to being one of 44 schools, Philip Simmons High is one of three schools in the state to receive the award from Headquarters Air Force Junior ROTC.
Students enrolled in AFJROTC programs regularly complete service hours throughout the school year. The award recognizes the top five percent of all AFJROTC units based on community service in support of schools and local communities. The award is earned by units with the highest per cadet average of community service hours that are planned and conducted by cadets under the supervision of their instructors.
This year, AFJROTC cadets conducted more than 1,258,882 community service hours.
CMSgt (Ret) Michelle M. Siau, aerospace science instructor at Philip Simmons High, surprised cadets with the news during their homeroom session Friday morning.
“That’s a huge, huge accomplishment,” Siau said over a round of applause from her students. “Just know that that’s a big award.”
Siau said the school’s program logged in approximately 878 service hours this past school year, spread across about 35 cadets. She challenged her students to break a combined 1,000 hours this year (about 40 hours per cadet).
Students who land in the top 20 percent of hours contributed will get to wear the AFJROTC ribbon reflecting the award.
The award also recognizes the personal growth and accomplishments of the cadets, contributions of the instructors as mentors, and the support of the school and local community. Siau praised her school’s program, which is still relatively new and continues to garner interest from students, including a high percentage of girls.
This year Siau, is joined at Philip Simmons High by new instructor, Col (Ret) Matthew Morand, USF, who has served in the U.S. Air Force about 28 years.
“We have a great group of kids – we really do,” Siau said, adding, “It’s a hard-working group…To win this award so quickly shows the devotion and focus they have for ROTC and the love they have for their community.”
