Students from 3 C.O. school districts joining military honored in first joint recognition event

(Update: Adding video, comments from Mountain View student and organizer)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- For the first time, graduating high school students from the Bend-La Pine, Redmond and Crook County school districts who are joining the military were honored Monday afternoon at one joint recognition event.

Jenn Williams is the college and career program manager at Mountain View, who helped organize the event. 

“Military is such a wonderful pathway to take, and so we wanted to recognize that,” Williams said.

She said the district supports all paths students embark upon after high school, but feels those joining the military deserve a regional event. 

“So we wanted to say, 'No this is a big sacrifice and a big commitment you’re making, so let us celebrate you, and let us honor that pathway that you’ve chosen,'” Williams said. 

The event recognized more than 20 students from the three school districts, joining five branches of the military (the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and the Coast Guard). 

Mountain View senior Drew Retzloff is joining the Army, inspired by a coworker who served in the Air Force.

“And just hearing the stories all throughout the summer just got me thinking, 'Hmm, maybe this is something I want to do,'”  Retzloff said. 

Retzloff will serve as a signals intelligence analyst, gathering confidential information.

“It’s one where I get to say, 'I can’t tell you about that,' so it’s one of those jobs,” Retzloff said. 

He's excited that every student joining the military in the area now has a moment to be acknowledged.

“I will definitely be happy that people are recognizing me for that, but I’m also going to be proud of the other names that will be called,” Retzloff said. “Even if I don’t know who they are, I know what they’re doing, and I’ll be proud of them, too.”

For Williams, she understands the sacrifice these students are making, and how much it means to the Central Oregon community.

“We know each other,” Williams said. “These kids, many of them have grown up here. So to have a commitment like that, to be willing to take that possible sacrifice -- I mean, for us, that's a huge huge thing that we need to recognize.”