Redmond HS JROTC Academic Team heading to D.C.

After advancing through two phases of online competition, Redmond High School’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) Academic Team has advanced to compete in person at the Marine Corps JROTC Academic Championship in Washington, D.C. this summer.

Redmond High’s JROTC Academic Team includes team captain junior Kason Rondo, junior Alex Cozine, junior Randy Garcia and sophomore Megan Kolkman. The team is led by retired Lieutenant Colonel Doug Seal and Master Gunnery Sergeant Mike Trammel, both of the United States Marine Corps.

“We are extremely proud of our JROTC Academic Team for advancing to the Academic Championship in Washington, D.C.,” Principal Paul Nolan said. “Their academic aptitude and knowledge of JROTC is allowing them to compete with the top 3 percent of academic teams from around the country. We know they are going to perform well in D.C.”

Redmond High’s JROTC team earned top scores to win a place in the upcoming national competition. The team is one of only eight Marine Corps JROTC Academic Bowl teams in the nation to advance to the finals. During the two fast-paced preliminary rounds, students were tested on their knowledge of JROTC curriculum, English, math and science. One of the main goals of the JROTC Academic Bowl is to prepare students for state exit/graduation exams as well as college entrance exams, such as the SAT and ACT.

The winner of the Marine Corps JROTC Academic Championship will compete against the winners of the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force JROTC Academic Bowls in the JROTC Joint Service Academic Bowl Championship.

The JROTC Leadership & Academic Bowl (JLAB) is a nationally recognized academic competition created exclusively for JROTC students. By participating, cadets learn the values of citizenship, academic competition, and college opportunity. The competition creates tremendous opportunities for JROTC cadets by allowing them to demonstrate leadership and academic abilities.

The 2017 U.S Marine Corps Junior ROTC Academic Bowl Championship takes place on the campus of The Catholic University of America, June 23 -27, 2017. The event is conducted by College Options Foundation.

College Options Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the academic development of high school students and assisting them in their preparation for higher education. College Options has assisted the nation’s JROTC cadets worldwide for over a decade.