Top six JROTC Cadets in HISD Class of 2014 to be honored
13 April 2014. HISD’s JROTC program will honor its top six cadets from the class of 2014
on Saturday, April 26, at the Annual HISD JROTC Final Review and Awards Ceremony to be held
at the University of Houston Athletics/Alumni Center (3100 Cullen Blvd, Houston, TX 77004)
beginning at 10:00 am. They will be featured leading their respective command groups.
The top six cadets were named earlier this month. They were all promoted to Cadet
Colonel (Army JROTC) or Cadet Captain (Navy JROTC), which is the highest rank in the JROTC
program. The top seniors were chosen from the ranks of all the graduating seniors in HISD’s 26
JROTC programs.
The selection board members for this year’s competition consisted of cadets from Texas
A & M University. Prior to the selection board, cadets received points based upon their scholastic
standing (overall grade point average), demonstrated leadership skills, and participation in
extracurricular activities. At the competition, cadets were awarded points for their proficiency on
a JROTC curricular-based skills test, an oral presentation, a personal evaluation consisting of
military courtesy, knowledge of current events, appearance, knowledge of geography, and an
evaluation of first-aid techniques such as lifesaving, bandaging, and transporting sick and
wounded victims.
The top six graduating seniors from the class of 2014 are:
HISD JROTC Cadet Corps Commander (Top Graduate)
Cadet Colonel Ana Perez
High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice
Cadet Colonel Ana Perez has distinguished herself in academics,
school and JROTC activities throughout her high school years.
Cadet Colonel Perez served as the Cadet Battalion Commander
for Houston ISD’s 15th Army JROTC Battalion at the High School
for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice. Cadet Perez is
ranked 11th out of 118 graduating seniors with a grade point
average of 3.95. She also serves as the President of the
Business Professionals of America, Historian for the National
Honor Society, a member of the JROTC Unarmed Drill Team, the
JROTC Physical Training (PT) Team, and Commander of the
JLAB Academic team. Among her many achievements in the
JROTC Program, Cadet Perez has been awarded the Superior
Cadet Medal for four years, and has been a finalist in the Cadet
Corps Leadership Selection Board competition for all four years
of high school culminating in her selection this year as the
position of HISD JROTC Cadet Corps Commander. After graduation, Cadet Perez will attend
Texas A & M University and become a proud member of the A & M Corps of Cadets. She intends
to major in genetics and work in the medical profession.
HISD JROTC 1st Brigade Commander (#2 Graduate)
Cadet Colonel Danielle Hecht
Mirabeau B. Lamar High School
Cadet Colonel Danielle Hecht has distinguished herself in
academics, school, and JROTC activities throughout her high
school years.
Cadet Colonel Hecht is an International
Baccalaureate Diploma candidate in her graduating class at M.
B. Lamar High School. She maintained a 4.46 grade point
average and is ranked 72 out of 824 graduating seniors. This
school year, Cadet Hecht served as the Cadet Battalion
Executive Officer of HISD’s 7th Army JROTC Battalion. Among
her many achievements in the JROTC program, Cadet Colonel
Hecht has been awarded the Superior Cadet medal four times,
the Distinguished Cadet ribbon three times, the Academic
Excellence ribbon three times, and a variety of team, service and
achievement awards. She has been captain of the JROTC
Leadership and Academic Bowl Team, the Female Ranger Swim
Team, the marksmanship team, and the physical fitness team.
Cadet Colonel Hecht is also an accomplished cellist in the Lamar High School Orchestra having
received top recognition at district, regional, and state competitions. Cadet Colonel Hecht also
participates in other campus organizations such as the National Honor Society, the Student
Council, and the Japanese Club. Outside of JROTC she plays cello in the Houston Youth
Symphony and serves a Senior Educator with the Houston Zoo Crew. Cadet Hecht has accepted
an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York where she will
become a member of the Class of 2018.
HISD JROTC 2nd Brigade Commander (#3 Graduate)
Cadet Colonel Alexis Lopez
Charles H. Milby High School
Cadet Colonel Alexis Lopez has distinguished herself in
academics, school, and JROTC activities throughout her high
school years. Cadet Colonel Lopez previously served as an HISD
JROTC Cadet Corps Cadet Command Sergeant Major and Cadet
Battalion Commander of HISD’s 4th Army JROTC Battalion at
Charles H. Milby High School. Cadet Colonel Lopez has
maintained a 3.96 grade point average and is ranked number 26
out of 476 students in her senior class. She is a member of the
National Honor Society, serves as the Historian for Student
Council, and President of the National English Honor Society.
She is the Commander of Milby High Schools Unarmed Drill
Team where she has been recognized as the Top Drill Team
Commander in several drill competitions this school year. Cadet
Colonel Lopez has been awarded a full-ride four-year scholarship
starting at Bryn Mawr College. She intends to major in Biology
and minor in Psychology; her career aspiration is to become a Plastic Surgeon.
HISD JROTC 3rd Brigade Commander (#4 Graduate)
Cadet Colonel Christian Briones
S. P. Waltrip High School
Cadet Colonel Christian Briones has distinguished himself in
academics, school, and JROTC activities throughout her high
school years. Cadet Colonel Christian Briones has served as
the Alpha Company First Sergeant of HISD’s 9th Army JROTC
Battalion at S.P Waltrip High School. Cadet Colonel Briones
has been an outstanding cadet for four years. Cadet Colonel
Briones has maintained a 3.9 grade point average and is ranked
number 16 out of 405 students in his senior class. Cadet
Colonel Briones has distinguished himself in JROTC,
academics, and community support activities. He is a member
of the National Honor Society and volunteer’s at Lakewood
Church. Cadet Colonel Briones is Commander of the Waltrip
JROTC Marksmanship Team for two years. During his tenure
as Marksmanship Team Commander the team finished as high
as third place in HISD, a first for Waltrip JROTC Rifle Team. He
has also exhibited tremendous leadership ability as a member of the Waltrip JROTC Drill Team
for four years. Cadet Colonel Briones plans to attend Texas A & M University and Major in
Aerospace Engineering.
HISD JROTC 4th Brigade Commander (#5 Graduate)
Cadet Captain Sabona Simbassa
Booker T. Washington High School
Cadet Captain Sabona Simbassa has distinguished himself in
academics, school, and JROTC activities throughout his high
school years. Cadet Captain Sabona Simbassa is a senior at
Booker T. Washington High School and the High School for
Engineering Professions. Cadet Simbassa currently serves as
the Cadet Company Commander for HISD's 3rd Naval JROTC
Battalion at Booker T. Washington High School. He is ranked
second out of 169 graduating seniors, with a grade point
average of 4.14, and is the school's salutatorian. Cadet
Simbassa is involved with several organizations, both on and off
campus. He serves as the Ethiopian Community Youth Leader
for mentoring, has served in numerous leadership positions in
the school and NJROTC, including Operation’s Officer, Safety
Captain for FIRST Robotic team, and Project Manager of One
Mile One Pound rocket launch team. He also served as Vice
President of the National Honor Society as a senior, and is a member of the Mexican American
Engineering Society. He has attended Texas Boys State at University of Texas-Austin as
delegate from American Legion Post, and has been a member of the Marksmanship team for
two years and the Commander of the NJROTC Academic Team. He has been awarded the
Military Order of World Wars Award of merit, the Reserve Officers Association Medal, and
ribbons for Honor Cadet, Distinguished Cadet, Military Aptitude, Exemplary Appearance,
Community Service, Participation, Physical Fitness and several others. He will attend Texas A
& M in the fall of 2014, majoring in Biomedical Engineering.
HISD JROTC 5th Brigade Commander (#6 Graduate)
Cadet Colonel Jazmin Arredondo
Sam Houston Mathematics, Science, and Technology Center
Cadet Colonel Jazmin Arredondo has distinguished herself in
academics, school, and JROTC activities throughout her high
school years. Cadet Colonel Jasmin Arredondo has served as
the Charlie Company Commander of HISD’s 1st Army JROTC
Battalion at Sam Houston Math, Science and Technology
Center. Cadet Colonel Arredondo has been an outstanding
cadet for four years maintaining a 3.89 grade point average and
is ranked number 25 out of 613 students in her senior class.
Cadet Colonel Arredondo has distinguished herself in JROTC,
academics, and community support activities. She is a member
of the National Honor Society and volunteers at several
organizations in the community. Cadet Colonel Arredondo
served as the Commander of the Sam Houston MSTC JROTC
Color Guard for three years. While serving as the Battalion’s
cadet logistician, Cadet Colonel Arredondo earned a perfect
scored during the annual HISD JROTC Department Inspection. During her tenure as Color
Guard Commander the team finished as high as third out of twenty-six teams in HISD; the team
has performed at numerous events throughout Houston, including those attended by U.S.
Congressional representatives. Cadet Colonel Arredondo has also exhibited tremendous
leadership ability as a member of the Sam Houston Golden Knight’s Drill Team, the JROTC
Leadership and Academic Bowl Team, and the Physical Fitness Team. After graduation, Cadet
Colonel Arredondo will attend Texas A & M University and major in Geography and minor in
Spatial Science/Meteorology.