LAHS NJROTC 2024-2025 Cadet Staff. Photo Courtesy NJROTC

2023-2024 Commanding Officer C/CDR Joshua Danforth passing his position to 2024-2025 Commanding Officer C/CDR Sofia West. Courtesy NJROTC

BY C/LT ALANA HINOJOSA
Public Affairs Officer
LAHS NJROTC

This past Friday, Los Alamos NJROTC held its end-of-the-year awards and change of command ceremonies at Duane Smith Auditorium with cadets, family and friends, along with LAPS and LAHS officials in attendance. The unit also promoted cadets who passed their most recent advancement exams and acknowledged their departing seniors. The annual change of command ceremony is held to pass on leadership positions to the cadets who have proven their worthiness for the role and is based upon those held by navies throughout the world.

The position of Commanding Officer was passed from C/CDR Joshua Danforth to C/CDR Sofia West. It was announced at the ceremony that Topper Company has been named as a Distinguished Unit with Academic Honors for the second year in a row, ranking them within the top 20% of more than 600 NJROTC units worldwide. The award is based on a point system recognizing participation and completion of various facets of the NJROTC program, including drill, physical fitness, marksmanship, academics, and community service. Los Alamos NJROTC cadets are now allowed to wear the highest award possible for a NJROTC unit, the distinguished unit ribbon.

Upon his relief, C/CDR Joshua Danforth said, “This year has been a great one for our unit and it has been an amazing honor and privilege to serve as Commanding Officer of Topper Company. The future is bright for the program and with the new staff at the helm, I know that it will only get better.”

Commanding Officer Sofia West said “change of command was wonderful. I am more than pleased with the selection of next year’s staff by the graduating class of 2024! I am looking forward to another amazing year with Topper Company. It is an honor to be Commanding Officer for next year’s cadets. This is a position that I only have dreamed of, and now, it is a reality”.

Topper Company’s 2024-2025 Cadet Staff:

● C/LCDR Hayden Kim, Executive Officer
● C/LT Natalie Crawford, Operations Officer
● C/MCPO Sonya Ayers, Command Chief Petty Officer
● C/LT William Borovina, Assistant Operations Officer
● C/ENS Matthew Haight, Administration Officer
● C/ENS Ashton Cody, Supply Officer
● C/PO2 Lilia Keller-Moore, Assistant Supply Officer
● C/PO2 Evelyn Drake, Junior Supply Officer
● C/PO2 Lacy Portillos, Junior Supply Officer
● C/PO2 Jayden Kim, Junior Supply Officer
● C/ENS Melanie Weekley, Public Affairs Officer
● C/ENS Maya Snowden, Adjutant
● C/PO2 Madelyn Sutton, Technology Officer
● C/PO2 Isabel Stoica, Drill Locker Officer
● C/ENS Bella Pearson, Armory Officer

To end the year, Los Alamos NJROTC held their annual military ball at Fuller Lodge. A mix of ceremony, dinner, and dancing, the cadets got to enjoy a celebration of a great year for the program.

Finally, the seniors would like to thank their instructors, Chief Aron Ayers and Petty Officer Matthew Bohlen, for giving this program a whole new meaning as well as making it a rewarding and memorable part of their years at LAHS.

Editor’s note: Thank you C/LT Alana Hinojosa for a doing a fine job this year as PAO.