Better Business Bureau serving the Pacific Southwest and Salt River Project recently honored 10 Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps students as part of BBB Ethical Cadet Scholarship Program.

Two were from Mesa: Dylan Caldwell and Andrew Diaz, both from Mesa High School, according to a release.

Others honored were:

• Quinten Alvarez from Higley High School in Gilbert;
• Asemah Bakkar from South Mountain High School in Phoenix;
• Abigail Cramer from Higley High School in Gilbert;
• Jose Esquivel from Westview High School in Avondale;
• Gabriela Flores Diaz fromIndependence High School in Glendale;
• Ryan Novoa from Tolleson High School in Tolleson;
• Peyton Pierce from Higley High School in Gilbert;
• Edmond Yip from Tolleson High School in Tolleson.

“Thank you to BBB and SRP for sponsoring this generous Ethical Cadet Scholarship Program that recognizes the integrity and character in today’s youth. As a cadet-driven corps, the cadets will decide how the money awarded to our JROTC program will be used, which may include purchasing sabers and investing in curriculum-enhancing flight simulation equipment,” retired Col. Scott Vaughn, SASI, Higley Air Force JROTC, said in the release.

Arizona high school students who are enrolled in a JROTC program within SRP’s service area, while maintaining a GPA of at least 2.75, were eligible to apply for the scholarship. Students submitted a recommendation letter by a JROTC staff member or school representative and winners were selected based on their essay submission. Winning essays highlighted the students’ leadership, character and commitment to service.

“I am thankful for what JROTC and my instructors have done for me. I am enlisting in the Marine Corps shortly after graduation and plan to use this scholarship award to get started in my young adult life,” Cadet Alvarez, 2021 scholarship recipient, said in the release.