The SLW Centennial High School’s Navy JROTC “Black Talon” Company held its Annual End of the Year Awards Night Ceremony on Tuesday, April 21st, 2026, in the school’s auditorium. The “Awards Night” Ceremony provides the opportunity for highly motivated and detailed oriented cadets a chance to be recognized by the unit for their stellar performance through out the school year. Multiple Community Veteran Organizations attended our event to present awards to selected Cadets for their achievements in Leadership, Academics, and Physical Fitness. Over 30 individual awards and 4 scholarships were presented!
Congratulations to the following Cadets from the Black Talon Company for earning the following awards:
American Veterans Award (AMVETS): Cadet Seaman Kason Watkins
Order of the Daedalion Award: Cadet Seaman Alie Merizier
Daughters of the American Colonists Award: Cadet Seaman Isis Raymaker
Daughters of the War of 1812 Award: Cadet Seaman Angeluisna Polanco
Daughters of the American Revolution Award: Cadet Seaman Gabriella Reigh
Order of the Elks Lodge Award: Cadet Petty Officer Third Class Lamenthia Scott
Korean War Veterans Association Award: Cadet Seaman Julyssa Ramirez
Military Officers Association of America – Medal: Cadet Petty Officer First Class Brody Nestler
Military Order of the Purple Heart Award: Cadet Petty Officer First Class Shamira Mujica
Military Order of the World Wars: Cadet Seaman Matthew Margeson
National Sojourners Award: Cadet Seaman Michael Triana
Treasure Coast Navy League Theodore Roosevelt Medal: Cadet Petty Officer Third Class Payton Brown
Non-Commissioned Officers Association Award: Cadet Petty Officer Third Class Christian Cassidy
Sons of the American Revolution Award: Cadet Seaman Obadiah Mildor
Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Award: Cadet Petty Officer First Class Andrew Witz-Schaffer
Special Forces Association Award: Cadet Seaman Catherine Lindo
101st Airborne Division Association Award: Cadet Petty Officer Third Class Ivy Golden
Stephen Decatur Outstanding NS-1 Award: Cadet Petty Officer Third Class Joshua Canino
Stephen Decatur Outstanding Junior Award: Cadet Chief Petty Officer Eli Ross
Vietnam Veterans Association Post #566 Award: Cadet Petty Officer Third Class Jess Fasci
Veterans of Foreign Wars Award: Cadet Seaman Louise Despeines
Association of the United States Army Award: Cadet Lieutenant Brandon Ramirez
Marine Corps Recruiters Scholastic Award: Cadet Seaman Mackenzie Chapman (female) and Cadet Seaman Andrew Toledo (male)
Marine Corps Recruiters Leadership Award: Cadet Petty Officer Third Class Ruth Maya Dorcin (female) and Cadet Seaman Darryen Noel (male)
Marine Corps Recruiters Athletic Award: Cadet Seaman Christina Vaillant (female) and Cadet Seaman Arthur Schaffer (male)
Marine Corps League Distinguished Service Award: Cadet Chief Petty Officer Nolan Hamel
The Following Cadets received Scholarships with their Awards:
Treasure Coast Navy League Scholarship: Cadet Seaman Andrew Toledo, $1,500 Scholarship
American Legion Award – Post 318 (Military Excellence Award): Cadet Petty Officer Third Class Noah Lucuara, $1,000 Scholarship
American Legion Award – Post 318 (Scholastic Award): Cadet Senior Chief Petty Officer Deanna Simpson, $1,000 Scholarship
Military Officers Association of America – Scholarship: Cadet Lieutenant Commander Brittany Burke, $2,100 Scholarship
The Cadet Achievement Award is presented to cadets that have surpassed expectation, have sustained superior performance thorough the school year with respect to their responsibilities academically as well as to the unit. The following cadets earned the Cadet Achievement Award:
Cadet Chief Petty Officer Nolan Hamel and Cadet Petty Officer First Class Andrew Witz-Schaffer
Honor Cadets are awarded yearly to one cadet in each year group (Naval Science 1 through 4) with the Highest Academic Achievement (Highest GPA) in school, including all Naval Science Course. The honor Cadet Awards were presented by Assistant Principal Sandra Oliveira. Congratulations to the following Cadets:
Naval Science 1 Honor Cadet: Cadet Seaman Gabriella Reigh
Naval Science 2 Honor Cadet: Cadet Petty Officer First Class Andrew Witz-Schaffer
Naval Science 3 Honor Cadet: Cadet Senior Chief Petty Officer Deanna Simpson
Naval Science 4 Honor Cadet: Cadet Lieutenant Commander Brittany Burke
The Distinguished Cadet award is equivalent to the “Cadet of the Year”, is awarded to one cadet cadet in each year group (Naval Science 1 through 4) with the highest combined average for overall scholastic standing and aptitude in NJROTC unit activities to include Academics, Homework, Physical Fitness, Community Service, Drill, and all NJROTC Teams. The Distinguished Cadet Awards were presented by Principal Ayesha Boria. Congratulations to the following cadets:
Cadet of the Year / Naval Science 1 Distinguished Cadet: Cadet Seaman Gabriella Reigh
Cadet of the Year / Naval Science 2 Distinguished Cadet: Cadet Petty Officer First Class Andrew Witz-Schaffer
Cadet of the Year / Naval Science 3 Distinguished Cadet: Cadet Lieutenant Brandon Ramirez
Cadet of the Year / Naval Science 4 Distinguished Cadet: Cadet Lieutenant Commander Brittany Burke
Awards Night concluded with a Change of Command Ceremony, however, all seniors where called up and given their NJROTC Cord as well as a Stole if they held a Unit Staff Position.
The new Command Senior Chief is Cadet Senior Chief Petty Officer Brody Nestler. The new Executive Officer is Cadet Lieutenant Deanna Simpson, and the new Commanding Officer of the SLW Centennial HS “Black Talon” Navy JROTC Unit is Cadet Lieutenant Commander Brandon Ramirez!
Congratulations to all the awardees! They have done an outstanding job in representing St. Lucie West Centennial High School as well as the Navy JROTC Program!
