Here at Beaver Area High School, “tradition dictates a standard of excellence.” However, COVID dictates traditions change to fit safety guidelines. Among the changing traditions is the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program’s annual Military Ball.

“The Military Ball is a formal event that celebrates the cadets’ accomplishments and hard work throughout the year and their time in the Beaver Area JROTC program,” shared Sergeant Major Oscar Weaver.

Traditionally, attendance at the annual event is mandatory for all JROTC cadets. However, cadets were not required to attend this year, although it was encouraged.

Despite diminished attendance, the “turn out will be great and memorable for all attendees,” anticipated SGM Weaver in the days leading up to the April 10 event.

As always, there was a formal dress code in place for attendees—Mil Ball is a classy affair.

SGM Weaver explained, “Female cadets and guests must wear a floor-length gown, pantsuit, or their uniform, and our male cadets must wear their Army Service Uniform with a white dress shirt and black bow tie while any male guests can wear a suit or tux.”

The Military Ball was held at Shadow Lakes in Aliquippa, the usual location. Unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions, there was no dancing for the cadets after the ceremony. Masks were required to be worn the whole time.

According to SGM Weaver, guests who are not in the JROTC program were still allowed to attend, however, “there are restrictions on attendees from outside of the Beaver Area School District.”

COVID guidelines weren’t the only thing introduced to the ceremony. Some of the event’s traditional ceremonies were adapted potentially creating new traditions—and some new traditions were added as well.

Long-held traditions like the cake-cutting ceremony and the ‘Table of the ‘Fallen’ were joined by the new-to-Beaver Area’s JROTC (but an old military tradition) ‘Grog Bowl.’ For the ‘Grog Bowl’ ceremony, senior cadets each add a symbolic ingredient to the punch bowl mix before the grog is shared.

A big part of the evening is honoring cadets’ achievements, or as SGM Weaver said of the night: “[it’s] a formal event centered around honoring the tremendous job our cadets have done this ‘year of years.’”

The most distinguished cadets honored at the ceremony included: LET 1: PFC Olivia St Esprit, LET 2: SSGT Caled Starkey, LET 3: 1st LT Erin Bell, and LET 4: MAJ C.J. Oravitz.

Oravitz also was crowned king of the ball along with queen Carly Ward.

Despite changes and restrictions, a modified Mil Ball is better than no Mil Ball at all.

“It was nice to have a ceremony this year, unlike last year,” said junior Mason McCarty-Cogis. “I’m glad everyone stayed safe, as we were trying our best to!”

As SGM Weaver said, “this is the first true gathering of our student body since Covid hit so we hope that it's the beginning to normalcy in this particular arena.”