A night of fine dining, awards, and dancing was Military Ball in a nutshell.

With the doors opening at 5 p.m. and the receiving line starting at 5:30 p.m., the JROTC’s Mil Ball at Seven Oaks Country Club was up and running after planning since the beginning of the school year.

The receiving line consisted of members of the head table including seniors CSM Olivia Kullen and BNCO Erin Bell, SGM Oscar Weaver, COL Deborah Wilson and her wife, and Principal Sean Snowden and his wife.

Cadets would introduce themselves to each person in this line, as well as introducing their dates, then proceed into the main room to find their seat at their assigned table.

As soon as all attendees took their seats, the color guard posted the colors for Nevaeh Weaver to sing the National Anthem to kick off the night.

Following this, diner was served!

Prior to the event, attendees picked from steak dinner, chicken dinner, or vegetarian dinner which they were served accordingly. Along with dinner, a soda bar was also offered if people wanted to drink something other than the provided water.

Towards the end of dinner, a cadet from each LET level 1-4 gave a speech reflecting on the year and their experience in the JROTC program. Freshman Ava Sutter gave the LET 1 speech, sophomore Klayton Kaunert gave the LET 2 speech, junior Delaney Young gave the LET 3 speech, and senior Alyssa Tuccinard gave the LET 4 speech.

Following speeches, scholarships were awarded to seniors in the program who showed outstanding leadership and citizenship throughout their high school experience.

After scholarships where given out to deserving seniors, next was the awards ceremony.

Awards where given for cadets who excelled in academics, leadership, athletics, citizenship, music, determination, and more both in and out of the program.

Many awards were given from one of the branches of the military or from COL or SGM themselves.

Following the awards it was time to say farewell to the program’s seniors.

Each senior (with their date) was able to walk under the honor guards’ sword bridge. While they walked, the song of their choice was played along with a slideshow with a montage of pictures from their childhood to now.

Concluding the formal part of the night was the crowning of the Mil Ball king and queen. Senior Mason McCarty-Cogis was crowned king and Kullen and Bell were crowned the queens after the votes were tied.

At this point in the night, Mil Ball was running a bit behind schedule since the award ceremony and speeches had run over their time limit, so much of the dancing time was threatened. Saving the day, Col. Wilson made arrangements to extend the fun for an hour from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.

During the open dancing time, a picture booth was also offered.

Attendees would have three chances to have a picture taken with props. Then the pictures would immediately be printed out for each person in the picture to take home as a keepsake.

Cadets spent the rest of the night dancing with their dates and fellow cadets!

“This year’s Military Ball was my favorite of the few I’ve been to, which is a great note to end on as I wrap up my senior year. I really enjoyed being able to reward everyone for their hard work not only with scholarships or medals, but with a night of fun and laughter which strayed away from our normal early mornings filled with discipline,” Bell reflected.