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Five Okaloosa County JROTC cadets receive scholarships from Air and Space Forces Association

The Air and Space Forces Association Eglin Chapter awarded five scholarships to cadets from Niceville, Choctawhatchee and Fort Walton Beach High Schools during a reception at Eglin Air Force Base.
Photo credit: Keith Clift, Father of Cadet Owen Clift

Five JROTC cadets from Okaloosa County schools received prestigious scholarships from the Air and Space Forces Association (AFA) Eglin Chapter Education Foundation at a special reception Tuesday.

The scholarship awards were presented April 15 at the Air Force Armament Museum at Eglin Air Force Base to cadets representing JROTC programs from three local high schools.

Recipients included:

  • Cadet Penelope Ashby, Niceville High School – Maggie Hsu Scholarship
  • Cadet Layth Atrakchi, Choctawhatchee High School – Cliff Long, Sr. Leadership Scholarship
  • Cadet Owen Clift, Niceville High School – Jimmy Doolittle Scholarship
  • Cadet Lincoln Dooley, Niceville High School – General Bill Kirk Scholarship
  • Cadet Chriscelle Pardillo, Fort Walton Beach High School – Jerry Nabors Memorial Scholarship

“These cadets exemplify the values of leadership, service, and excellence that define our JROTC programs,” said Superintendent Marcus Chambers. “We are incredibly proud of their achievements and thankful to the Air and Space Forces Association Eglin Chapter for investing in their futures.”

Chambers added that the cadets “represent the very best of Okaloosa County, and we know they will go on to do great things.”

The Okaloosa County School District says they remains committed to supporting JROTC programs, which continue to shape the next generation of leaders both in the community and across the nation.

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