Domonkos becomes first Kennedy student appointed to West Point

By Major Peppins & Sergeant First Class Burton 

Kennedy High School JROTC would like to congratulate Alyssa Domonkos on her recent Congressional appointment to the U.S. Army Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.  

This is the first time in the history of Kennedy High School that a student has received an appointment to West Point.  Domonkos also received a Senior ROTC Army scholarship to Western Michigan University, which she declined after receiving notification of the West Point appointment.  

She is a stellar student and JROTC cadet at Kennedy High School.  She is an avid athlete and an active participant on the high school and city softball teams.  Domonkos was also a member of the girls basketball team, where she is a team captain.  She is also a member of the Pom team, figure skating team and runs on the high school cross country team.  Her other extra-curricular school activities include Key Club, Link Crew, Quiz Bowl, Youth In Government and is she currently the class secretary for Student Council.

Her involvement in JROTC is impeccable and she currently holds the position of commandant, the highest attainable position in the JROTC program. Her endless efforts, selfless service and relentless positive attitude demonstrate her potential to succeed in any leadership position.  

She has participated in several annual canned food drives, the nationally renowned Toys for Tots campaign and spearheaded the annual Stockings for Soldiers campaign. This campaign is a service learning project designed to send certain items to deployed soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq during the Christmas season.  

She is major contributor in all extra-curricular activities and we would recommend her to facilitate any event that recognizes and stresses the importance of community or school service.  She is an active member and commander of the Kennedy High School JROTC armed and unarmed drill teams, which are school varsity recognized activities.  The drill team is successful, winning championships in many area competitions.  She has also won many national awards and commendations as a cadet in the JROTC Program.   

We are truly proud of Alyssa Domonkos and look forward to her future successes.

Congratulations are also in order for Tristin Simons.  

Simons received a three-year Senior Army ROTC scholarship to the University of Michigan and the University of Hawaii.  Simons accepted the University of Michigan scholarship. 

Simons is very pro-active in school and the surrounding community.  He is an avid athlete and an active participant on the high school and JROTC athletic teams.  A member of the varsity football and golf teams, the JROTC softball team and the JROTC Raider Challenge Team where he serves as the team commander. 

He is also an active member of the JROTC Sabre team drill team. His other extra-curricular school activities include Quiz Bowl, JROTC Academic Challenge Team and Student Council. He currently holds the position of Battalion Training Officer, the third highest position in the cadet corps.  Like Domonkos, he is very involved many extra-curricular activities. 

Our program would also like to congratulate Lance Aleshire and Cierra Rentas, who have enlisted in  U.S. Army, and Paris Bowens, who has enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve. 

Upon graduation, Aleshire will attend the U.S. Army Infantry School.   He aspires to become a Special Forces soldier after his completion of Infantry School and is also very involved with all facets of the JROTC program.  He is currently the battalion commander and the commander of the Platoon Armed Drill Team.  He has been a tremendous asset to the JROTC program during his high school tenure.  

Rentas will attend the U.S. Army Chemical School and train to be a nuclear, biological, and chemical specialist.  Rentas has also been in the JROTC program for four years.  

Bowens will attend training to become a dental hygienist.  He has also been a major contributor to the JROTC program participating in many community service events and drill teams during his time at Kennedy High School.

(Major Peppins and Sergeant Burton, the instructor group at Kennedy High School, will begin their 15^th year together as instructors.  They are a steadfast instructor group that has successfully taught and mentored young Americans longer than any other instructor group in 7^th Brigade.  They are proud of the successes of all cadets and will continue a winning tradition of excellence at Kennedy High School.)