Press release from Henderson County Public Schools:
In conjunction with the East Henderson High Air Force Junior ROTC annual Warrior Day competition May 21, and just a few weeks before Memorial Day, the JROTC unit is reinstating the Jessie Cassada JROTC Memorial Scholarship at East.
A 2007 East Henderson graduate, Cassada joined the Marine Corps and died in 2009 at the age of 19 while serving in Afghanistan. A scholarship was established in 2010 in his memory for graduating East Henderson JROTC cadets, but hasn’t received the funding to provide college tuition assistance in the past two years.
The school’s Air Force Junior ROTC is reviving the scholarship, and has already raised $1,000 in an endowed fund with the Henderson County Education Foundation. Instructors Lt. Col. John Wilkerson and Msgt. Michael Jensen are working to raise awareness of and support for the Jessie Cassada JROTC Memorial Scholarship at this year’s Warrior Day competition at East Henderson on Saturday, May 21 (Armed Forces Day), from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
East’s cadets and JROTC teams from nine other area high schools will compete in a series of athletic events culminating in a demanding, but fun obstacle course. A traveling trophy will be awarded to the event champion. A competition schedule, including event times for all schools, will be released approximately a week before the competition.
Scheduled to compete:
1. Air Force JROTC, Chapman High School, Inman, SC
2. Air Force JROTC, East Henderson High School
3. Air Force JROTC, Enka High School, Candler, NC
4. Army JROTC, Erwin High School, Asheville, NC
5. Air Force JROTC, North Henderson High School
6. Marine Corps JROTC, R-S Central High School, Rutherfordton, NC
7. Air Force JROTC, Swain High School, Bryson City, NC
8. Air Force JROTC, T.C. Roberson High School, Asheville, NC
9. Air Force JROTC, Tuscola High School, Waynesville, NC
10. Army JROTC, West Henderson High School
Tax deductible donations to the scholarship endowment may be made using a credit card by visiting the Education Foundation website (hcefnc.org) or by sending a check or money order to: Henderson County Education Foundation, P.O. Box 1267, Hendersonville, NC 28793. Be sure to write “Jessie Cassada Scholarship” in the memo area.
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