The Individual Major Awards competition is an interview board process system that selects the most outstanding [...]]]> Cadets from the California Cadet Corps at Riverside Preparatory School competed
in the annual California Cadet Corps, 18th Brigade (High Desert), Individual Major Award’s competition on
Saturday, March 6, 2010 at Victor Valley High School.

The Individual Major Awards competition is an interview board process system that selects the most
outstanding cadets. It is an opportunity for the best cadets to demonstrate their competency at basic Cadet
Corps knowledge, current events, and speaking skills. A panel that consisted of soldiers from Fort Irwin,
local veteran organizations, and local clergy interviewed cadets. Cadets were asked verbal questions from
the eight Cadet Corps standards and delivered a 3-minute speech on a current event.

Riverside Preparatory School Cadets competed in four categories: Junior Division Outstanding First Year
Cadet, Junior Division Outstanding Non-Commissioned Officer, Junior Division Outstanding Overall
Cadet and Senior Division Outstanding First Year Cadet. Junior Division cadets competed against 7
Middle Schools in the High Desert and Senior Division cadets competed against 6 High Schools in the High Desert.

3rd Place Junior Division Outstanding First Year Cadet – Cadet First Class Stephanie Davis
1st Place Junior Division Outstanding Non-Commissioned Officer – Cadet Corporal Derek Newman
1st Place Junior Division Outstanding Overall Cadet – Cadet Corporal Blake Collum
1st Place Senior Division Outstanding First Year Cadet – Cadet First Class Vincent Sunseri

First Place winners will advance to the California Cadet Corps State Championship to be held Saturday,
April 10, 2010 at Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base.

The California Cadet Corps has been developing leaders since 1911 and is the oldest school based youth
leadership development program of its kind in the United States and is currently administered by the
California National Guard. The Program strives to develop leadership, citizenship, patriotic spirit, fitness
and personal health/wellness, and academic success in its members, as well as promoting knowledge of
basic military subjects. Currently in more than 100 elementary, middle, and high schools across the state,
the California Cadet Corps serves 10,000 students annually.