Hawkins County board recognizes high ACT scorers and Volunteer High JROTC achievements

The Hawkins County Board of Education on June 5 recognized three Altair High School students who scored above a 30 on the ACT and received a presentation from Volunteer High School’s Navy JROTC unit summarizing the program’s activities and accomplishments.

Doctor Sturgill introduced the academic recognitions, saying the district had three students who scored above a 30 on the ACT — a score achieved by fewer than 5% of test takers, he noted. Sturgill named the students and gave available details: Connor Burns (composite score 30; top 10% of his class; 4.0 GPA; planning to attend East Tennessee State University and a recipient of a Presidential College scholarship), Caleb Massengill (composite score 31; top 10% of his class; planning to attend the University of Tennessee) and Maddie Crowder (composite score 30; identified as class valedictorian/number one in class rank; reported to have started a medical‑field job and plans to attend East Tennessee State University). The meeting transcript did not provide a reliable numeric value for Crowder’s class average, so that figure is listed as not specified.

Volunteer High School’s JROTC instructors and cadet leaders then presented. The instructor summarized the program’s origin (authorized by public law in 1964 and codified in Title 10, U.S. Code, Chapter 102), described its curriculum (Naval Science 1–4), and emphasized that the unit is a citizenship and leadership program rather than a military recruiting program.

Cadet senior leaders described the unit’s leadership team and accomplishments in the 2024–25 school year: longstanding distinguished unit status, success in rifle and drill competitions, state and national placements for individual cadets (including Chloe Capetto’s shooting placements), the addition of a drone program this year, community service such as food drives and flag ceremonies, trips (including Parris Island and multiple rifle competitions) and goals for 2025–26 (raise $10,000, increase community service hours to about 1,500, pursue distinguished unit status in 2026 and increase cadet fitness pass rates).

Director Hixson and board members thanked the students and the JROTC unit for their presentations. One board member asked whether most JROTC students enlist after high school; the instructor replied that this year one cadet enlisted in the Navy and five were heading to four‑year universities.

Ending The recognitions and presentation were ceremonial and informational; no formal board action was taken on these items at the meeting.