Military officials and community leaders, joined by Camden County Commissioner Melinda Kane, attended the 15th Annual Our Community Salutes (OCS) of South Jersey High School Enlistee Ceremony on May 9, 2023, as announced in a prepared statement.
The event honored graduating high school seniors in southern New Jersey who plan to enlist into the military immediately after high school graduation. These seniors represent just 1% of all high school graduates.
More than 400 people were in attendance, including local, state and national leaders.
The 2023 featured speakers included:
• Command Sergeant Major Michele S. Jones
• Medal of Honor Recipient Colonel Jack Jacob Jacobs
• Rear Admiral Alexis “Lex” Walker, Navy
• Major General William J. Bowers, Marines
“These remarkable young people are making a commitment to defend their country and our freedom, which deserves to be honored,” said Commissioner Kane. “This is a decision that so few people make and it’s imperative that our community supports them as they begin this new chapter of their lives.”
OCS was starting in Camden County, New Jersey in 2009. Today, OCS chapters exist in over 23 states, with more than 40 OCS ceremonies being conducted this spring.
Enlistees from Burlington, Camden, Gloucester & Salem Counties in New Jersey include:
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
Mallick Cohen – Burlington County Institute of Technology
Jade Gibson – Camden County Technical Schools, Gloucester Township Campus
Ethan Jones – Burlington County Institute of Technology
Joseph Labrosciano – Williamstown High School
Johnathan Morris – Northern Burlington County Regional High School
Jonathan Glen Phillips – Shawnee High School
Keith Ross – Sterling High School
Chloe Stephenson – Collingswood High School
Thomas Swanson – Triton Regional High School
Parthiv Valmikam – Northern Burlington County Regional High School
UNITED STATES ARMY
Trevor Bitter – Burlington County Institute of Technology
Michael Bluford – Clayton High School
William Borneo-Farmer – Lenape High School
Jade Brill – Penns Grove High School
Donavan Campbell – Timber Creek
Madison Carr – Cherry Hill East
Adam Dillard – Gloucester County Institute of Technology
Bryce Fox – Deptford Township High School
Jovani Jacob – Burlington County Institute of Technology
Francis M Jr. Kargbo – Burlington City High School
Daiana Melendez – Williamstown High School
Isaiah Roberts – Cherokee High School
Josef Robinson – Highland High School
Jaden Roldan – Cherry Hill East High School
Geovanni Sierra – Mastery High School of Camden
Ciara Singleton – Lenape High School
Brian Valentin-Quiles – Pennsauken
Chyianah Wilcox – The Kings Christian Academy
NEW JERSEY ARMY NATIONAL GUARD
Scarlet Cabrera Mateo – Gloucester Catholic High School
Ivan Cornelious – Salem High School
Eric Evans – Washington Township High School
Christian Ferreira – Delran High School
Victoria Fries – Eastern Regional High School
Bobby Hatterer – Gloucester City High School
Na’Cyer Jackson – Salem County Vocational Technical School
Pedro Matos Ojeda – Penns Grove High School
Patrick Norris – Kingsway Regional High School
Aidan Orourke – Seneca High School
Iyakiel Polanco – Pennsauken High School
Ryan Pulaski – Triton Regional High School
Brianna Razo – Highland Regional High School
NEW JERSEY ARMY RESERVE
Lam Nguyen – Glassboro High School
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
Emilio Aquino Lopez – Hammonton High School
Mario Benitez Martinez – Vineland High School
Ayden Brown – Salem County Vocational Technical School
Allen Cannizzaro – Morristown High School
Noah Clemens – Cape May Technical High School
Trent Doughty – Gloucester Catholic High School
Connor Dudley – Eastern Regional High School
Christopher Flannery – Accellus Academy
Aiden Ford – Kingsway Regional High School
Travis Gandy – Millville High School
Averill Goldsmith – Williamstown High School
Ethan Hicken – Highland Regional High School
Jacob Hitchner – Cumberland Regional High School
Justin Howe – Highland Regional High School
Daniel Hulmes – Washington Township High School
Alexzander Lewis – Clearview Regional High School
Allahja Loewy – Cherry Hill West High School
Jose Lopez – Bridgeton High School
Xavier Lowers-Gonzalez – Vineland High School
Kevin Merritt – Arthur P. Schalick High School
Charles Moser – West Deptford High School
Colin Olszewski – Wissahickon High School
Dillon Prim – Audubon High School
Jesus Reyes – Gloucester Catholic High School
Daniel Rivas – Haddon Heights High School
Andrew Rogers – Haddon Heights High School
Luz Roman – Vineland High School
Everton Sosa – Northern Burlington County Regional High School
Stan Swope – Atlantic County Institute of Technology
Nasir Thomas – Atlantic County Institute of Technology
Giovanna Viera – Winslow Township High School
UNITED STATES MARINE RESERVES
Shawn Amann – Sterling High School
Austin Forrester – Palmyra High School
Harry Hsieh – Absegami High School
Harley O’Brien – Lower Cape May Regional High School
Kevin Ortiz Gonzalez – Egg Harbor Township High School
Brandon Walsh – Triton Regional High School
Kyle Yeager. Jr. – Seneca High School
UNITED STATES NAVY
Gabrielle Dunfee – Cumberland Regional High School
Landon Gilcher – Delsea Regional High School
Keisy Gonzalezjr – Pennsauken High School
Jackson Hufty – Delsea Regional High School
James Kline-Daley – Cherokee High School
Madison Lawler – Washington Township High School
Gavin Moran – Gloucester County Institute of Technology
Nichole Quick – Pennsauken High School
Destiny Robinson – Eastern Regional High School
Juan Wilson – Burlington County Institute of Technology, Medford Campus
UNITED STATES NAVY RESERVE
Reese Holms – Highland Regional High School
Visit OurCommunitySalutes.org for more information.