Como Park Senior High School

MCJROTC earns national honor again

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The Marine Corps JROTC (Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) at Como has been recognized as a Naval Honor School Program for a seventh time.
The award is reserved for the top 20% of all MCJROTC programs across the nation. For the 2021-22 school year, Como’s standing was in the top percentile. The evaluation by a national board placed Como’s program as second in the country.
The award and ranking are based on several factors including unit enrollment, volunteer campaigns, cadet citizenship, leadership camps, competitions, grade point averages, extra-curricular activities, public affairs, scholarships, MCJROTC academies, national level competitions and unit camaraderie.
To provide insight to those areas, 118 of Como’s 1094 students were enrolled in the Marine Corps JROTC last year. Nearly 11% of Como students are committed to the program’s rigor and high expectations that included a collective 3,336 hours of community service at 34 different events.
Twenty-two seniors in the program earned a total of $446,150 in academic scholarships. An Academic Bowl team qualified for a third straight year of national competition, the male physical fitness team qualified for nationals, as did an Orienteering team who placed first in Minnesota.
Como’s resume is rich in credentials and achievements above and beyond what’s briefly listed here. But what really makes the program effective, that is harder to quantify, is the spirit and unity of teenagers from diverse backgrounds. They take pride and ownership of consistent excellence, persevering through personal and societal challenges.
“Each year we feel the pressure to uphold the highest of standards and proficiency for our program,” said senior Jesiah Mason, this year’s Cadet Commanding Officer. “The cadets are always hungry for action and the cadet senior leadership will again prove the wolf is only as strong as its pack. Teamwork!”
Sgt. Major James C. Kirkland is proud of the program, explaining “there remains a steadfast level of pride, maturity and discipline built into each school year in which the littlest of things really matter.”
Como staff members who have witnessed the influence of this award-winning program over the years will confirm – attention to details and consistently doing the little things right have made a big difference for the cadets and the Como community.

AP Government students fundraising
After a two-year pandemic hiatus, seniors studying AP Government and Politics are once again set for a week of study in the Close Up Washington D.C. program.
Fifteen students are actively fundraising for their February field trip. Beyond part-time jobs (including serving as election judges) the students will be bagging groceries for customers at Cub Foods on Country Road B in Maplewood on Nov. 19 and Dec. 10.
Donations to support this immersive educational experience are always needed. Contact eric.erickson@spps.org if you’re interested in supporting the effort.

AP Night at Como Nov. 15
Prospective students and families who would like to learn more about Como’s college-level coursework are invited to the school library on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 6:30 p.m. Como faculty and students will share their experiences in Advanced Placement, concurrent enrollment, and post-secondary education options. Light refreshments will be served.

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