Fourteen Air Force Junior ROTC cadets from Emerald High School attended the ConverseCollege Cadet Leadership School in Spartanburg, South Carolina from July 10 to 17, 2010.  This year’s school included 330 cadets and 36 instructors representing 22 high schools from Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.  Attending for the first time were Cadets Ian Acton, Jeremy Bowie, Elisha Mainville, Antonio Stevens, Tamarcus Turner, Christopher Welborn, and Samantha Wood. Second-year attendees, Cadets Nickolas Boswell, Elizabeth Gilchrist, Alexander Ratliff, and Jubilee Smith served as student leaders while other second- year cadets Ciera Edwards and Arsenio Lewis were student evaluators.  Cadet Brian Hicks, completing his third year, held a deputy group commander position.    

Cadets started their days at 5:30 a.m. with physical training which included stretching exercises, push-ups, sit-ups, and a mile run.  The cadets also participated in room and personal appearance inspections.  These activities developed teamwork and attention to detail.  Leadership skills were augmented on the drill pad, parade grounds, and the classroom where students learned about values, management, and communication skills.  Cadets met leadership goals, adhered to tight schedules, and worked as a team while maintaining a positive, can-do attitude.  Additionally, in the evenings, cadets met on the tennis courts for the rousing Tennis Court Volleyball tournament before they headed back to their rooms to prepare for the next day’s activities.   Long hours of training and personal challenges in time management and skill development helped students prepare for the real world.

At week’s end, a formal military parade and awards ceremony was held and attended by several hundred parents and friends to honor the accomplishments of the cadets.  Individual awards earned by Emerald’s cadets were as follows:

• Cadet Ciera Edwards - Veterans of Foreign Wars Outstanding Standardization/Evaluation Staff Cadre Award and Bronze Eagle, Leadership Ribbon Award, Co-Curricular Activities Leadership Ribbon Award, Outstanding Cadet Ribbon Award, Physical Fitness Ribbon Award, Summer Leadership School Ribbon Award
  
• Cadet Alexander Ratliff - Air Force Sergeants Association Outstanding Flight Cadre Award and Bronze Eagle, Leadership Ribbon Award, Co-Curricular Activities Leadership Ribbon Award, Outstanding Cadet Ribbon Award, Physical Fitness Ribbon Award, Summer Leadership School Ribbon Award 
• Cadet Christopher Welborn - Honor Graduate Award and Plaque (He had the second highest score out of 175 basic cadets in the five evaluated areas), Academic Ribbon Award and Plaque for having the highest academic score at the school, Outstanding Flight Ribbon Award, Physical Fitness Ribbon Award, Summer Leadership School Ribbon Award
  
• Cadet Jeremy Bowie - Tennis Court Volleyball Championship AFJROTC Co-Curricular Activities Leadership Ribbon Award, Physical Fitness Ribbon Award, Summer Leadership School Ribbon Award
  
• Cadet Nickolas Boswell - Outstanding Flight Ribbon Award, Leadership Ribbon Award, Co-Curricular Activities Leadership Ribbon Award, Physical Fitness Ribbon Award, Summer Leadership School Ribbon Award
• Cadet Elizabeth Gilchrist - Leadership Ribbon Award, Co-Curricular Activities Leadership Ribbon Award, Physical Fitness Ribbon Award, Summer Leadership School Ribbon Award
• Cadet Brian Hicks - Leadership Ribbon Award, Co-Curricular Activities Leadership Ribbon Award, Physical Fitness Ribbon Award, Summer Leadership School Ribbon Award
• Cadet Arsenio Lewis - Leadership Ribbon Award, Co-Curricular Activities Leadership Ribbon Award, Physical Fitness Ribbon Award, Summer Leadership School Ribbon Award
• Cadet Jubilee Smith - Leadership Ribbon Award, Co-Curricular Activities Leadership Ribbon Award, Physical Fitness Ribbon Award, Summer Leadership School Ribbon Award