The Mount Miguel Army JROTC Academic Bowl Team – comprising cadets Iker Quintero, Jaleel Raban, and Seane Vidal – has earned a place in the 2025 U.S. Army JROTC Academic Bowl Championship scheduled for June 20-24, at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

The team’s performance in the preliminary rounds placed them among the elite 32 teams in the nation, earning them an all-expenses-paid trip to the National Championship. The cadets were tested in math, science, language arts, current events, citizenship, leadership, and financial literacy.

“This is an incredible accomplishment for our cadets who earned top honors among the 2,011 teams worldwide,” said Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Laurie Medina, Mount Miguel’s Army JROTC Armysenior instructor. “Competing at the national level is a testament to their focus and perseverance,” she added.

“Mount Miguel High School is excited to see our students thrive on a national stage,” said Mount Miguel Principal Christina Terrones. “This competition showcases not only these students’ academic strengths but also their preparation and dedication – exactly the type of characteristics our Army JROTC program aims to instill in our students,” Terrones added.

The Army JROTC program, taught in high schools across the country, focuses on character development, student achievement, wellness, leadership, discipline, and community service. It is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Army and participating schools, with curriculum facilitated by retired Army personnel with over 20 years of service.

Mount Miguel’s Army JROTC Program holds the “Honor Unit with Distinction” designation – the highest JROTC recognition awarded by the U.S. Army – symbolized by a gold star worn proudly on each cadet’s uniform. Cadets graduate equipped to lead in a diverse global workforce, serve their communities, and uphold the values of character and civic responsibility.

Dr. Theresa Tran, a 2008 Mount Miguel graduate, former JROTC Battalion Commander, and now a practicing physician, described her time in the program as “one of the most memorable experiences” of her high school years. “It set the foundation for my understanding of discipline, commitment, and leadership,” she said.

The JROTC Leadership & Academic Bowl is a nationally recognized competition sponsored by the U.S. Army JROTC and organized by the College Options Foundation, a nonprofit organization that has supported JROTC cadets for nearly two decades through academic enrichment, college preparation, and mentorship.

(Courtesy photo)