These Cadets Are Leading Now — and Honoring a Marine’s Legacy
Concerned Veterans for America Foundation honors leadership early by recognizing young people who are already stepping up to serve others, lead well, and strengthen their communities.
Few embodied those traits more fully than Staff Sgt. Jeremy D. Smith.
After enlisting in the Marine Corps in 2003, he completed three combat tours in Iraq. He later volunteered for another deployment because he didn’t want the Marines he trained to go into combat without him.
In 2011, during his fourth deployment to Afghanistan, he was killed in action.
Staff Sgt. Smith put others first. And he never stepped away from responsibility.
Through the SSgt Jeremy D. Smith Exemplary Service Award, CVA Foundation carries that mission forward by honoring JROTC cadets who reflect the same values of service, sacrifice, and responsibility.
This year’s awardees were singled out for going above and beyond ― in the classroom, in their communities, and in their commitment to serving others.
The 2026 award winners, in order from left to right, are:
- Joana Ezepue ― San Angelo Central High School
- Rylan Huber ― San Angelo Central High School
- Felicity Jones ― Abilene High School
- Deborah Roberts-Shah ― Hendrickson High School
- Lilly Shakya ― McAllen Memorial High School
As CVA Foundation Brand Development Director Kandace Buchanan said, “JROTC cadets are already in a league of their own, but these five took it a step further throughout the year to show what it means to serve.”
Their hard work and dedication reflect the same commitment to duty and country that defined Staff Sgt. Smith.
As part of their recognition, CVA Foundation brought the cadets to Washington, D.C., where they experienced the foundations of our nation and the values of service in a powerful way.
One of the highlights of the trip was a visit to the National Museum of the Marine Corps.
There, the cadets walked through exhibits that bring Marine history to life ― from the chaos of the Iwo Jima landing to the frozen hills of the Chosin Reservoir. They stood beneath suspended aircraft and towering artifacts, surrounded by stories of courage, sacrifice, and leadership under pressure.
They saw what service looks like.
Moments like that connect the past to the present. They remind these cadets that the values they are practicing now ― discipline, teamwork, and service ― are the same ones that have defined generations of Marines, including Staff Sgt. Smith.
You can see the group touring the museum below.
Today’s cadets may not yet wear the uniform, but they are already living out those same principles. Through academic effort, leadership in their units, and service in their communities, they are building the foundation for a life of purpose.
They’ve demonstrated:
- Leadership beyond expectations
- A strong commitment to community service
- Academic discipline and focus
- A clear sense of patriotism and responsibility
These are the habits that shape future leaders, the kind our country will depend on in the years ahead.
They will also leave this experience with more than recognition. They return home with perspective ― a clearer understanding of service, sacrifice, and what it means to lead.
At the CVA Foundation, the belief that leadership should be developed early and nurtured drives the mission to connect, educate, and empower the military community.
That mission includes the next generation, these young leaders who are already stepping up and making a difference.
Programs like the SSgt Jeremy D. Smith Exemplary Service Award help build that foundation early. They give cadets the opportunity to serve, lead, and grow into citizens who strengthen their communities and our country.
These five cadets are already doing that.
And they’re just getting started.
[Watch the video to see these cadets in action and hear their stories.]
Click here to learn more about the Concerned Veterans for America Foundation and its mission.
