The Joliet Central High School JROTC Leadership and Academic Teams recently returned from the National JROTC Bowl Championship held at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where they represented their school and community with distinction.

From June 15–24, 2025, the JROTC Leadership and Academic Bowl Championship brought together the top cadet teams from across the globe to compete in a fast-paced and highly challenging academic and leadership competition. The event is sponsored by the U.S. Army Cadet Command and conducted by the College Options Foundation.

Joliet Central’s Academic Team—composed of Felix Arcand, Erick-Isai Jolomna, Jhoana Figueroa, and Brian Baron—achieved an impressive 7th place finish out of 32 national finalists. The Leadership Team—made up of Nayeli Ortiz, Marjorie Santos, Chloe Van Ness, and Lacey Johnson—finished 26th out of 40 finalists. Both teams earned the honor of competing in Washington, D.C., after scoring among the top performers in earlier rounds against more than 2,000 academic teams and 1,400 leadership teams worldwide.

“The students demonstrated remarkable commitment, discipline, and teamwork throughout the year to qualify for the finals,” said JROTC Instructor Major Phil Jayko. “In Washington, they went above and beyond—performing with poise, confidence, and pride. We could not be more proud of how they represented Joliet Central and the City of Joliet on a national stage.”

The teams will be formally recognized at the Joliet City Council meeting on July 15, thanks to the efforts of City of Joliet Economic Development Director Paulina Martinez, Joliet Central Class of 2008. During the competition, cadets were tested on their knowledge of core subjects, leadership skills, current events, financial literacy, and the Army JROTC curriculum. The financial literacy materials were provided through sponsorship from the USAA Educational Foundation. The trip to the nation's capital also included the opportunity to visit historic landmarks such as the Lincoln Memorial, deepening cadets’ understanding of civic responsibility and history.

The JROTC Academic and Leadership Bowls are nationally recognized programs that promote academic excellence, leadership, citizenship, and college readiness among high school students. Participation in these competitions helps cadets gain confidence, sharpen their critical thinking skills, and explore higher education opportunities.