NHS students awarded Rotary Club scholarships

The Rotary Club of Navarre presented two $1,000-scholarships to recently graduated Navarre High School NJROTC Cadets.

The cadets were chosen based on their outstanding demonstration of pride and leadership in the Navarre community while upholding Rotary Club ideals, which is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise.

Jessica Hurd joined the Raider Battalion NJROTC during her freshman year and quickly rose through the ranks. During her sophomore year she was awarded the “Iron Cadet” award for her Physical Fitness Scores. She received numerous individual awards for placing top two in overall female sit-ups at every drill meeting.
While in her senior year, Hurd was promoted to Command Master Chief and led physical training and Unarmed Girl’s Exhibition drill teams.

Robert Bower joined the Raider Battalion NJROTC during his freshman year and quickly exhibited his leadership skills as he utilized what he had learned as an Air Force family member. He lived in Virginia, Oklahoma, Korea, Alaska and Canada before coming to Navarre. Bower won numerous awards and decorations for his leadership and dedication.

His favorite service project was supporting the Emerald Coast Honor Flight program.
Bower was selected as Battalion Executive Officer his senior year. Throughout high school, Bower maintained high grades and was a top candidate for the U.S. Air Force Academy and West Point and secured a four-year Air Force ROTC scholarship. Unfortunately, due to an allergic reaction to a wasp sting in 2008, he was disqualified from the service academies. Bower had already departed to Ohio State University, and the Rotary Club of Navarre presented his scholarship to his parents, Bob