KILLEEN, Texas – The 85th Civil Affairs Brigade presented outstanding achievement awards to students from the brigade’s adopted school Killen Independent School District Career and Technical Education or CATE, on May 17 during the school’s Military Appreciation Day.
Col. Leo Ruth II , commander of the 85th CA Brigade, and Cmd. Sgt. Maj. Mark Berry, senior brigade military adviser, presented the Warrior Diplomat Award certificates to the top honored students in each of the four CATE programs of Cosmetology, Welding, Health Science, and Audio Visual Productions. The awards were presented to students who earned the highest scholastic ranking and displayed outstanding leadership skills during the past academic year.
“You are the future” said Ruth during the award presentation. “As in the fourth leg of a relay team, we are handing the baton off to you and it is now up to you to run with it. And remember that it does not matter where you came from but where you are going that counts.”
The names of the students, who were nominated by the faculty at CATE for the 2012 Warrior Diplomat Awards, were Bria McIver for Cosmetology, Shivangi Patel for Health Science, Jesus Fernandez for Welding, and Ricque Salgado for Audio Visual Productions.
Although hand selected by the school for their academic and leadership achievements, some were left speechless when called before the crowded room.
“It’s an honor, thanks,” said Jesus Fernandez, a welding program student in his junior year.
As May is Military Appreciation Month, CATE wanted to take the opportunity to provide a heart-felt thanks to the 85th CA Brigade as their adopted unit during this past year.
Throughout the year, soldiers from the 85th CA Brigade volunteered their time to assist CATE with professional trainers to assist as instructors within the course of Certified Nurses Assistance Course, Principles of Health Science Course, Cosmetology, and Welding.
The brigade is excited in continuing the partnership with CATE next year as the school will be opening the doors to their new facility coming this fall.