AFJROTC Cadet Earns Full Ride Scholarship

Howell High School Air Force JROTC Cadet Earns Full Ride Scholarship
Posted on 01/26/2024
 The image shows a young man with short hair smiling at the camera. He is wearing a dark green t-shirt with "HOWELL AFJROTC" printed on it, which stands for Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps of Howell. He is standing in front of a large letter "H" mounted on a wall, which is part of a logo or emblem, likely representing Howell High School or the organization he is affiliated with. The letter "H" is in a bold, varsity-style font and is colored yellow. The wall behind him is painted in two tones: the upper part is a dark color and the lower part is white.1/26/2024 - John Runyan, a Howell High School senior and Cadet Major in the school's Air Force Junior ROTC (AFJROTC) program, has been selected to receive the J-100 AFJROTC Character-in-Leadership Scholarship. Awarded annually to 100 cadets nationwide, the J-100 Scholarship is a four-year, full-ride scholarship with a yearly allowance for housing and books. The J-100 scholarship program focuses on leadership, citizenship, and diversity and seeks to inspire future leaders to seek careers within the US Air Force and Space Force. Cadet Runyan earning the scholarship marks the second year in a row that a Howell High School AFROTC cadet has been awarded the J-100 Scholarship.

"It (the J-100 scholarship) is a full-ride scholarship to any college that has Air Force ROTC, and after four years of college, you become an officer in the Air Force. It's a really great scholarship," said Runyan. "Only 100 cadets get it, so to be one of those 100 out of almost 900 Air Force Junior ROTC schools is just a huge honor."

"There are 870 AFJROTC units with approximately 90,000 cadets nationwide. Each program can nominate one cadet for the J-100 Scholarship, so it is very competitive. It is an extraordinary honor to receive it, and we are very proud of Cadet Major Runyan for this accomplishment, "said Senior Master Sgt. Kenneth J. Reinhart, U.S. Air Force (Ret.) and Howell High School aerospace science instructor. "Cadet Runyan's selection for the scholarship is a testament not only to his exceptional qualities as a cadet but also to the caliber of the young leaders we have in our program and at Howell High School."

Runyan has been accepted to Bowling Green State University and has several pending applications to other schools.

About the Air Force Junior ROTC Program
The Air Force Junior ROTC program aims to help high school students become better citizens and leaders by instilling a sense of responsibility, character, and self-discipline. The program promotes community service, education excellence, teamwork, fitness, and personal development for success.