MONROE — Six Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets from Union County high schools were presented with Patriot Awards at Monday’s Union County Board of Commissioners meeting.

The Patriot Award was established in 2002 by the Union County Board of Commissioners to recognize one outstanding JROTC cadet from each of the high school programs in Union County. Recipient are selected for the award for demonstrating a high degree of patriotism, leadership, military bearing, scholarship and general excellence. This year’s recipients are:

• Cadet Lt. Cmdr. Cameron Howard of Forest Hills High School. Howard is a recent distinguished graduate of the Cadet Leadership Academy. He was selected to represent Forest Hills at the Cadet Leadership Academy along with 100 other cadets from North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

• Cadet Capt. Anthony McBride of the Monroe High School Air Force JROTC. McBride is serving his fourth year in JROTC, and is a member of both the honor guard and drill team. For the past two summers, McBride has attended Cadet Officer Leadership School at The Citadel in Charleston, S.C. He is a member of the track and cross country teams and performs community service for the Union County Hospice auction, Toys for Tots, and Turning Point.

• Cadet Maj. Caleb Hutson of Parkwood High School. Hutson is a cadet group commander in Union County’s newest JROTC program. He represented Parkwood at The Citadel’s Cadet Officer Leadership School this past summer. Largely because of Hutson’s efforts in establishing and meeting unit goals, Parkwood’s JROTC earned its second consecutive Distinguished Unit Award from Headquarters Air Force JROTC for the 2008-2009 school year. He will attend college at The Citadel.

• Cadet Maj. Bryce Powers of Piedmont High School. Powers has excelled in all positions of leadership in Piedmont’s unit, working his way up to his current position of vice commander. He organizes cadet community service events, social activities and leads after school drill team practice at Piedmont High School.

• Cadet Lt. Col. Charles Dellinger, corps commander of Porter Ridge High School’s Air Force JROTC unit. He commands the JROTC unit while commuting from a neighboring school. He organizes cadets for various community service projects and assigns positions while maintaining order. Dellinger leads drill practices after school at Porter Ridge and ensures the daily reveille/retreat ceremonies are conducted at the flag pole.

• Cadet Master Chief Christian Rhone of Sun Valley High School. Rhone serves as chief master at arms in the Sun Valley High School Navy JROTC unit. She also plays volleyball, softball, basketball and runs indoor track. Rhone volunteers at Lake Park Nursing home, works at Office Max and tutors elementary through high school students.

The awards were presented by Union County Veterans Service Officer Michelle Marcano, Assistant Veterans Service Officer Anthony Parker, and Assistant County Manager Matthew Delk.