Four cadets from Hahnville High School competed in the 2026 JROTC Leadership and Academic Bowl Championship in Washington, D.C. in early June.
Kaitlyn Zhang, Owen Price, Kaleigh Ledet and Cecelia Price competed against 5,000 teams worldwide to become one of only 108 teams to compete at the championship. It was the first time since 2010 that Hahnville made it to the finals.
Master Sergeant Richard Lochren, instructor of the Hahnville JROTC program, said making it to the finals is a direct reflection of the program.
“Just as athletes compete on the fields and courts, our cadet scholars compete with their minds,” Lochren said. “Our school and community should be proud of this team’s accomplishment.”
The team included four primary members and two students who served as alternates: Sebastian Fahrig and Micah Broomfield.
“They were instrumental in helping us achieve the scores needed during the first two rounds to advance to the finals,” Lochren said. “Their contributions were vital to the team’s success and deserve recognition alongside this outstanding achievement.”
During the championship, academic teams demonstrated their knowledge in math, science, and language arts, while leadership teams showcased their understanding of leadership principles, citizenship, and decision-making. All competitors faced questions on current events, financial literacy and critical thinking under pressure.
The JROTC Leadership & Academic Bowl emphasizes scholarship, teamwork, service and leadership development.
“Participation at this level reflects months of hard work, preparation and dedication,” Lochren said.
Lochren said he hopes the experience taught cadets that hard work will always pay off in the end.
“Representing their school, community and the JROTC program on a national stage is a tremendous accomplishment,” he said. “They saw firsthand how consistent effort and good study habits lead to success.”
