New Hyde Park Memorial Alum Receives ROTC Award

On March 8, 2013, Army Cadet Albert L. Dela Pena from New Hyde Park received the George C. Marshall Award during an awards ceremony at the Marshall Center, Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA.

“My father was a military officer back in the Philippines and he raised us with similar values to the american way of life,” said Dela Pena, who is a member of the New Hyde Park Memorial Class of 2009 and is studying philosphy and taking pre-med courses.

The award is named in the honor and legacy of General of the Army George C. Marshall, who served in World War II as the Army Chief of Staff and in the post-war era served as secretary of state and secretary of defense.

The award is presented annually to the most outstanding senior Army ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) cadets in military science studies and leadership values in each battalion at host universities or colleges. Top cadets from each cadet battalion represent the very best of a highly selective organization. This is a national award and the highest award an ROTC cadet can receive.

The cadets participate in focus groups and round table discussions and lectures on the theme of the national security of the U.S. and the Army's security role in the international arena. Cadets receive formal speeches from the highest echelons of the U.S. Army's leadership ranks, scholars and experts in the area of national defense.

Dela Pena is a student at St. John’s University, Jamiaca and is the son of Teresita Dela Pena of West End Avenue, New Hyde Park. He is a member of the New Hyde Park Memorial Class of 2009.

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