FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Tampa, Fl. (May 19, 2026) – A Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) student has achieved one of the highest honors in Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) history.
Cadet/Major Arthi Gouravelli, a junior at Middleton High School, has been named the national recipient of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) JROTC Award—ranking her as the No. 1 JROTC cadet among more than 600,000 students worldwide across all branches of service.
Gouravelli’s recognition reflects an extraordinary level of leadership, academic excellence, character, and commitment. Her journey to the top began at the local level, where she was selected by the Tampa SAR Chapter. She advanced to win at the state level in Florida before earning the highest honor at the national level, surpassing cadets from across the nation and Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) schools overseas.
This distinction places Gouravelli at the very top of more than 3,400 JROTC programs worldwide, representing all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, including:
1,700 Army JROTC programs serving more than 314,000 cadets
878 Air Force JROTC programs serving more than 125,000 cadets
573 Navy JROTC programs serving approximately 100,000 cadets
278 Marine Corps JROTC programs serving approximately 50,000 cadets
Additional programs representing the Coast Guard and Space Force
“This incredible achievement places Cadet Gouravelli among the very best student leaders in the world,” said Superintendent Van Ayres. “Her dedication, discipline and commitment to excellence reflect the strength of our district’s JROTC programs and the opportunities we provide for students to lead, serve and succeed at the highest levels.”
Gouravelli’s recognition not only brings pride to Middleton High School but also to the entire HCPS community.
To learn more about JROTC programs available at HCPS, visit hillsboroughschools.org.