CONTACT: Elvia Perez Cano
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2022
Los Angeles Unified Student Is Awarded the National Legion of Valor Bronze Cross for Achievement
Los Angeles, CA (September 30, 2022) — Los Angeles Unified Officials and the Lincoln High School community came together to celebrate Abraham Lincoln High School Junior Reserve Training Corps. (JROTC) student – Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Yingyin Tan – during a special ceremony where she was presented with the Legion of Valor Bronze Cross for Achievement. This award provided by the Legion of Valor is the highest award for achievement in academics, military training, and community service in JROTC programs.
Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Yingyin Tan is the first Los Angeles Unified student since 2009 to receive this prestigious Bronze Cross Award. To earn this national recognition, students who exemplify a high level of scholastic excellence in military and academic subjects must be nominated at their unit level during their junior year for consideration. Cadets’ applications then go through a rigorous selection process, where they are finally selected by the Legion of Valor and Awards Chairman. This year, only 49 high school cadets nationwide are the recipients of the Legion of Valor Bronze Cross for Achievement Award.
"The entire Los Angeles Unified family is very proud of Yingyin Tan, the Battalion Commander for the Army Junior ROTC program at Abraham Lincoln High School,” Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho said. “Earning the Legion of Valor Bronze Cross is no easy task and is one of the most prestigious awards that a Junior ROTC cadet can receive from any of the five Junior ROTC Services: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Congratulations to Class of 2023 Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Tan, who will enter the workforce ‘College and Career Ready’ and as a distinguished Los Angeles Unified alum.”
"Congratulations, Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Yingyin Tan for your outstanding achievements in military training, academics and leadership!" Board Member Mónica García said. "We are proud of Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Tan and the village that supported this moment for her, especially the Abraham Lincoln High School community. We are certain that she will lead this country in different capacities and look forward to her future accomplishments! Brava!"
“We are beyond proud of Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Yingyin Tan and Abraham Lincoln High School’s ROTC program,” Local District East Superintendent Jose P. Huerta said. “Her commitment and hard work in her military and academic studies is commendable and much deserving of this national recognition. Congratulations, Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Tan, you are an inspiration and role model to the entire Los Angeles Unified community!”
"On behalf of over 300,000 Army Junior ROTC Cadets at over 1,700 High Schools worldwide, I want to express my heartfelt Congratulations to Lieutenant Colonel Yingyin Tan, the Tiger Battalion Commander at Abraham Lincoln High School, for her amazing accomplishments in the areas of Academics, Leadership, and Physical Fitness,” Colonel (Retired) Darryl W. Hensley, Los Angeles Unified Director of Army Instruction said. “These three Junior ROTC traits helped her earn the prestigious Legion of Valor Bronze Cross Award. Once again, Congratulations on a Job Well Done!"
“I am so extremely proud of Cadet Tan,” Abraham Lincoln High School Master Sergeant Herbert Harris said. “She was invited to the Nationals for two different academic events, which is very, very difficult to do and achieve in the same year. I am confident that Cadet Tan’s success will continue throughout her life journey.” “Cadet Tan’s receiving of the Legion of Valor Bronze Cross for Achievement today is well deserved,” Abraham Lincoln Principal Rose Anne Ruiz said. “It is the Legion of Valor’s only award for cadets and involves an evaluation of not just academics and leadership, but also physical fitness. The award is given out to only 1 in every 4,000 JROTC cadets, making it one of the most highly esteemed awards out there.”
After graduating from Abraham Lincoln High School, Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Yingyin Tan is hoping to continue her education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she intends to study biology and computer science
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