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We often hear of wild, undisciplined, badly behaved children and wonder what’s wrong with kids today. But, every year at this time, we are reminded that there are more good kids than bad, more young people with promising futures than those whose prospects are in doubt.

As it has for about 15 years, the Marco Island Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) honored two Lely High School student cadets of the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC).

Lt. Col. David Price (Ret.) the Sr. Army Instructor, selects the cadets for their academic excellence and citizenship.

At its March meeting this year at the Island Country Club, the DAR presented medals and scholarship money to two cadets from Marco Island, Jade Dworkin and Jordan Sorrenti.

There is not enough space here to recount their considerable accomplishments, but I’ll give you a glimpse.

Jade, a junior, is the JROTC Company Commander and the co–captain of the Florida State Championship Raider Team, which competes statewide in several fitness and field logistics categories. She not only excels in the classroom with a 4.56 GPA and membership in several honor societies but on the athletic field too, as Captain of the cross-country team, soccer and track teams. Jade is interested in being a nutritionist. This summer she will attend a leadership seminar at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and may pursue a military career.

Jordan, a graduating senior, is the JROTC Battalion Commander and captained the State Champion Raider Team. He is on the Debate Team and is a member of the National Honor Society and Key Club, with a 4.4 GPA. He’s on the Lely football and cross-country teams.

Jordan will attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point next fall, where he will study history. It was our recent, painful history that propelled him to wear a uniform.

“No one in my family has ever been in the military, but since 9/11 I felt the need to do something for my country. I decided I owe this country a great deal,” explains Jordan. “I need to show my patriotism.”

Even their leader marvels at the accomplishments of his cadets.

“I don’t know how these kids do as much as they do”, says Lt. Col. Price. “There don’t seem to be enough hours in the day.”

Under Price’s enthusiastic leadership, the Lely JROTC program has grown from 111 cadets in 1994 to 168 this year. Price has headed the program since he returned from his duties in Army Intelligence in Kuwait, in the first Gulf War.

By the way, the JROTC program at Lely pays off for its cadets — literally.

“During the LHS Awards Night in May last year,” says Price, “16 JROTC cadets who were seniors were offered nearly a million dollars in scholarships — $998,800. I am very proud of all of them.”

JROTC at Lely is an elective course whose goal is to provide cadets with direction and to help them continue their education after high school. For more information, call Col. David Price at 377-2026.

To find out more about the Marco Chapter of the DAR, founded 42-years ago, call Kay Ziegler at 642-0711. The DAR works to preserve the spirit of the men and women who achieved American Independence.

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Chris Curle is a former news anchor for CNN and for ABC TV stations in Atlanta, Houston and Washington, D.C. E-mail: chris@chriscurle.com.