Regiment Commanding Officer,  Paulina Ocampo, a Colombian-Mexican born in New York City comes from a family who immigrated to this country looking for opportunities & better lives. When Paulina was accepted to Stephen T Mather arts & craftsmanship high school, a school located on the Graphics Campus, she never knew the path that would lie ahead for her. She signed up for NJROTC thinking nothing of it. As the school year progressed, Paulina was chosen to be class leader for her NJROTC period. She rose to the challenge because she wanted to be the best. The year continued and Paulina was promoted to a Petty Officer Third Class. This was a milestone for Paulina as she had worked hard to prove she was meant to be in NJROTC. Towards the end of the school year, Paulina joined staff and drill. At the end of the year ceremony, Paulina was awarded a ROTC military excellence medal. Paulina learned the drill movements wanting to improve her position in NJROTC. On the last day of school Paulina was promoted to an Ensign and to Assistant Public Affairs officer. She was extremely proud of herself and knew she could take the role on. Entering her sophomore year, Paulina became very involved in her department. She updated the NJROTC website, the NJROTC instagram page, the Chain of Command bulletin board, the drill bulletin board, the staff family bulletin board, the training bulletin board, the “Our Future Hero’s” bulletin board, and the trip’s board. Her sophomore year during the end of the year ceremony, Paulina was awarded with another medal for Excellent Performance of Duty. Entering junior year, Paulina had very high hopes of becoming apart of her top 3 leaders. Paulina worked hard her junior year by participating in every drill competition and becoming apart of an all women color guard. Paulina and her team won multiple trophies. At the end of the year ceremony, Paulina was promoted to Command Master chief of her unit and also got awarded another medal. After working hard as Command Master Chief, Paulina relieved her Commanding Officer in February of 2025 and is now the Commanding Officer of Graphics Campus after four years of hard work and dedication. Paulina’s ribbons include; Honor Cadet, Cadet Achievement, Unit Achievement, Aptitude, NSI 3 Outstanding Cadet, NSI 2 Outstanding Cadet, NSI 1 Outstanding Cadet, Exemplary Conduct, Academic Team, Exemplary Personal Appearance, Participation, Unit Service, Recruiting, Drill Team, Color Guard, Orienteering, Community Service and Sea Cruise.

Caden Andre Fajardo of Graphics Campus Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps was born in Queens, New York and comes from a family with a military/police history. Many of his uncles served in the US military, along with the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Canada. He began his time in JROTC when he first entered Stephen T. Mather Arts and Craftsmanship High School as a freshman in 2021. While in the program, he participated in the drill team in December, and was promoted to Cadet Petty Officer Third Class (PO3) in March of the following year. After participating in his first ever drill competition/meet in Rancocas on March 22, 2022, Caden Andre rose the ranks quickly, being assigned the role of Drill Commander along with being promoted to the officer rank of Cadet Lieutenant in May of that same year. He was/is the first and only freshman to have been assigned a department head role. During the promotion ceremony he was also awarded the Order of the Daedalians medal. By being very active in community service events and other events that helped the unit out, he was soon recognized as one of the hardest working cadets, and was soon given the role of Charlie Company Commander, representing his school for the Area Manager Inspection (AMI) inspected by former Area Four Manager, CDR Jimmie Miller. Caden Andre has participated in several more drill competitions including one in Bethel, Connecticut in November, and in Passaic, New Jersey in March of 2023. He was also invited to many formal events, including the Navy League dinner in November of 2022, along with the Ulysses S. Grant Bicentennial celebration and dinner. During Caden’s time in JROTC, he has earned 30 ribbons/awards as of 2024. They are: Distinguished Cadet, Honor Cadet (Device: Gold Lamp), Cadet Achievement, Unit Achievement, Aptitude, NSIII Outstanding Cadet, NSII Outstanding Cadet, NSI Outstanding Cadet, Exemplary Conduct, Exemplary Personal Appearance (Subsequent Award: one bronze star), Physical Fitness (Device: Silver Lamp), Participation (Subsequent Award: three gold stars), Unit Service (Subsequent Award: two bronze stars), Community Service (Subsequent award: three gold stars), Academic Team (Subsequent award: one silver star), Drill Team (Device: golden anchor/ drill cdr), Color Guard (Subsequent award: three gold stars), STEM, Orienteering (Subsequent Award: one bronze star), Recruiting, Leadership Training, Sea Cruise, Chambersburg National Academic Exam (Award), Durfee HS PT Challenge (Award), Physical Fitness Challenge at Rancocas HS (Award), Oxford PT Challenge (Award), “Lets Run” Linden HS PT Challenge (Award), Order of the Daedalians (Award),Surface Warfare Association (Award)n and Theodore Roosevelt Medal (Award). In May of 2023 Caden Andre Fajardo was promoted to the role of Executive Officer of Graphics Campus Navy Junior Officer Training Corps, and has a new rank of Cadet Lieutenant Commander. The following month, he went to Leadership Academy/ Sail Training from June 25th to July 7th, in which he underwent intense physical training and learned more about the key aspects in becoming a leader within and out of JROTC. He is the only cadet out of the entire unit to attend LA/ST this year. While in Leadership Academy, he and his platoon (Blue “Smurfs”) won several awards, including Orienteering/ Land Navigation, Physical Training, and Drill. Drill is something to keep note of however, as it was the first time in eight years that blue platoon has won that specific award. It just so happens that Caden Andre Fajardo was the commander of the very same platoon. On top of that, he was awarded the “Iron Man'' award, given to the strongest/ fastest male and female cadet of each platoon in Physical Training. As of May 2024, Caden has been promoted to the highest rank attainable in NJROTC, which is a captain. He currently has a new role as Regimental Adjutant. In conclusion, Caden Andre Fajardo is one of the strongest, prestigious, and most reliable cadets Graphics Campus has ever seen. He has set new records throughout his high school career, and even up to now. With high honors in school, and the highest ranking/ most decorated cadet, it is safe to say that he is a hard worker, and a person who is dedicated to the cause. He is yet to complete senior year, which means he still has a good amount of time to obtain more accomplishments. Rest assured, he will have a myriad of accomplishments and goals continue to be fulfilled, and he will not stop until he has achieved everything.

In September of 2020 Jaxiel was accepted into the Business of Sports School. The school offered various programs including NJROTC, jaxiel joined NJROTC in his Freshman year. In the 10th Grade Jaxiel got his first promotion, he was promoted to Cadet Seaman. In the 11th grade Jaxiel decided to join staff, he joined the operations department. This lead to Jaxiel getting his second promotion to Petty Officer 3rd Class around June. Jaxiel became the assistant in Operations, he was assigned to supervise trips and put cadets who attend into the system. Later on Jaxiel became the head of Operations. He now supervises his department and the cadets in Operations. Jaxiel is a key figure in staff. During the last Annual Military Inspection, Jaxiel was promoted to a Chief Petty Officer. Jaxiel has been awarded with multiple ribbions which include Participation, Orienteering, Sea Cruise, Community Service, Unit achievement, Unit service, NSI, NSI 2, NSI 3 and recruiting.

Gazmyn Moore was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York in 2009. She comes from Frederick Douglass Academy VIII where she began to grow as a person and slowly but surely came out of her shell. In 2023 when she graduated middle school she decided she would like to go somewhere further than where she's from, as a way to try and get out of her comfort zone. That is when she decided the Highschool Of Hospitality Management on West 50th was a perfect option for her because of its diversity as well as potential future interest . After some convincing from her mom she thought joining NJROTC would be a cool opportunity and if she wanted to leave it she had the clear. Not long after she got more and more interested in the program,  drill, maintenance and even becoming the class leader for her group. These new experiences pushed her out of the comfort zone she was stuck in and started showing great dedication and resilience towards the program in her freshman year. Not long after she was promoted to P03 at the end of her freshman year. This promotion made Gazmyn feel very prideful and she made a promise to herself to not let this one promotion get to her head and to keep trying to get higher, which she succeeded in. Towards the beginning of her sophomore year she was then promoted to Petty Officer First Cass after participating in inspection for a drill competition. Gazmyn’s hard work and efforts was recognized by her instructors and she was switched from maintenance to the assistant of Operations which she finds very interesting and delightful to be in. As of now, in the middle of her sophomore year she is still a PO1 but plans on continuing her hard work and achieving way more, she is also the XO of Echo company and was rewarded  8 ribbons. The ribbons are as stated , NS I Outstanding cadet, Exemplary conduct, Exemplary Personal Appearance, Participation, Unit Service, Community Service, Recruiting, and Sea Cruise.

Yadibel Rosario, a first-generation Dominican-American was born and raised ed a predominantly white elementary and middle school, however, she didn't let that change who she is, or how she views herself and her culture. Despite all her hardships in middle school, she was able to get on the honor roll, which was very important to her and her family who come from humble beginnings. Her parents did everything to make sure she had a comfortable life and great education, and for that, she makes sure that she excels in her classes. She currently attends High School Of Hospitality management, on West 50th Street campus. In high school, she also managed to stay on the honor roll the entire school year, which resulted in not only gaining sophomore credits but also giving her the opportunity to graduate early. She has done numerous extracurricular activities such as cheer, cooking programs, and of course NJROTC. Yadibel joined NJROTC in her freshman year of high school. Starting off as a normal seaman recruit, she wanted to get higher in the ranks within the program, so she decided to join the administration department which allowed her to gain new responsibility and meaning within the program. By the end of her freshman year, she was promoted to Cadet Petty Officer 1st class on May 23rd, 2023. However her achievements didn't end there, by the end of her sophomore year she was promoted to Cadet Chief Petty Officer, as well as made the head of the Administration Department.

Jacob Auguste was born in 2007 in Brooklyn, New York. He spent most of his life living in New York City expect for the year and a half that he spent in Florida when he was in elementary. He now lives in Queens, New York. After applying to high school he was accepted into the business of Sports School which is located in Manhattan, New York. After joining his schools NJROTC's class, he also decided to take part in his units staff. Due to all the hard work and dedication he has shown to the unit, he has been promoted to Petty Officer 2nd Class and became the assistant Admin Officer. Jacob has been awarded the following ribbons: Community Service, Participation, Unit Service, Orienteering, and Sea Cruise. He has also received the Veterans of Foreign Wars Medal.

Arielle Purifoy was awarded the rank of Lieutenant Commander because of her perseverance and resilience to never give up in the face of a challenge. To show that she was, and is, a capable cadet, she decided to take on the challenge of becoming the head of supply. Taking on this department gave her a lot of responsibilities. For instance, she had to take the uniforms to and from the dry cleaners, keep count of the amount of clothes we have, and receive and store new clothes that the NSI’s (Naval Science Instructor) has bought. These are just a couple jobs the head of supply has to do but with the help of the rest of her department, she is able to do it all in an orderly fashion. Arielle or Arie for short was accepted to Stephen T Mather Arts & Craftsmanship High School in the year of 2021. The first day was very awkward for most people but everybody started to get used to each other after some time. She started to move higher in the “hierarchy” through leadership and commitment. She became a class leader for her JROTC class in freshman year. Near the end of 2022, she decided to become part of the drill team and is still active to this day. It wasn’t primarily easy to become a part of the active team. There were instances where she stood and watched from the sidelines, instead of actively marching. This continued throughout her sophomore year. She was really close to quitting but there were many moments where her Master Chief inspired her to push through and be patient. She patiently waited, and consistently tried to march whenever the opportunity arose. She was soon able to catch up to her fellow classmates that started way before her. Her perseverance allowed her to compete at the Passaic drill meet for the armed team and even after the drill meet she still came to drill practice everyday. Her determination allowed her to become the Supply head, and was awarded two medals, one from the National Daughters of the American Colonist society and the national society United States daughters of 1812. She also earn several ribbons such as Drill Team, Aptitude, Exemplary Conduct, Recruiting, Community service, Sea cruise, Unit service, Color Guard, and Unit Achievement. As of late 2023, she is still the department of Supply. She is constantly trying her best to grab as many opportunities as possible, making sure that she is in the most pristine form within drill and throughout JROTC. With this being her final year as supply head she hopes to leave a big mark and be someone future cadets would look up to.

Hisham Alamry, born on May 27, 2007, is a dedicated junior at Business of Sports High School. Passionate about leadership and service, he joined the ROTC in September of his freshman year, quickly rising to become the head of the training department within ROTC staff. His commitment to ROTC reflects his strong values of discipline and teamwork.Beyond his military pursuits, Hisham harbors a profound interest in psychology and aspires to become a psychiatrist in the future. This ambition reveals his compassionate nature and desire to make a positive impact on others' well-being. Despite being in 11th grade, Hisham's involvement in both the academic and extracurricular spheres showcases his multifaceted approach to personal and professional development. As he continues to navigate the dynamic intersection of business, sports, and military training, Hisham Alamry stands poised to contribute meaningfully to both his school community and his envisioned career in psychiatry.

Kristal Acosta was born in 2009 in The Bronx, New York. Kristal comes from a Dominican and Ecuadorian background. She first joined NJROTC as a regular cadet in 2023. Around December, she joined the drill team with other freshman. She wasn't the best at drilling at first but as time passed she got better and better. The time she put in shows her dedication to NJROTC. In June she got promoted to a Petty Officer 3rd Class and obtained her first 3 ribbons. As her sophomore year rolled she decided to join the Training department. She trained and learned everything in her department. This led to her becoming the assistant for the Training department. During her first drill competition, she was on the inspection team. That same day they took a trophy home for 2nd place. She is her sophomore class president and is very interested in architecture. She is very involved in her school and will continue to do the most she can to succeed.

The Weapons Officer, Michelle Prieto-Hernandez, a Mexican-American born in Bronx, New York. When Michelle was accepted into The Business of Sports School located in Graphics Campus, she learned about a program called ‘NJROTC’. After seeing what the program offered and the benefits that came with joining the program, Michelle signed up thinking nothing of it. After being in the program for over a year and becoming a sophomore, Michelle gained more recognition and was promoted to a Petty Officer Third Class. Michelle felt accomplished and excited, then she was offered to join the Drill Team, although multiple times in the past but she declined joining the Drill Team. But now that Michelle had a better perspective of NJROTC, she accepted and joined the Drill Team, with that Michelle was then given the opportunity to join Staff and become the Assistant Weapons Officer. Michelle one day saw something that caught her eye, she wanted it the second she saw it. A sleek black uniform with gold buttons, she asked her peer on how they were able to receive it. Learning that she would have to become a chief or an officer, she focused her goal on getting the uniform no matter what, as long as she was in the school she wanted dress blues. During her sophomore year she continued her performance in NJROTC which led to her being promoted as an Ensign during the end of the year ceremony, there she was also awarded with a metal and was given the title as the Weapons Officer, leaving her old assistant rank and becoming the head of her department. Michelle becoming a junior in high school she would enter the new year as a Ensign, being awarded one metal and 9 different ribbons.

Ricardo Toste, from the Bronx, began his journey in October of 2023; When he started his journey as a sophomore, he was concerned that he joined NJROTC late. He believed not only was it a big commitment but also that he would be behind the rest of his class. In the upcoming year, he ended up joining the weapons department, he found it really cool that there was more to JROTC than it seemed. His motivated attitude got him to rank up from Seaman Recruit to a seaman. Even though his rank isn’t the highest, this doesn’t stop his motivation to keep on doing his job and to patiently know that it takes time and effort, so he put in more effort. All of his work paid off because he ended up receiving lots of more recognition in the department. This cadet has obtained six ribbons and promotion to the assistant of the weapons department . Ricardo is a hard working and academically achieving person, he will continue to keep learning and improving.

Zamir Karimov is a strong extrovert who lives in Washington Heights, Manhattan, NY. He was born in a small Asian country called Tajikistan, then immigrated to Russia when he was 9 years old, and then he migrated to the US in 2022. Zamir's first language was Tajik, but he forgot it, because he was mainly speaking Russian. When he migrated to the US, he started learning English and now it is his main language. He is still searching and thinking about his future, but he is thinking about a Computer Science Major. In three years from now he wants to join MIT or Boston University, but they require a lot of knowledge, so he will study hard. In NJROTC Zamir is a part of the IT Department, where he helps with setting up and taking care of everything tech related, such as desktops, speakers or consoles. He is really interested in participating in various trips, such as Orienteering or Bowling. He is also participating in Community Service Events, such as Veterans Day Parade or Breast Cancer Walk. Zamir Karimov has acquired a variety of ribbons, which include Participation, Community Service, Unit Service, Naval Science I Outstanding Cadet, Exemplary Personal Appearance and Orienteering . Overall, Zamir Karimov is a hard working cadet who likes his job at the IT Department of NJROTC and will always help when asked to.

Deany Martinez comes from The Bronx and comes from a close-knit family of four, along with her loyal dog, Kyro. her journey in the NJROTC began when she transferred from a school on 14th Street to Mather High School. In October, she was introduced to the NJROTC program, which has since become a significant part of her life. Through dedication and hard work, she has grown as a cadet, earning two medals and an academic medal for achieving the highest score in her unit. She has also received cadet of the month for February, April, and November. Her commitment to the program was recognized with a promotion from Petty Officer 3rd Class in March to Chief Petty Officer in June. The NJROTC has not only honed her leadership skills but also fostered a deep sense of discipline and pride in her achievements. Not only that but She has always dreamed of becoming a United States sailor, a goal that has driven her since childhood. Her involvement in NJROTC has accelerated her journey toward this dream, providing her with invaluable experiences and the skills needed to succeed in the Navy. Through the program, Deany has honed her leadership abilities and aspires to become a leader others admire and willingly follow. NJROTC has not only brought her closer to her dream but has also instilled in her a strong sense of duty and commitment to serving her country. medals: National Society Daughters of the American Colonists, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Academic Medal, PT medal

Kwame Stephen originates from Las Vegas, Nevada, and moved to Brooklyn, New York, at a young age with his loving family of four. His interest in the program started when he saw the cadets explain the benefits and skills you can gain from the program at the start of his 8th-grade year since then, he has had a great interest in the program till middle school senior year when he searched for a high school that had one till he found a high school of hospitality and management which had partnered with graphics campuses himself and he peers have pushed him to keep doing better and better at what he does and give he gave himself a sense of discipline from those experiences. This has proven to help this cadet a lot as he has been promoted to PT assistant after joining and being actively there the current head, Deany Martinez, chose him after seeing his dedication and leadership skills in play he already had a great mind for exercise it was just a matter of training him the amount of exercise the other cadets need, and he has been promoted from seaman recruit to petty officer second class he has also been awarded eight ribbons in the starting months of his second year in the program. He carries great respect for the men and women in the military, and through this program, he is slowly being persuaded to join. He loves this program and will try to do it and enjoy it for the time he has it. Kwame has been awarded with the following ribbons: Aptitude, NSI 1outstanding cadet, Exemplary Conduct, Exemplary Personal Appearance, Participation, Unit Service, and Community Service.

During 2022 after not getting accepted in Any Specialized High schools, Tyler Kim took the next best school that he had on his list, Urban Assembly Gateway for Technology. To start his school year off, he attended Urban Assembly Gateway's annual "Gateaway", which was an event during the last week of August in which freshmen go to a sleep-away campsite and get to know each other and a little more about the school. There he made close friends, and there, is when he first learned about the NJROTC program. Interested and curious on what kind of program this would be, and also the chance for scholarship money, he signed up soon after his freshman year started. He also figured that this NJROTC program would better shape his character as he believed that he could use a bit of discipline and a strong mentality to change his life for the better.Starting out in the Freshman NJROTC class, Tyler became a class leader and as the year progressed, after the Annual Military Inspection, Tyler became a Petty Officer Third Class. To further improve himself he joined Graphic Campus's drill team in January. He failed miserably at the first drill competition. The next year, as a Sophomore, Tyler joined the Senior drill team and joined the Armed and Unarmed teams. He also joined the newly created Drone team that year. He went on that year, with the determination to never fail so badly again. That year went on, going to several Drill competitions, Tyler did great in some, mediocre in others, and few he did poorly or not very well. But he came back with a better record and a sense of accomplishment, towards the later half of the school, he was rewarded for his hard work with the rank of Petty Officer First Class and the position of executive Officer (Second in Command) in the Urban Assembly Gateway company. Now, as a Junior, Tyler Kim is a Chief Petty Officer and the Commanding officer of the Urban Assembly Gateway company, as the previous Commanding officer graduated as a senior. From here on out, Tyler only intends on being better than who he was before, having fun and doing the best he can at any and every Drill Competition.

Oliver R. Peralta of Graphics Campus Navy Junior ROTC was born in San Juan, Dominican Republic, and lived there until he was 9 years old. He then moved to the U.S. and, of course, life continued as usual. However, he faced many struggles growing up in Harlem without knowing English. Even then, he persevered, moving from place to place. By the time he was 14, he lived in Union City, New Jersey, for his freshman year of high school. Entering high school with no motivation, no goal, and no purpose, he joined Marine Corps Junior ROTC. ROTC was hard, but in the hard work, sweat, and discipline, he found a purpose. He discovered his one goal for his entire high school career: the position of executive officer. He worked hard throughout his freshman year, joined the drill team, participated in a drill competition, and finally earned his dress blues. Just as he felt he was getting closer to his goal, freshman year ended. Unfortunately, he had to move back to New York, lost all hope, and didn't know what he would do for the rest of his high school years. Then, luck struck, and he found a school with a Navy Junior ROTC. Oliver Peralta was accepted into Graphics Campus/Business of Sports School in September 2022. He entered as a sophomore and immediately signed up for the NJROTC program. He had to start over, but he worked hard and joined the Weapons Department. His efforts paid off as he was promoted to Petty Officer 3rd Class and became the Assistant Weapons Officer. Despite the hard work and daily challenges, he didn’t see immediate progress towards his goal until he was unexpectedly promoted to Cadet Ensign—something no first-year cadet could ever dream of. He continued to work hard and received many awards, such as: Excellence in Academics from the Freedom Foundation, Excellence in Physical Training presented by the Secretary of the Navy, The Theodore Roosevelt Youth Medal for Outstanding Performance of Duty, Cadet of the Month three times in a row, Color Guard (3 Gold Stars + Commander Pin), Drill Team Ribbon (2 Silver Stars), Orienteering (1 Bronze Star), Unit Service (1 Silver Star), NS 2 and 3 Outstanding Cadet, Exemplary Conduct (1 Bronze Star), Exemplary Personal Appearance (1 Silver Star), Participation (3 Gold Stars), Community Service (1 Silver Star), Academic Team Award (1 Silver Star), Recruiting (1 Gold Star), Leadership Training, Aptitude Award (1 Bronze Star), Sea Cruise (1 Bronze Star). Even after receiving many awards, he still felt he was not where he knew he could be. He continued to work hard, pouring his blood, sweat, and tears into the program. His dedication paid off as he was promoted to Command Master Chief. Despite many responsibilities and hardships, he was one step closer to his goal. At the end of his junior year, Oliver was promoted to the rank of Commander and became the head of the Color Guard. Yet, he still believes he isn’t done growing. Now, with the help of his XO and the entire staff, he aims to make Graphics Campus not only better but the best.