This summer some of the top cadets in the Navy JROTC Program at Cary High School attended the Navy Area Six Leadership Academy at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, S.C., July 21-26.

The leadership academy challenged the cadets academically and physically as well as with numerous leadership situations. The cadets had 15 academic tests, four inspections, were tested on and required to pass the Navy Physical Readiness Test, competed in drill evaluations, and they participated in a formal graduation ceremony. Cary had six cadets who attended the academy this year.

Cary Cadet Grace Earley finished first overall in the class. Cary also had five of the first 15 places in the class. Other Cary cadets to successfully complete the training were: Brendon Burns, Teagan Miller, Seth Coleman, Dominic Arnone and Beth Tabor. Cadet Earley was awarded the highest Navy JROTC ribbon, the Meritorious Achievement Ribbon, for her outstanding performance, and Brendon Burns received the Cadet Achievement Ribbon for his seventh-place finish in the class. Cadet Ian Coleman, a 2007 leadership academy graduate, was also awarded a Cadet Achievement Ribbon for his superior performance of duty as a cadet aide.