Palisades High School Army JROTC names its first Cadet of the Month

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Submitted by: 1SG (Ret.) Harold Smith
Photo Credit: C/SSG Mia Zapata

CHARLOTTE, NC — After several hours of learning her study guide, practicing in front of a mirror, in her bedroom or making personal cue cards to help her, Cadet Private First Class Elizabeth Mazingo fought through shaky nerves and a highly competitive group of cadets to win the first ever Palisades High School Army JROTC Cadet of the Month. Cadet Mazingo, beat out 5 of her peers in a closely contested board proceeding that was presided over by her Army Instructor 1SG(R) Harold Smith, Army Recruiter SGT Carlos Peterson, and member of the North Carolina National Guard SGT Lapasty Evans. Her near perfect performance set the standard for future attendees of the board. She will move on to compete for Cadet of the Year. 

Cadet Mazingo is an Honor student in her Freshman class, where she boasts an impressive 4.25 GPA, she is the Captain of the Unarmed Regulation & LET I Drill Team, a member of the Orienteering team, and a member of Palisades High School Army JROTC Honor Guard. In her spare time, she practices mixed martial arts where she has earned her black belt and serves in her community by helping clean old books for libraries in her community. 

Her goal after high school is to attend the United States Air Force Academy where she plans to major in Aeronautical Engineering and become an astronaut. Her dream is to be the first woman to land to Mars. 

Congratulations to C/PFC Mazingo and good luck on the Cadet of the Year Board.