SJNA Hosts JROTC Cadet Leadership Challenge for Chicago-Area JROTC Students



St. John’s Northwestern Academies (SJNA) proudly hosted the Junior Cadet Leadership Challenge (JCLC) in June, welcoming almost 300 JROTC cadets from the Chicagoland area to campus for a transformative week of leadership development, training, and team-building.

JCLC is a nationally recognized leadership initiative within the U.S. Army JROTC program that challenges cadets to build confidence, strengthen character, and grow as leaders through a structured and immersive summer camp-style experience. This year’s JCLC was held on the historic SJNA campus in Delafield, Wisconsin, where cadets participated in daily physical fitness, drill and ceremony, team competitions, leadership classes, and field training exercises.

Throughout the week, cadets had the opportunity to attend special sessions led by guest speakers—including military leaders and educators—and experience time-honored traditions such as flag ceremonies, drill, and ceremony. The program also emphasized character development, teamwork, communication, and critical thinking—core values shared by SJNA’s leadership-based education model.

Six current SJNA students also participated in the program, engaging alongside visiting cadets and demonstrating the leadership skills they had cultivated through their own experiences at SJNA.

“Saint John’s Northwestern Academies has been the home campus for JCLC for several years, and we look forward to our continued support of this impactful program in future years. The fact that we can host these large-scale events reaffirms our ability and commitment to support world-class activities like JCLC,” said SJNA Commandant John Kiriazis.

“The entire Commandant Office and I are so very proud of our six SJNA Cadets (Ethan Arguijo (‘29), Isaiah Ferge (‘29), Ilya Romero (‘27), Nicole Leksowski (‘26), Kenna Brown (‘27), Grace Mariscal (‘27)), many of whom received special recognition from JCLC cadre and staff. It reaffirmed for our Cadets that the experiences at SJNA had great applicability in their success during JCLC. SJNA will continue to be the proud host partner of the nationally accredited and distinguished JROTC program for years to come.”

For many visiting cadets, this was their first time experiencing the SJNA campus. The Academies’ facilities, leadership-focused curriculum, and legacy of character development made it a natural fit to serve as host for this prestigious event.

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About SJNA:

St. John’s Northwestern provides a safe, structured environment where students build a strong foundation for success. With specialized programs tailored to future aspirations, SJNA prepares young leaders to excel academically, professionally, and personally. Learn more at www.sjnacademies.org.