Meet LPS Focus Program Senior: Kiegon, Air Force Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps

April 24, 2025

The mission of Lincoln Public Schools is to prepare ALL students for successful careers, lifelong learning and civic engagement.

High school graduation is a culmination of our scholars' and educators' hard work toward this significant milestone. 

The LPS Focus Programs’ core values of exploration, education, engagement and empowerment are beliefs rooted in the overall LPS mission and the school district’s commitment to high school graduation. 

Read how senior Kiegon used the Lincoln Air Force Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (AFJROTC) to Launch at LPS in this Q&A. 

 

Name: Kiegon

Grade: 12

Home High School: Northeast 

Focus Program: Lincoln Air Force Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (AFJROTC) 

 

Why did you choose the AFJROTC Program?

I was promised a close community of like-minded people with whom I could enjoy the program and high school and opportunities to build myself as a leader.  

How did the AFJROTC Program change your high school experience?

I connected and met with a large handful of community members and organizations all around Lincoln. I got to fish, work, and learn with my fellow cadets, whom I consider my second family.

What is the greatest lesson you learned from the AFJROTC Program? Why?

You can't do teamwork by yourself. When you work alone, you snap like a single twig, but with a team that bunches up and works together, you are unbreakable. I saw that now more than ever, a team like that is a necessity for the ones in our city who need us. 

How did the AFJROTC Program help you reach your graduation goals?

The program taught me hard work and dedication are crucial for college and money management for my future financial endeavors. 

What are your post-graduation plans?

My post-graduation plans are to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and major in agriculture. 

How did the AFJROTC Program help prepare you for those post-graduation plans? 

The AFJROTC Program taught me hard work, organization, teamwork and dedication yield great results for growth - both mentally and physically.

How did the AFJROTC Program help prepare you for the future?

It taught me that vision, hard work and dedication will build anything you deem important for this world. With motivation, you can lead a handful of like-minded people to achieve that goal with you.

What would your advice be to younger students considering joining your focus program? Why?

Be dedicated. You own it. The program's future is what you make it. Most importantly, learn to be a leader because the people who come after me will be the ones who will change AFJROTC to what it will be.

What are you most thankful for about this experience? Why?

I am most thankful for the people I met along the way.  I am thankful for my friends, the experience and the knowledge I gained throughout my years as a cadet.

Congratulations, Kiegon! We wish you the best in your future endeavors. We are thankful our educators could help you Launch at LPS!

 

Choose your passion. Choose your community. Choose your future with LPS Focus Programs. 

 

Learn more about Lincoln Air Force Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (AFJROTC) by visiting its website at https://home.lps.org/afjrotc/ or stop by our website home.lps.org/focus to get more information about all our focus programs.

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