x
Breaking News
More () »

Bullitt Co. student honored while battling cancer

Jess received the Courageous Cadet Award from North Bullitt High School's JROTC program at their annual drill meet, honoring his fighting spirit as he continues to battle cancer.

SHEPHERDSVILLE, Ky. (WHAS) -- Wearing his dress blues, Jesse Schott looks like the other JROTC cadets in the gymnasium. But while the 16-year-old North Bullitt High School student may look young, his Army instructor said he's much more mature than he looks.

"We want our students to be better citizens, and students like Jesse make us all strive to be the best," Gene Siler, the North Bullitt High School JROTC Army instructor, said.

But behind the smile is tribulation - Jesse is fighting brain cancer for the third time. Despite his struggles, he continues to stay positive and active, according to Siler.

"His outlook on life never wavers," he said. "You can tell when he's tried and you can tell when he's not feeling well, but to see him never, ever give up, to see him have that right attitude to be positive, to have a sense of humor, to make others smile, it makes us all better."

Saturday morning at North Bullitt's annual drill meet, which brings JROTC teams from Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee, Jesse received the Courageous Cadet Award from North Bullitt's JROTC for his bravery. He was also made an honorary member of Team Fastrax, a skydiving group out of Ohio, and an honorary soldier of the Kentucky National Guard, cheered on by other cadets and instructors.

"It's amazing," Siler said. "It's amazing to see the impact he has on not only us and the school and the community and the impact he has on these other schools that are competing."

Before You Leave, Check This Out