Youth Leadership
Character Development
The Collins Freedom Foundation annually sponsors the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Program Awards and Recognition Ceremony at Bojangles Coliseum.
Held toward the end of each academic year, the CMS JROTC Awards Ceremony helps culminate the yearlong activities in which the cadets have participated. The awards recognize outstanding individual performances by cadets in the JROTC programs. Medals are presented for excellence in academics, citizenship and leadership.
Watch the video from the 2018 JROTC Award Ceremony here!
All CMS JROTC programs achieving excellence during their Military Service-directed Inspection / Accreditation are recognized. Finally, recognition is provided to schools with the presentation of Superintendent's Cup Trophies in the form of Gold, Silver, and Bronze levels of achievement.
The Superintendent's Cup is a Standards-Based program focusing on Competition, Performance, and Character.
In addition to the core of cadets who assemble, parents, friends, and community supporters / leaders attend this event.
Date: April (tbd), 2026
Time: 6:00PM
Location: Bojangles Coliseum
Cost: Free admission and parking
Time: 6:00PM
Location: Bojangles Coliseum
Cost: Free admission and parking
inspire: Youth leadership
The annual INSPIRE Youth Leadership Seminar [INSPIRE] is a one-day educational opportunity, freely funded for US high school students, providing them the chance to develop leadership skills via patriotic education. INSPIRE classes are led by skilled instructors and supervised by well-qualified team leaders. Classes are participatory.
The INSPIRE curriculum provides:
1. Leadership growth by incorporating CFF's seven values:
Honor/Courage/Commitment/Industry/Responsibility/Respect and Humility.
2. Opportunity to develop a true understanding of HONOR from lessons on Patriotism, US history, the American Flag, and the US Constitution.
3. Experience mentor-type interaction with CFF community partners such as veterans and first responders, veteran-owned businesses, and corporate volunteers.
values-based youth leaders with throughout communities in North and South Carolina.
INSPIRE Youth Leadership Seminars are designed to instill confidence, build courage, and strengthen character, but above all - value HONOR. The Select Students will challenge their comfort zones in a safe and dynamic, hands-on, team environment.
APPLICATION DEADLINE = Feb 17, 2026
Testimonials
- "Thank you so much! I will remember this great opportunity forever." LK
- "Thank you for this incredible experience. I learned so much about myself." HG
- "Working with other young people like me through the seminars, rope courses and activities, I feel that I learned life skills and gained leadership experience." KR
Date: February 21, 2026
Location: The Historic Palmer Building
Contact: Brittany Clark
Email: mrsblclark@gmail.com
Location: The Historic Palmer Building
Contact: Brittany Clark
Email: mrsblclark@gmail.com
Patriotism Bowl
14th Annual - Carolinas Patriotism Bowl
A Celebration of Service, September 12, 2025
The Patriotism Bowl is an annual community fundraising event that turns a local high school football game into "the greatest spectacle in high school sports"! Its pageantry creates a college bowl-like atmosphere which raises awareness of citizenship, patriotism, and service while raising money for patriotic non-profit organizations. The Collins Freedom Foundation works to "INSPIRE patriotic citizenship in our youth and community as we HONOR the service of veterans and first responders."
The game will be covered by several TV crews / radio stations and includes a pregame military jump team, a possible military flyover, and patriotic/camouflage jerseys worn by both sides.
Date: Friday September 12, 2025
Times: 5:30PM -- Gates Open
7:00 PM -- Pregame Show
7:30 PM -- Kickoff
Location: Belmont, NC
South Point Red Raiders vs Mt Pleasant Tigers
Cost: Tickets are $9
Sponsorship Contacts:
Mark Brodowicz - 317-525-0982/mbrodowicz@aol.com
Brad Thomas - 704-560-6250/bthomas@rdrins.com
Flags in Classrooms
The Freedom Foundation supports putting American flags in every classroom across the Carolinas so children and teens are reminded and inspired by the patriotic symbol every day.
When the Collins Freedom Foundation recognized there were schools that did not have appropriate American flags, the organization launched the Flags in Classrooms program presented by veterans and supported by local businesses and individual contributors. Collins Freedom Foundation now underwrites a program that not only ensures local schools have appropriate flags for classrooms, outside entrances, and auditoriums, it also includes a youth leadership training component for groups beginning in kindergarten.
To make the initiative successful, a committee made of members of the Freedom Foundation board of directors surveyed schools in Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, and Union counties to collect and catalog information about each school's needs. In response to those needs, CFF found an opportunity to provide each school with flags for use in multi-purpose rooms and outside flag poles along with flags for individual classrooms. The program is offered to any school in North or South Carolina -- reach out to flags@carolinasfreedom.org to begin the process for your school. Want your state or community to offer this program? Reach out via the contact info below...
In addition to providing schools with the symbol of our country, a Freedom Foundation team of veterans visits the beneficiary schools and presents a program on the flag's history and how it should be honored.
Guidelines for Display of the Flag
Name: Jeff Huggins
Phone: 704-619-9350
Email: Jeffery.Huggins@assaabloy.com