Panther Valley JROTC on Wednesday talked to district administrators and school board members about their experience at the JROTC National Raider Challenge in Fort Knox, Kentucky, in October.

Maj. Adam Clark, instructor who escorted them on the trip, said more than 4,500 cadets participated in the event from across the nation, including a team from Alaska and one from Germany.

Team members talked about how they overcame differences, united and worked together contribute to the team’s success.

“We also experienced significant personal growth,” Millianny Gonzalez, one of the cadets, told the board during a slideshow. “I became more resilient, learning to stay focused even when things didn’t go as planned. Additionally, I developed a deeper trust in my teammates.”

Another cadet, Michael Richter, said they learned how to push their boundaries and keep going to meet challenges, and see their leadership skills grow.

“This growth was especially evident when the competition started, as we stepped up and demonstrated what we were capable of as a team,” he said.

Joseph Zarsky, another cadet, thanked the board for giving them the opportunity to participate in the trip and competition, as they learned from each other and created memories that will continue to resonate for long after.

“I’m just very thankful for all of you to let us go,” he said, as did others. “We had a good time.”

This really was an incredible trip for them and their growth through this experience is evident, Clark told the board.

“You can see it in the classroom. You can see it their academic performance. You can see it in their personal lives. You can see it in them, outreaching into the community,” he said. “They just wanted to have the opportunity to come up here and say, ‘Thank you.’ ”

The cadets also presented Superintendent Dave McAndrew with a patch from the competition.

“It’s a great program. We take pride in having it, one of the few around here, and we’re proud of all you,” McAndrew told them. “Keep up the great work!”