Union County High School recognized seven graduating seniors during its 10th Annual Military Signing Day on Wednesday, May 6.
Students Zoe Garner, Ava Lloyd, Joseph Teague, Trinity James Bullock, Isaiah Lundua-Figueroa, Angelo King-Rallo and Tyler Parker have committed to serving in the United States military following graduation.
Continue reading with a free account.
North Georgia News — serving Union County since 1909.
Garner will ship out to Germany in February 2027 to serve in the U.S. Army as a 31B military police specialist. In that role, she will conduct law enforcement operations and base security.
“Ever since she came into our office, she has always wanted to do more and be better,” said Staff Sgt. Caimen Willson, a local military recruiter. “I think she’s going to go far.”
Garner said joining the military is a family tradition, and while she initially found it “scary,” she is excited to serve.
Lloyd will ship out in June to serve in the U.S. Army as a 68W combat medic, a position providing emergency medical treatment and trauma care to soldiers on the frontlines.
“(We) could have said not to join, and she still would have. That’s the kind of determination that she has,” said Willson. “She already outpaces most of the men in everything that she does, so I think she’s going to go super far, as far as she wants.”
Lloyd said enlisting in the military had more to do with independence than anything else.
“It was all about just being able to take control of my life and being able to leave here and get a start somewhere else where I don’t really have dependence on my parents, and I’d have financial independence,” she said.
Teague will ship out in June to serve in the U.S. Army as an 11X infantryman, meaning he may eventually serve in combat. He said he decided to join last year to serve his country and make a name for himself.
“We pick him up every time for training, and he tries to ask for more training, so he’s always trying to get better with everything he does,” Willson said. “He’s going to be perfect.”
Bullock will also serve in the U.S. Army as 11X infantryman and plans to attend Airborne School following Advanced Infantry Training.
“He’s been excellent,” said Willson. “He already knows what’s best for him, and he’s already at that peak performance that he can be.”
Lundua-Figueroa will enter the U.S. Army Delayed Entry Program, which will allow him to postpone active duty while he prepares for basic training.
Willson described Lundua-Figueroa as “the nicest person you’ll ever meet.”
“He’s really soft-spoken, but once you get to know him, he’s awesome,” Willson said. “I can’t wait to see where he goes.”
King-Rallo will enter the U.S. Army with an open contract, allowing the military to assign him to a position based on his skills and the Army’s needs. He said he hopes to pursue work in the trades or engineering.
“I can’t wait to see what happens,” Willson said. “Whatever he wants to do, that’s what we’re here for.”
Parker was unable to attend Wednesday’s ceremony due to processing at a Military Entrance Processing Station. He has been accepted to the Citadel, a military college in South Carolina, with a three-year Army ROTC scholarship and is also the recipient of a $25,000 American Legion scholarship.
During the ceremony, Justin Byers, a teacher and wrestling coach at UCHS, presented each student with a military challenge coin. Parker’s father, Steve, accepted his coin on his behalf.
“These coins represent the bond and pride shared by those who have served,” Byers said. “They are often kept for a lifetime as a reminder of commitment.”
Byers continued, “Less than 1% of the population chooses this path, and that alone says something about these young men and women. Military service is honorable. It requires discipline, self-sacrifice, leadership and commitment.”
