Carroll Newsroom /

Carroll High School is proud to be the first and only Catholic high school to have earned the Purple Star Designation as a military-friendly school through the Ohio Department of Education. In addition to providing a welcoming and supportive environment for families in the armed forces, Carroll takes pride in its graduates who choose to enhance the Patriot part of their Carroll Patriot identity by serving in the armed forces.

Having grown up in a military family, Todd Jokerst ‘20 has always wanted to give back to his country in a similar way. Todd’s dad is a Colonel in the Air Force who works at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base as a reservist doing research. “The military has been very good to my dad,” Jokerst said, “so I feel an obligation to serve.”

Todd will start his studies as a mechanical engineer at Georgia Tech with an ROTC scholarship that covers tuition and mandatory fees plus a book stipend of $750 each semester and a monthly allowance that grows from $250 monthly as a first semester student and grows to $400 monthly by graduation. Upon graduation, Todd will enter into the navy as an officer. He hopes to become a surface warfare officer, a naval helicopter pilot doing search and rescue missions, or a SEAL special warfare officer.

As he begins his coursework at Georgia Tech, Jokerst will already have a head start in his leadership training, as he has had many opportunities to lead his peers at Carroll. As swim team captain and a House Captain during the COVID-19 pandemic, Todd has gained valuable skills that will benefit him in service. “You have to adapt to situations.  You have to see what comes at you,” said Jokerst, “you really have to make do with what you have."

Thankfully, Carroll graduates who choose to serve in the armed forces have an entire toolbox of valuable resources and experiences upon entering the military. Taylor Smith '20, who enlisted in the army, starts Advanced Individual Training on August 24th and will be putting the skills she learned in computer courses at Carroll to use as she trains to be a social signaling specialist. Her specialty, an Information Technology role, maintains the technology used for various missions and ensures cables are hooked up properly in order to launch missiles.

“Whenever I’m done with my contract, my skills will still be useful,” states Smith. After Advanced Individual Training, she plans on attending the University of Cincinnati. Like Jokerst, Smith will also be receiving full tuition for her commitment to serve.

Taylor’s time at Carroll and the military recruiters she met there paved the way for her to embark on a career in the army. Though this will be a new chapter for Taylor, she is thankful to have fellow Carroll alumni like Jared Ritter ‘18 and Jacob Heil ‘18 giving some insight into what life in the Army will look like and advice for the journey ahead. Taylor also acknowledged Carroll High School’s commitment to honoring alumni and community members who are active and veteran members of the armed forces throughout the school year. “Carroll definitely recognizes the contributions of people in the military,” said Smith.

On this Independence Day, Carroll High School wants to remember, honor, and thank America's active duty, reserve, and retired military members, especially the Patriot Alumni who have served our country as part of the United States armed forces.

2020 Alumni Entering the Armed Forces

• Paige Bey: Army National Guard
• Todd Jokerst: Navy
• Alexis Ortiz: Marine Corps
• Kenneth Smith: Army
• Taylor Smith Army National Guard
• Franklin Smith-Custer: Coast Guard
• Janelle Soto: Army National Guard