The Director of Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps "Coin of Excellence" was
created to emulate a long standing tradition in the Military.  Several years ago,
Commanders of military units wanted a way to immediately recognize personnel
who performed to excellence far beyond what is normally expected.
A unit commander's coin became the answer.  Unit Commanders, usually at
Battalion Level or above, designed coins that had some meaning and significance
to their unit.  The design of the coin usually included symbols like the unit's crest
or patch, unit mottos or slogans or related to the unit's mission and always
referred to excellent performance of one's duty.  With the creation of a unit coin,
the unit commander could now award it to personnel who performed to excellence
on the spot.  This helped motivate individual personnel and helped create esprit
de'corps (Common spirit of comradeship, enthusiasm, and devotion to a cause
among the members of a group.) within the unit.
In the Military, tradition also dictates that a person, once awarded the
"Commanders Coin for Excellence, should always carry the coin.  Because, if a
person who was awarded the coin presents their coin to another person who was
awarded the coin, then that person is obligated to display the coin they were
awarded.  If they do, then the first person who made the challenge now owes the
person challenged a drink of his or her choice.  If the person being challenged
does not have their coin, then the person being challenged must pay for the drink.
The Director of Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps "Coin of Excellence" was
designed with the same careful thought in mind. The front of the coin displays the
crest of the Houston Independent School District Junior Reserve Officers’ Training
Corps.  The actual logo is blue and silver.  The crest is surrounded by twenty-five
silver stars in a field of red.  The twenty-five stars represent the twenty-five Junior
Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Programs in the Houston Independent School
District.  The top of the coin is emblazoned with the words “Coin of Excellence”.  
The back of the coin proudly displays the official crests of the three
representative Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps services, Army, Navy, and
Air Force.  After each coin is awarded, the Director is responsible to record the
name of the cadet who was awarded the coin and the name of the cadet's school
in a registry book that will become a part of the Director of Junior Reserve
Officers’ Training Corps Historical Documents.  

Coin design by Lieutenant Colonel Cornell T. McGhee, USA (Retired)
The Director's Coin of Excellence
Awarded for Excellence
Front
Rear
1.   Cadet Sergeant Zarahi C. Flores, Battalion Adjutant, Austin High School
2.   Cadet 2nd Lieutenant Jessenia Sosa,  High School for Law Enforcement
3.   Cadet 1st  Lieutenant Meghann A. Rall, Bellaire High School
4.   Cadet 1st Lieutenant Leticia Mendoza, Scarborough High School
5.   Cadet 2nd Lieutenant Tyneika Jordan, Kashmere High School
6.   Cadet Major Sergio Silva, Sam Houston Math, Science & Tech. Center
7.   Cadet Major Juan Quiroz,  Barbara Jordan High School for Careers
8.   Cadet Sergeant First Class Edgar Mata, Lamar High School
9.   Cadet Commander Xzavion Miller, Madison High School
10. Cadet Captain Leticia Mendoza, Scarborough High School
11. Cadet Sergeant First Class Melissa Diaz, Westbury High School
12. Cadet Captain  Ferunell Smith, Yates High School
13. Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Victoria Muhl
14.  PFC AJ Mallett
15.  West Point Cadet Amado Gonzalez
Cadet Coin Registry