About OCS
Mission, History, and Management
Our Mission
To recognize and honor high school enlistees and their commitment to military service and to provide parents/guardians of enlistees with community support as their son or daughter transition into military service.
About OCS
Our Community Salutes (OCS) is a national, non-profit organization helping communities recognize, honor and support high school seniors who plan to enlist in the U.S. Armed Services after graduation.
OCS was founded in 2009 by educator and former U.S. Army officer, Dr. Kenneth Hartman, to provide enlistees and their parents with guidance, information, resources and community support from like-minded enlistees and parents as their son or daughter transition into military service.
Our Community Salutes includes community leaders, government officials, educators, businessmen, and veterans who feel strongly in the importance of community support and recognition of the patriotic young adults who will enlist in the military after graduation.
Our Community Salutes was founded in 2009 with our inaugural OCS of South Jersey community.
OCS is a 501c3 non-profit organization with a GuideStar Bronze Seal of Transparency.
How OCS Began
Founder Ken Hartman on how the idea for Our Community Salutes came about, and why the impact of OCS has been so meaningful for students, parents, and their community.
The General Colin L. Powell Memorial Service Award
The General Colin L. Powell Memorial Service Award, named after General Colin Powell, U.S. Army (Ret.), is a public service award that is presented to high school counselors in recognition of providing guidance, counseling and mentoring for students as they assess their accomplishments, talents, and interests as they move forward in their lives. The award is provided to guidance counselors in each local community, and represents all counselors within the school’s program whose service, compassion, and commitment serve as an example for all of us. Awardees are nominated by military recruiters in their community, and sponsored by USAA.
2025 General Colin L. Powell Memorial Service Award Recipients
Erin Aylor, Russellville High School, OCS of Northwest Arkansas
Addison Hill, Centerpoint High School, OCS of Central Arkansas
Brennan Robertson, Centerpoint High School, OCS of Central Arkansas
Stacey Horn, Paragould High School, OCS of Northeast Arkansas
Catherine Williams, Valley View High School, OCS of Northeast Arkansas
Victoria Gong, Alonso High School, OCS of Tampa, FL
Vicki Divietro, Bayshore High School, OCS of Tampa, FL
Stephanie Frane-Colon, Land O Lakes High School, OCS of Tampa, FL
Mary Bandini, Springstead High School, OCS of Tampa, FL
Lisa Krupp, Steinbrenner High School, OCS of Tampa, FL
Emffany Holmes, Edgewater High School, OCS of Orlando, FL
Ana Soto Cortes, Liberty High School, OCS of Orlando, FL
Shasaree Hendricks, Ocoee High School, OCS of Orlando, FL
Erin Wolfgramm, Oak Ridge High School, OCS of Orlando, FL
Bryant Caba, Mayde Creek High School, OCS of Houston, TX
Jennifer Witte, New Caney High School, OCS of Houston, TX
Michael Sena, Arvada West High School, OCS of Denver, CO
Alex Ramirez, Westminster High School, OCS of Denver, CO
Stephanie Mijo, Sierra High School, OCS of Colorado Springs, CO
Sarah Kessler, Watkins Mills High School, OCS of Central Maryland
Brett Moore, Mt Hebron High School, OCS of Central Maryland
Catherine Mary Boyd, Governor Thomas Johnson High School, OCS of Central Maryland
Ave Williams, Ramona High School, OCS of San Diego, CA
Jaime Brown, Poway High School, OCS of San Diego, CA
Jesse Quinteros Nunez, Avalon High School, OCS of Los Angeles, CA
Jesse Quinteros Nunez, Avalon High School, OCS of Los Angeles, CA
Dr. David Barkovich, North Hills Senior High School, OCS of Pittsburgh, PA
Emonique GreveI, Terry Sanford High School, OCS of Fayetteville, NC
Jodie Moyer, Union Pines High School, OCS of Fayetteville, NC
Susan Pitcher, Cane Bay High School, OCS of Lowcountry, SC
Rania Thompson, Woodland High School, OCS of Lowcountry, SC
Randi McKie, Walton High School, OCS of Pensacola, FL
Christopher Lynch, E.C. Goodwin Technical High School, OCS of Connecticut
Luis Moyano, Manchester High School, OCS of Connecticut
Jasmine Morton, Putnam High School, OCS of Connecticut
Adam Smith, Wayne Technical & Career Center, OCS of Upstate New York
Elizabeth Porterfield, PS School 33 Bilingual Center, OCS of Upstate New York
Kimberly Figueroa, Justice High School, OCS of Northern Virginia
Michael Babb, Paul Public Charter School, OCS of Northern Virginia
Kelly Greenwell, Currituck County High School, OCS of Northeast North Carolina
The OCS STEM Teacher Award
The OCS STEM Teacher Award recognizes local STEM teachers who best support students in exploring the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics related career choices in high school. Awardees are nominated by military recruiters in their community, who have benefitted from their dedication.
2025 OCS STEM Teacher Award Recipients
Allison Rivard, Alonso High School, OCS of Tampa, FL
Steven Notto, G. M. Steinbrenner High School, OCS of Tampa, FL
Corinne Keiper, G. M. Steinbrenner High School, OCS of Tampa, FL
Suzette Holness, Gaither High School, OCS of Tampa, FL
Ruthlen D. Robinson, Springwoods High School, OCS of Houston, TX
Donald Prier, Carver Magnet High School, OCS of Houston, TX
Toni Budoff, Wheat Ridge High School, OCS of Denver, CO
Michael Steiner, Academy District 20, OCS of Colorado Springs, CO
Maretha Dickens, Hertford County High School, OCS of Northeast North Carolina
Emily Farr, Katella High School, OCS of San Diego, CA
Winston Cagadas, Golden Valley High School, OCS of Los Angeles, CA
Viktor Kiritchenko, North Hills Senior High School, OCS of Pittsburgh, PA
Tom Connors, West Florida High School, OCS of Pensacola, FL
Rebecca Cipriani Reyer, Windham Technical High School, OCS of Connecticut
Alexander Sheldon, Rockville School, OCS of Connecticut
Jackie Corricelli, West Hartford Public Schools, OCS of Connecticut
Robert Sanders, PS School 33 Bilingual Center, OCS of Upstate New York
Management
Dr. Ken Hartman, Founder and President of Our Community Salutes
Dr. Ken Hartman is an e-learning authority, former university professor, administrator, consultant at several leading universities, and the founder of Our Community Salutes.
Dr. Hartman served as president of Drexel University Online, and has served on several boards, including the Board of Education of the Cherry Hill Public Schools (NJ) and the Executive Board of the Online Learning Consortium. He is the author of numerous trade and scholarly publications related to educational technology, a presenter at industry conferences, a syndicated newspaper columnist, television talk show host, and was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army.
Dr. Hartman holds degrees from The State University of New York at Geneseo, Michigan State University, and a Ph.D from the University of Pennsylvania.
National Advisory Council
Army
Jeffrey Snow
Major General, USA, Retired
Peter Lennon
Major General, USA, Retired
John Wayne Troxell
Command Sergeant Major, USA, Retired
Jack L. Tilley
Sergeant Major of the Army, USA, Retired
Michelle Jones
Sergeant Major, USA, Retired
National Guard
Victor Perez
Brigadier General, USA, Retired
Navy
Kirk Foster
Rear Admiral, USN, Retired
James L. Herdt
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, USN, Retired
Marine Corps
Patrick Hermesmann
Major General, USMC, Retired
Alford L. McMichael
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, USMC, Retired
Anthony Spadaro
Sergeant Major, USMC, Retired
Air Force
Frederick Finch
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, USAF, Retired
Cherly Adams, Chief Master Sergeant, USAF, Retired
Coast Guard
Vince Patton
Master Chief Petty Officer, USCG, Retired
Awards
Outstanding Civilian Service Medal
Dr. Ken Hartman receives award from the U.S. Army Recruiting Command on behalf of OCS
15 May 2015
“For your outstanding and unwavering support of our service members, their families, and recent enlistees from 2009 to present. Your successful collaboration of the”Our Community Salutes” program in partnership with our military liaisons, provided quality community support to the military’s newest enlistees. Your unmatched patriotism embodies the core values of a patriot in a true humanitarian, which reflects great credit upon yourself, the United States Army Recruiting Command, and the United States Army.”
Allen W. Batschelet, Major General, USA, Commanding
Additional Awards Include:
2020 Jewish War Veterans of New Jersey, “2020 Group of the Year Award”
2019 Fisher Distinguished Civilian Humanitarian Award, U.S. Dept. of Defense
2018 New Jersey State Governor’s Jefferson Award for Public Service
2017 George Washington Medal (Freedoms Foundation)
2017 Humility and Honor Award (Bunker Labs)
2016 Outstanding Civilian Service, Association of the United States Army
