CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. — At Lewisville High School, a secret operation culminated Monday with the goal of surprising a man known as "Colonel."
His true rank though is even higher in his cadets' hearts.
Just after noon, Kelly Grant, Lewisville High's principal, assembled the entire school in the gym. Very few knew why. As Grant welcomed everyone to the seemingly impromptu gathering, WCNC Charlotte anchor Vanessa Ruffes and photojournalist Ken Shermer rushed onto the hardwood, as students cheered and looked stunned.
"Is there a colonel in the house?" Ruffes said.
JROTC instructor, retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Dave Lander, slowly stepped forward in disbelief, as the school applauded him.
Cam Stewart, representing the Charlotte area Hyundai dealers, was there to present him a key to Lander's new 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, and gratitude for being a Hyundai Hometown Hero.
"You serve your country 38 years, and then you switch over to serving our youth and try to guide them to be good citizens and good grown-ups, what's more valuable than that?" Stewart said.
It turns out that Lander's brand new car fits right into his mission of keeping kids engaged, which sometimes takes him personally driving cadets to program activities before and after school.
"Honestly, he's like a second dad to me," JROTC cadet Nancy Henning said. "He's been there for me a lot."
It can make for much longer days, but for Lander, it's about ensuring nothing gets in the way of putting the community in good hands.
"Some of these young people just don't have the means to get home," Lander said. "Their parents work second shift or, for whatever other reason, they wouldn't be able to have the opportunity."
"A lot of students say that Col. Lander really pushes them in the right direction that they need to be pushed, and I'm appreciative of that," Grant said.
Lander said he learned many values through a decadeslong career in the Army and family history of serving his country. He now takes pride in passing those values down to generations who will lead our future.
"Our mission really is to have cadets and young high school people become better citizens," Lander said. "So, we teach civics. We teach history, and we teach discipline and leadership."
"It feels like an extended family," Lander said, of the school's JROTC program. "And that's what it means to me."
Contact Vanessa Ruffes at vruffes@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.