Soddy-Daisy students to continue Tunes 4 the Troops program

CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Students at Soddy-Daisy High School will be taking the lead role for Tunes 4 the Troops, a program that collects CDs and DVDs for the American military in overseas war zones.

Kaylee Radzyminski, the Cleveland High School student who began the program as a freshman, is now in her senior year. Along with directing Tunes 4 the Troops, she also became a Raider Scholar, the Cleveland High group honored for top grades.

Soddy-Daisy High School’s ROTC program and media club will lead the effort after this year.

“I think that’s great because more young people can get involved and make a difference,” Miss Radzyminski said.

On Saturday, members of America’s military services, Chattanooga Sea Cadets and community supporters met at Cleveland High to package donated entertainment for the troops.

Robert Wright, a Sea Cadet instructor, said Tunes 4 the Troops “is a very good program for young people this age.

“They realize when they seal one of these packages, the next time it is opened it will be by some military member, maybe not much older than themselves, half a world away,” he said.

The Saturday packing focused on more than 100 military addresses for units not yet served by the program.

Miss Radzyminski was inspired to begin the program after she met returning Iraq war veterans during a training trip to Florida with the Sea Cadets. Since then, Tunes 4 the Troops has gone nationwide and attracted national attention on television, radio talk shows and teen magazines.

Miss Radzyminski has been recognized for her work by Tennessee, Prudential Spirit of Community Award and CNN Heroes.