In the military: Mendes

Michael J. Mendes. a 1998 Willows High alum, has graduated from the Officer Candidate School (OCS) at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga., and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Distinguished military graduates are students who have achieved and maintained the highest required academic and military standards during training.

Mendes has served in the military for five years.

The lieutenant is the son of John M. Mendes of Willows and Evone V. Albritton of Chico.

Mendes received an associate's degree in 2002 from Butte Community College, and earned a bachelor's degree in 2005 from California State University, Chico.