Posted on 05/19/2009 6:30:29 AM PDT by mnehring
Gene Bronson, board president of Longview Christian School, said he's not sure what it is about the school that inspires so many students to consider the service academies.
The school has two alumni at the U.S. Naval Academy and one each at the U.S. Air Force Academy and U.S. Military Academy.
"I think part of it might be that it's a small school, so the students get to be involved in everything," Bronson said. "We also stress a lot of character development and encourage the idea of service to others."
Bronson said he's proud the school has sent so many recent graduates to the academies. The school was founded in 1982 and generally has between 12 and 24 graduates per year.
Wayne Black, a 2006 graduate who is completing his third year at the Air Force Academy, said he isn't sure why service academies are such a popular college option for graduates of the small private school.
"I never felt pressured into it," Black said. "Ever since I was a little boy, I've had a desire to serve my country and enjoyed being challenged. Life at the Air Force Academy allows me to have both those experiences."
Black was also drawn to the Academy because of his major: astronautical engineering. It is among a handful of U.S. colleges that offers a degree in the subject.
"At a service academy, your studies are your job," Black said. "It's tough, especially the first year, but it's very rewarding, and I'm glad I made this choice."
Jessica Bronson is completing her freshman year at the U.S. Naval Academy, after she graduated from Longview Christian in 2008.
She said the first year has been difficult, but she's glad to have the chance to pursue a degree while being of service to her country.
"I think the biggest challenge of being at a service academy is comparing my life to that of other college students," Bronson said.
"Most of them have more freedom now than they did in high school, while I actually have a more structured routine now than I used to."
Getting accustomed to peer leadership, with people only a few years older than she is taking charge of many areas of her life, took some adjustment, she said. Bronson is majoring in political science and international relations.
"This is a tremendous opportunity and I'm enjoying it despite the demands it makes on me both academically and physically," she said.
Andrew Cammack is about to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. The 2005 high school graduate will be commissioned as a second lieutenant and will be stationed in Hawaii.
"Longview Christian School really prepared me for West Point," Cammack said. "I had opportunities to exercise leadership and participate in both athletic and academic competitions there that I might not have had at a larger school."
Cammack is majoring in civil engineering and will be part of a combat engineering unit on upon graduation.
He said he's enjoyed the military culture at the service academy and looks forward to serving his country as an Army officer.
Justin King also is graduating from a service academy soon but, in his case, it's the U.S. Naval Academy. Like Cammack, he is a 2005 high school graduate, and the two were close friends during their high school years.
"I don't really think the faculty at the school tried to influence us to choose the service academies," King said.
"It's more that all the students knew each other and once you know somebody who's at a service academy, it's more likely you'll consider that option for yourself."
King is a physics major. He will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps upon graduation.
My son’s graduating class from his Virginia public high school, Class of 2006, had two go to the AFA (both female), one to Annapolis, and one - my son! - to the USMA.
My daughter’s 2000 FCPS class had similar numbers with grads going to different military academies. Memory is a few going to USNA, but all Academies represented.
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