Wishing i70sSon a wonderful overnight at USNA and the best of everything in his SA application process. 
Just back from two consecutive weekends at EHS, Spring Parentâs Weekend and dedication of Hershey Athletics Center. During the dedication ceremony for outgoing Headmaster Hershey, this video was shown. Not only does the video, which was produced by Luke David '93, showcase the beautiful campus but it also captures the intensity of community, why students participate in sports, arts, and community service, school sprit, tradition, and most importantly the mission of Episcopal High School. When folks say why Episcopal, I can now direct them to this video. Mr. Hershey is a legend in the boarding school and education community. With his departure the school is stronger than ever. God bless Mr. and Mrs. Hershey and âThe High School.â
@i70sband Great video. Great school!
DS was recently appointed Head Student Monitor for 2016-17 school year. DD texted us when Headmaster Hershey made the announcement. She said she was tearing up with joy. We are thrilled that he has this leadership opportunity and candidly cannot believe his personal transformation over the last three years. There are many opportunities to develop leadership skills at EHS; student monitor, honor committee, discipline committee, vestry, service council, community council, athletic captain, leader of school club, etc. and certainly head monitor is one of the most demanding.
Rising seniors apply to become a monitor in the early spring. Applications are reviewed by faculty and qualified candidates are placed on a ballot that is voted on by the entire student body. This year 26 monitors were chosen by the student body. Next the 26 monitor select 6 âsenior monitorsâ and a head monitor. It is quite a show of respect and endorsement for his peers to elect him to this leadership opportunity. With the transition to a new headmaster, it will be even more incumbent for DS to provide strong leadership to the student body and administration. Since he was elected Head Monitor, he is unable to serve on Honor Committee, which was a long term goal.
Not to throw a wet blanket on a fire, but DS will have knee surgery on Monday to repair a torn meniscus sustained in February during wrestling. It actually occurred during practice. What still amazes me is DS wrestled at the state championships with this injury (not known at the time) and lost 5-2 in his final bout. If he won, he would have been an all-state wrestler. The match was paused at 3-2 when his knee popped and he withered in pain on the mat. We sensed that something was serious. He regained his composure and finished the match with pure determination. As soon as he returned to NH for Spring Break, he had a MRI which indicated no tear. In short the orthopedist should have put the knee in a dynamic position to rule out tears elsewhere. When he returned to EHS, the team doctor requested a dynamic MRI and voila, there was the tear. Since his recovery is four months, he will most likely miss a wilderness adventure trip in Yellowstone/Grand Tetons, 7/11 - 8/4. DS was selected to go on this trip, which is sponsored by an EHS Alumnus, and is a trip of a lifetime for 13 selected students. DS is frustrated and disappointed beyond description. If he does receive an appointment to a service academy, this is his last summer of fun. This news certainly casts a shadow over what was otherwise a wonderful week.
Yikes, hoping for speedy recovery!
Hoping for a speedy recovery for @i70sband 's DS
Congrats on his appointment and wishing a very speedy recovery to i70sKid, too.
And welcome to the club of CC parents who have completely outed their kid. 
^^ the âoh, what the heckâ moment after so many years of growing clubby
glad to hear the good news; and wishing i70sKid a full recovery with future opportunities for adventure in the wilderness and without
@skieurope @ChoatieMom @Charger78 Thanks so much for your well wishes!! Living vicariously via texts from DW who is with DS and out of surgery. Took longer than expected, 45 minutes. As suspected, worse than initially thought. Torn meniscus repair required four sutures. I cannot believe he wrestled with this injury at the State Championships. Fortunately he was in good hands, a doc from the Redskins team medical group performed the surgery. Dr. estimated 4-6 months recovery at a minimum. Good news is DS is in good spirits and is looking ahead, exclaiming âthe recovery begins today!â Amen DS, amen.
Props to i70sKid â and his parents. Hang in there. Hugs.
DS had follow up visit with doctor today. Incisions look great and kneeâs healing is off to a good start. Doctor reiterated DS is to be non-weight bearing for 6 weeks. So getting around campus will continue to be a challenge. Still 4-6 month recovery. Uggg.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, DS was elected/appointed as the 2016-17 Head Monitor. We are thrilled for him. However with this opportunity comes great responsibility. Next year is a transition year; end of a era with Headmaster Hershey, and the start of a new era with Headmaster Stilwell. Since seniors are away from campus on a month-long externship, the junior class is already practicing its leadership. DS is already addressing the school community and must sit next to the Headmaster in Chapel (3x/week). NO MORE GOOFING OFF! With DSâs appointment, I thought it was a good time to review the leadership opportunities that exist at EHS.
Unlike some schools, EHS does not have a traditional form of student government. There isnât a President, VP, Treasurer, etc. of the class or student body. Instead EHS emphasizes leadership skills in all areas of student life. Student leadership has become a tradition at Episcopal that engages students at many levels, including formal opportunities, such as the Monitor System, the Honor Committee, and the Vestry, as well as multiple other roles where students can serve in a variety of student-run organizations.
Regardless of whether you serve in an elected or volunteer leadership position, EHS requires all students to participate in their Leadership and Ethics program. The L&E program is designed to support the final words of Episcopalâs mission statement:
âEpiscopal strives to prepare young people to become discerning individuals with the intellectual and moral courage to lead principled lives of leadership and service to others.â
Through its curriculum, the Leadership and Ethics Program deepens the studentsâ understanding of the many facets of leadership and helps them develop an ethical foundation for making important decisions. While many students serve the community through elected leadership positions, all students are introduced to the concept of servant leadership, which presents daily opportunities to positively affect the world around them.
Freshman and sophomore workshops focus on developing the studentsâ understanding of what it means to live in a community as a responsible, empathetic, and productive citizen; the EHS Honor Code is a cornerstone theme in these discussions. Juniors and seniors devote their time and energy to developing the skills required to effectively lead teams of peers, learning how to make difficult ethical choices, and analyzing the many national and world leaders they are exposed to through the EHS Washington Program.
Each fall during opening weekend, about 70 student leaders gather for a leadership training retreat to receive formal training in skills such as team-building, communication, empathy, and mediation. The weekend concludes with each leadership group presenting its mission statements and goals for the year.
Here is a brief review of the major student led committees/councils which offer students a chance to affect and shape the EHS campus community.
**Activities Committee **- The student Activities Committee is a team of EHS students that work together, in conjunction with the full faculty activities committee, to plan and orchestrate various social activities that meet the needs and desires of our diverse population of students.
Cheerleaders - The EHS Cheerleaders promote pride through tradition. They strive to inspire students to encourage and support others on and off the field. The cheerleaders lead by example and create a legacy through positive actions. The Head Monitor is automatically a cheerleader.
Community Council - The Community Council is a student-driven organization dedicated to improving the student experience by acting as a liaison between the student body and administration and providing bonding opportunities for the entire community.
Discipline Committee - The Discipline Committee hears cases when a major school rule has been broken. Students work with the faculty advisors on the committee to help understand the facts of the case and to decide on a suitable consequence, which can range from restriction to dismissal.
Head Tour Guides - Each year, rising seniors may apply to become admissions Head Tour Guides. Seniors are then selected by an admissions committee to hold these leadership positions. Head Tour Guides are responsible for greeting families on move-in day, sending out tour requests, confirming tour guides on a daily basis, giving weekly tours, assisting with open house and revisit days, and giving Saturday tours to prospective families and alumni.
Honor Committee - The Honor Committee, which is composed of seven elected students and four appointed faculty members, promotes understanding of the Code and manages individual violations. EHSâs Honor Code is one of the oldest in secondary schools and reads:
âI WILL NOT LIE. I WILL NOT CHEAT. I WILL NOT STEAL. I WILL REPORT THE STUDENT WHO DOES.â
Monitors - On the basis of student and faculty nominations and an application process, the Headmaster appoints a number of seniors to be Monitors of the School. The group then nominates one to be the Head Monitor and two or more to be Senior Monitors. These students are expected to lead the rest of the student body âby precept and example,â and are also expected to help the faculty uphold school rules. To be appointed a Monitor is a mark of respect by the community, and the manner in which the Monitors carry out their dormitory and school-wide responsibilities affect the tone of the School.
Service Council - The Service Council facilitates and coordinates service opportunities for students. The council finds ways to reach out to both domestic and international communities and provides financial support to maintain lasting partnerships. In doing so, they challenge the student body to get involved and share in the joy of service.
Spectrum - Spectrum is a group of dedicated students who educate the EHS community and explore different viewpoints in order to broaden the collective horizon. The group strives to acknowledge and celebrate individuality. By embracing a wide range of perspectives, Episcopal finds strength in its differences. Spectrum values the radiance of each individualâs unique qualities and characteristics that collectively shine as one beautiful spectrum.
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee - The S.A.A.C. serves as a liaison between athletic teams and the EHS administration, as well as between athletics and the entire student body. The group works to facilitate conversations about issues regarding athletics and how athletes are represented within the larger community. Members of S.A.A.C. work actively work to build a sense of community and encourage sportsmanship in all facets of EHS life as well as a positive student-athlete image on campus. This committee provides a forum for discussion where members can provide valuable insights into different athletic issues. Their contributions help to guide the athletic department in shaping department policies. The S.A.A.C meets with members of the athletic department periodically throughout the year.
Vestry - The Vestry challenges our community to particpate in all aspects of chapel life at EHS and creates opportunities for students to question their beliefs in a safe environment. In addition, the group supports the work of the chapel and the various student roles within it.
In addition to the above elected leadership positions, students can join one of the many student run clubs/organizations or start their own. For example, DS started a Military Appreciation Club (EHS MAC) this year. He had over 85 students join, making it the most popular student club. He designed the clubs t-shirts, worked with IT and the business office to coordinate sales and the subsequent order of t-shirts, and netted a profit of over $1,500. He met with a non-profit (Sandboxx) that sends letters to military service members who are âoff the gridâ and used the proceeds to buy letters to send to overseas personnel. Anyone who bought a t-shirt or donated money was eligible to send a personal letter. Additionally he worked with the service council to coordinate service trips into D.C.; laying and removal of wreathes at Arlington National Cemetery and greeting veterans who were flown to the WWII memorial through Honor Flights. I was at the Honor Flight service event. Watching a 93 year old female veteran enter the memorial in a wheel chair (for the first and probably last time), and hear students say âwelcome to your memorial,â was extremely moving.
As important academics, arts, and sports are, I am grateful that EHS puts emphasis on developing leadership skills. Letâs face it - some folks are hired for their technical expertise, while others are hired for the leadership ability. Best to start learning leadership skills now versus later.
With DS and DDâs return to âthe Holy Hillâ for their senior and sophomore years, there is much to share.
First I am happy to report that DS received the coveted unconditional approval from his Orthopedist to participate athletics. The idea that he would be back running competitive XC in early September was always in doubt, especially in early July when it was determined that a Bursectomy was required on the same knee. While the Bursectomy was not as serious as the meniscus repair, the surgery did suspend his PT regiment and delay his recovery. Despite the additional surgery, DS was relentless with his PT and once he received the approval to run, he was back to rigorous training despite the summer high heat and humidity.
Since DD has chosen not to run XC this fall, DD and DS had different move in dates. DS and I drove down, stopping along the way to visit West Point and Gettysburg National Battlefield. West Point is a college located in a museum and Gettysburg is awe-inspiring. After enjoying these historic sites, we headed to EHS for early athletic return. Fortunately EHS allowed me to move in DDâs personal items early. DW flew down with DD a week later and just had to unpack and decorate her room.
There are many changes to report at EHS. First, there is a new Head of School. Mr. Hershey retired after 18 dedicated years to EHS. Mr. Charles Stillwell takes over the leadership reigns as the 12th Head of School. The early report is he is a fantastic addition to the community and is regarded as a âstudentâs headmaster.â DS, who as Head Monitor sits with Mr. Stillwell at every Chapel service, has nothing but high praise for Mr. Stillwell.
As expected, with a change in Head of School, many faculty also departed. Beside teaching faculty, the Head Chaplain, Assistant Head for Student Life, Director of Choral Music, and Director of Theatre accepted positions at other schools. Candidly I was surprised by these departures. I always thought that this was the last stop for most faculty. In addition to new hires, there was a shuffling of roles and responsibilities of some faculty. For example, the Dean of 9th grade boys stepped away after five years. The Director of Art and Music Department stepped down. When the dust settled, I counted 19 new hires. Despite the departure of some beloved teachers and administration, the ethos that has defined this institution for over 175 years remains. And this sense of tradition and purpose will be amplified by the Class of 2017.
As I eluded to earlier, DS was elected Head Monitor for this school year. For those unfamiliar with the term Head Monitor - it is essentially the President of the Student Body. DS and 25 other prefects will lead the rest of the student body âby precept and example,â and will help the faculty uphold school rules. In addition other leaders from the Class of 2017, including members of the Honor and Discipline committees and Vestry will set the standard for others to follow. In talking to DS, he believes this class has the unique opportunity to ensure there is a smooth transition to new leadership and the traditions and virtues that have defined EHS are preserved. The Class of 2017 is a very strong class and no doubt will play a pivotal role for incoming and existing students.
In addition to personnel changes, Stewart Gymnasium (student center) continues to be renovated. This is the last building to receive a facelift. The multi-million expansion/improvements were expected to be complete when students returned last week, but delays have pushed the completion to October. Some of the improvements include outdoor porches, one for âcoffee houseâ performances, various eateries, expanded meeting spaces, games, and additional classrooms. I know all the seniors are hopefully the new and improved state-of-the-art Student Center will be open for business before Fall Parentâs Weekend.
Since this is DSâs senior year, we are savoring moment, knowing that DSâs journey is rounding the last turn and headed towards the finish line. Now in our fourth year, we are accustomed to the rhythm of the school year. Since EHS football will travel to Woodberry Forest (every other year), students are treated to an early October Friday home game under the lights versus cross-town rival, St. Stephenâs & St. Agnes School. A buffet dinner is served outside at Hummel Bowl and the game is always well attended. A couple weeks later will be Fall Parentâs Weekend and then the #115 consecutive Woodberry Forest vs. EHS football game will be played in November, the longest running high school rivalry in the South. And then itâs a well deserved Thanksgiving break for DS and DD.
Besides DSâs leadership responsibilities, DS has a full academic load this semester; seven classes, five of which are Advanced (AP) classes. He will continue his passion of singing with the Jack of Hearts (a Cappella) and two choral groups. He will co-captain boys XC, wrestling, and baseball teams and continue his service work with a club he founded called the Military Appreciation Club. And then there are college applications. DS first choice schools are USNA, USMA, or USAFA. All other schools are placeholders. The application process for these schools is unlike any civilian school. In addition to the service academy applications, he must apply for a nomination from his two Senators and Congressional representative, interview with three separate panels, as well as a representative of the military, pass a rigorous and timed physical fitness test, and be medically cleared. As @ChoatieMom noted in another post, âthere are more moving parts to this process than Excel has columns and rows.â Since appointment to any service academy is a reach, his plan B includes applications to probably 7+ other colleges with engineering being the focus. And all of these schools have ROTC, meaning more applications. With all of this work, I suggested a gap year (the productive type), especially if he doesnât receive an appointment to a SA. My suggestion fell on deaf ears.
Lastly, I donât write very much about DD, but I can share she is ecstatic to be back at EHS, very happy with her teachers. While she has moments of homesickness, she is well adjusted and EHS is a home away from home.
For those considering EHS, please feel free to PM me and I will try to answer your questions.
Also, wanted to share that EHS math department has been utilizing the highly regarded PEA problem sets and materials for most honor math classes, including Algebra 1, Geometry, and A2/Trig for a few years. Pre-Calc and Advanced (AP) Calc currently do not use PEA materials. In addition to employing the Harkness classroom format, DD also noted that her teacher uses the âflipped classroomâ which mirrors the PEA curriculum.
Last night Episcopal High School varsity football team captured the IAC (Interstate Athletic Conference) by defeating Georgetown Prep 17-7. It was the first IAC football title in 10 years. Congratulations to all the players, coaches, and fans!
Washington Post article and video with player interviews:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/highschools/vincent-notzons-forced-fumble-sends-episcopal-past-georgetown-prep-and-to-the-iac-title/2016/11/04/dde492a0-a2ac-11e6-a44d-cc2898cfab06_story.html
The IAC has become one of the more competitive leagues in the D.C. area. The Washington Post ranks the top 25 from all surrounding leagues, and EHS has been in the top 10 most of the year. Prior to their win against GPrep, they were ranked #9.
If you are looking for a highly respected football program and coaching staff, look no further than Episcopal High School. Coach Voulgaris, who previously coached and turned the Taft Schoolâs football program into a NE champion in 2011 (having previously lost 51 of 56 games), has quickly become one of the most respected high school coaches in the D.C. area. The program gets much D1 - D3 recruiting attention as evidenced by the last couple of seasons which has seen players go onto to play at USNA, Northwestern, Michigan, Harvard, Rutgers, USC, Penn State, UNCCH, and W&M.
Here is an interesting article about the pipeline of Canadian students to EHS and realizing their NCAA dreams.
The 8-0 Maroon conclude their season next Saturday (11/12) when they travel to Woodberry Forest School to play the 116th consecutive game on the gridiron. Always played on the second Saturday in November, âThe Gameâ is one of the longest running high school football rivalries in the U.S. To bystanders the WFS vs EHS football game might seem like just another game, but to students and alumni of these two Virginia boarding schools, itâs practically the only game. Senator John McCain, an alumnus of EHS, has compared the charged atmosphere to the Army/Navy rivalry, âThe intensity at the Episcopal vs. Woodberry game equaled that.â
Woodberry Forest is one of the four 100% all boarding schools in the U.S. EHS is another. Located a short distance from Charlottesville, VA, WFS campus is located in the middle of a forest. It is pristine and on a sunny day in November, surrounded by foliage, it might be one of the most beautiful high school campuses in the U.S. Unlike the co-ed EHS student body, WFS is 100% boys and the EHS student body takes full advantage of this glaring difference. My favorite Spirit Week sheet hanging from a girls dorm in 2014 jabbed, âWhat do WFS boys dream of? EHS girls!â All ribbing aside, part of what makes âThe Gameâ so special is the mutual respect and admiration of each other. Win or lose the student body and alumni appreciate how both schools are steeped in deep traditions, values, and purpose.
Spirit Week begins in earnest this Monday with the student boy dressing up each day in a different theme. Sheets with friendly slogans and cheers will adorn the campus. Come Friday, parents and alumni arrive from all over the globe for the âThe Spirit of the High Schoolâ dinner. Then at 9 pm on Friday night, a student rally is held outside complete with a raging bonfire. This is unlike any high school pep rally, nor should it be.
On Saturday morning parents will rise early and travel to Woodberry to prepare the student/parent/alumni tailgate party. Around noontime, boys dressed in white shirt and tie, girls in black or maroon dresses (school colors) will arrive via motor coach and race over to the tailgate party. Buttons with âBeat Woodberryâ will be distributed. With anticipation building, the students will assemble and make their way to the Johnson Stadium for pre-game festivities which include mutual friendly hazing. Last year an EHS freshman (dressed as a Tiger) was carried in a make shift wooden coffin by the EHS cheerleaders to the delight of the student body. Woodberry countered with something⊠Then each student body assembles on their respective end of the field and forms a tunnel to welcome their team onto the field. Students return to the stands and a joint WFS/EHS boy/girl choir sings the National Anthem. It is quite a spectacle. The game will be live streamed online so alumni from all corners of the globe can watch from afar. Incidentally the 100th game was televised on ESPN. Here is a link if you wish to watch:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/woodberry-forest-live
Last year âThe Gameâ was played at EHS and it ended in a tie. The last time EHS traveled to WFS in 2014, they were underdogs, having lost 6 in a row to the Tigers. Despite the longshot odds, EHS was victorious 28-17. I will never forget, nor will the WFS players that year, forget watching the EHS student body rush the field to congratulate their team. This year WFS features a high powered offense, averaging over 40 points per game and led by the top high school quarterback in VA, who is committed to UVA. EHS has one of the top ranked defenses and perhaps the best running back in the state of VA. It should be an epic battle. GO HIGH SCHOOL!!
Seven semesters in the rear view mirror and one more to go. It is really hard to believe that in a few short months DS will be moving out of EHS for the last time. Fortunately for DW and I, DD has two more years. But I must admit I find myself a bit melancholy as commencement weekend fast approaches.
First here is an update from the Holy Hill.
- EHS football lost to WFS, 31-24 but won the IAC conference title, going 6-0 in league play and 9-1 overall.
- Newly renovated student center (Stewart Gym) was unveiled in early December. It is spectacular. Here are some pics. https://www.episcopalhighschool.org/page/news-detail?pk=899089&fromId=190648
- Approximately 15 students out of a class of approximately 110 signed LOIâs to play D1-D3 athletics (mostly D1), including football at Yale, Michigan, Penn State, Lehigh, and Cal Berkeley(LAX) ,
- Congratulation to the Class of 2017. Student acceptances have exceeded expectations. Approximately 1/3 were accepted ED. ED acceptances were to some of the most selective schools; UPenn, Cal-Tech, Cornell, Columbia, Stanford, Harvard, Cambridge, Princeton, Vanderbilt, WSTLU, Michigan (engineering), GTech, Dartmouth, Duke, UNC, UVA, NYU, and Northwestern.
- The Washington Program continues to expand with weekly trips into D.C. and on-campus speakers. More on this later about DSâs experiences.
- Students attended the Presidential Inauguration of the 45th President. Some students did not attend due to security and other concerns.
DS has adjusted well to the pace of senior year academics and leadership responsibilities. Some have said junior year is the toughest. For DS, senior year is by far more difficult. In addition to 7 academic classes (mostly AP - EHS calls them âAdvancedâ), he meets regularly with the administration and other monitors to discuss the pulse/issues of the school. Between academics, athletics, singing, and head monitor duties, he doesnât have much free time. But then again, he prefers it that way. Even when we visit, he opts to stay on dorm with his classmates, knowing that his time with his friends is fleeting.
Like him, I find myself taking inventory of the upcoming âlast times.â This coming weekend we travel to Richmond to watch the VA State Wrestling Championships. Against our wishes, he returned to wrestling despite two knee operations last year. Heâs wearing a brace, so at least itâs stable. But nonetheless, DW and I will exhale after Saturday. He arrived four years ago a novice wrestler. But after four years of hard work (and a terrific coach and teammates) he has found success on the mat. This year he finished second in the conference championships and was named to the all conference (IAC) team. Medals aside, the mat has taught him some of the most important life skills; perseverance, humility, grit, and that you are never ever out of the fight, never.
After wrestling season ends, heâll jump into Varsity Baseball. This year the team will travel to FL for spring training. Heâs been playing since t-ball and come mid-May, Iâll watch him swing the bat for - you guessed it - the last time.
DS continues to find sanctuary by singing in three groups; a Cappella, school choir, and chamber singers. Even though these activities are very time consuming, they are a respite from the school routine. This past Sunday, the school choir performed Evensong at the National Cathedral. Not a bad gig. The Choir will perform at multiple venues in NYC in early April, including St. Patrickâs Cathedral. DW and I will travel down to watch this last tour.
Classes will finish for seniors at the end of April. They will enjoy the month of May in an externship of their interest somewhere in the D.C. area. Some students will travel to Capitol Hill, others will shadow start-ups and non-profits, while other may stay back on campus to do research. DS has expressed an interest in working at the Pentagon or NASA. Not sure what is required to make this happen, but Iâm sure the school will do their best to secure a similar opportunity.
I noted above that DS has had some amazing off-campus experiences this year, opportunities that would not have been available if he were not so close to D.C. I cannot emphasize the value of being close to D.C. During the first semester he took an elective course called â9/11 to Nowâ, taught by the Head of School. This class examined the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 on the World Trade Center Towers and the Pentagon as a launching point to examine a variety of international and domestic issues affecting U.S. policy decisions today. The course further explored background issues leading up to the 9/11 attacks, the development of extremist groups such as al-Qaeda and ISIS and other tensions affecting the Middle East, the role that economics, religion, national security, and political pressures can play in current U.S. foreign policy decisions, and the balancing act between maintaining national security and civil liberties in the United States. Each week he had to write a comprehensive policy paper. Primary sources included visits to the Pentagon where he discussed foreign policy decisions with an Army General who commanded forces in Iraq. He also wrote a paper about the attack on the Pentagon where he was fortunate to interview the gentlemen who was responsible for raising funds to build the Pentagon Memorial and lost his brother in the attack. This class, more than any other he studied at EHS, inspired him and that probably is a good thing considering his career objective, which brings me to his college acceptance.
In prior posts I have noted that DS wants to serve as an officer in the military. While he initially preferred Navy, he was indifferent. His college list was dominated by service academies. In mid-January, West Point announced on their Facebook page that they were sending out the first 500 appointments and to be on the lookout. Since DS had received prior correspondence from WP expressing interest, he was anxious to know if his acceptance was in this batch. Knowing DS would call everyday asking if âitâ had arrived, I stalked our mail carrier. On January 19th, a BFE (big fat envelope) arrived and it was clear what it was⊠When he called that afternoon before athletics, I played dumb, ânothing arrived today.â If you have never seen an appointment package from one of the service academies, they are like no other acceptance package. There is a letter from the Academy Superintendent and a beautiful leather bound and engraved certificate. We left the BFE unopened and immediately overnighted it to DD who then gathered faculty and classmates (after the inauguration event). Since we were still at home, we (subsequently) lived vicariously through pictures and video. Even though it was recorded, it was a special moment - kind of similar to how I felt when he was born. DS walked into a large room in the administrative building and DD handed him the BFE. As he opened the BFE, faculty and friends were cheering and applauding. He had a feeling⊠He muttered OMG and then jumped up and down, realizing his dream had come true. Then he motioned to his 25+ classmates for a group hug. It was an unforgettable moment. An application process that lasted well over a year, tens of essays and interviews, a rigorous fitness test, and overcoming two knee surgeries to qualify medically were finally behind him. He was not only excited, but relieved.
DS applied to two other service academies, USNA and USAFA. He didnât receive a congressional nomination to USAFA, so he wonât be flying F22âs. USNA is still pending a decision. If he doesnât gain an appointment to USNA, he does have a path to a career in the Navy. He was awarded a four-year NROTC scholarship which is good at any of these schools, Vanderbilt, Rice, or UC Boulder (he just needs to be accepted to one of these schools.) But with a coveted West Point appointment on the table, itâs hard to believe he will opt for NROTC. He prefers to attend a school were 100% of the students are "embracing the suck.â If USNA appoints him, then it may be a tougher decision.
He will travel to WP next week for an overnight stay and we will meet him there. Even if all goes well, heâll probably hold out for all admission decisions. At a minimum, he needs a back up school in case he cannot attend WP due to injury, etc. But similar to BS acceptances, "love the school that loves you.â And at this point, West Point has shown the most affection.
With March 10th approaching if any prospective EHS students have questions, please do not hesitate to PM me. Itâs a wonderful school with a great location. Otherwise best of luck to the BS graduating Class of 2017 in your final semester!