BRIDGEPORT, W.Va (WDTV) – Senator Shelley Moore Capito has nominated 32 high school seniors for admission into U.S. service academies, four of whom attend Bridgeport High School.
Cole Amos described the moment he found out he was nominated for the U.S. Military Academy as surreal.
"There weren't any tears, but me and my dad hugged for a while," Amos recalled, sporting a beaming smile. "There were a lot of smiles. I couldn't stop smiling while we were eating."
He and three of his classmates were all handpicked by both Sen. Capito and Sen. Joe Manchin.
"It's a validation of their hard work, their responsible behavior, their character," said Matt DeMotto, assistant principal at Bridgeport High School.
And through the hustle and bustle of high school, these students never shied away from a challenge.
"I take [Advanced Placement] classes, so I have to balance three hour football practice with AP homework every night," said Zak Kimble, who was nominated for admission to the U.S. Military Academy.
Haden Miller, president of the student body, was nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy. His cousin graduated from there in 2013. By that point, Haden already knew this was his calling.
"When I visited him on campus, I fell in love with the place," he recalled.
Fisher Rector described the ascent from Boy Scouts to the U.S. Military Academy as a natural progression.
"The whole stressing of an honor code is something very similar to Boy Scouts and something I've always been fond of," Rector said.
All four students still have a few weeks before they learn their fate. Right now, though, they're floating on cloud nine. You can see more of 5 News' conversations with these four students above this article.
