May 30, 2008
SCHOOLS:
Three from Ridgefield to attend Naval Academy
|
Dreams of being a naval officer are rooted in the childhood of all three — yes, three — Ridgefield High School seniors entering the U.S. Naval Academy’s class of 2012 in early July.
“I knew I wanted to fly,” said Jack Simonson. “...Flying a jet aircraft off an aircraft carrier is probably the coolest thing in the whole world.”
“Since I was maybe 10 years old I knew I wanted to be in the Navy,” Ben Fernandez said.
“I went there to visit, I’d say I was 10 or 11 years old. They have a tour you can take,” said Dylan Shay. “...The midshipmen march out — it’s very impressive.”
That one high school with 1,700 students has three seniors entering the naval academy seems beyond remarkable.
“This year over 11,000 students from throughout the nation applied for one of approximately 1,200 appointments to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., making it one of the most selective schools for admission in the country,” Evan Barnet said at a dinner Saturday night where family and friends honored the three “candidates with appointments.”
An academy graduate, Mr. Barnet is a “blue and gold officer” who supported all five RHS students who applied to the naval academy this year.
He said there were 136 applications from Connecticut this year, 18 offers of admission, and 15 acceptances — three from Ridgefield.
The admissions process asks for more than civilian colleges require. Each candidate needs a nomination from a congressman or senator — and the politicians have a limit on how many they may give out. In addition to excellent academic transcripts, essays and recommendations, there’s a police record check, a medical exam, and a physical fitness test — 100 sit-ups, 100 push-ups, a mile and a half run.
“Screening is thorough, with a focus on well-rounded individuals that have demonstrated leadership potential and a willingness to accept responsibility, as well as outstanding academic credentials and are in excellent medical and physical condition,” Mr. Barnet said. ”It is an institution that an applicant must want to attend.”
Mr. Barnet said the statewide blue and gold officer he reports to, Tom Maxwell, had said that in 12 years he’d never seen three students from the same school.
“It really is a testament to the kids, their academic accomplishments, character and desire,” he said.
Dreams taking life
In each, that desire grew from seeds planted years ago.
Jack Simonson recalled his family’s years in Paris, when military jets roared overhead for French patriotic celebrations.
“Bastille Day,” he said, “...They would practice the fly-by runs right over our apartment.”
And he recalled visits to Annapolis with his parents, Tom and Mary Pat Simonson, who’d met at a wedding there.
“We’d take tours of the academy, just walk around the town,” he said. “...an eight-year-old, seeing the upperclassmen and the midshipmen in their white uniforms was an amazing experience.
“As I got older my interest in the academy matured with my age, and it became more of a goal,” he said.
Ben Fernandez, son of Carolina and Ernie Fernandez, went to the Naval Academy for lacrosse camp between eighth and ninth grade. “I just loved it. I loved the campus. I loved the atmosphere,” he said.
All three of the boys went to the Naval Academy’s summer seminar last year.
“You get a taste of what it’s like. I loved that,” Ben said. “I figured this is definitely the place for me.”
While Jack Simonson hopes to be a pilot, Ben Fernandez has other plans.
“My goal is to go special warfare — Navy Seals,” he said. “The name is an acronym for ‘sea, air, land’ — that’s how they get into the combat zone.
“...They’re the best in the Navy, a really tight community, a brotherhood where they’re really a team, and that’s what I want, to be the best there is.”
Dylan Shay was interviewed in March in The Press about his academy acceptance. The son of Terrence and Geraldine Shay, he has an idea of following his father into the Marines.
Dylan spoke of the summer seminar program that the three candidates went to last summer.
“That was really a great week,” he said. “I saw Jack and Ben a couple of times while I was there. We went to classes we’d signed up for, the teachers would tell you about the class. We’d get up in the morning and have a work-out. We worked on marching a little bit, and drills.
“Basically, it was the structured lifestyle I liked,” Dylan said. “...You get up fairly early and there’s so much to do. The days are long, but it felt like you were actually doing something.”
War thoughts
The nation is at war — the risks of military service are something all three boys have considered.
“I definitely thought about it,” Ben said. “I’m prepared to go where we’re going to be in the next five or six years. I thought about it. It’s not something I’m afraid of.”
“I’m prepared to go to war if that’s what’s asked of me,” Dylan said. “That’s part of the service, having to fight for your country, if needed.”
“It gives a sense of purpose, and reason,” Jack said. “If you’re going to join, you join for a reason — it’s not that you want to fight during wartime, but this is what the military’s for: You fight to keep peace.”
© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
|
