The nation’s military service academies have offered appointments to 10 Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) students. These soon-to-be graduates—representing eight high schools—received appointments to military service academies for the Air Force, Army, Merchant Marine, and Navy service branches. In addition to the prestige of attending the academies, the students earned $3.5 million in scholarships. Grayson and North Gwinnett high schools each had two students who received appointments. Archer, Dacula, Lanier, Norcross, Peachtree Ridge, and South Gwinnett high schools each had one student who received an academy appointment.
The U.S. Service Academies are four-year postsecondary institutions that combine educational excellence with military officer training. Students accepted to the academies receive a free, four-year education in return for a commitment to serve as active-duty military service members after graduation. In order to be admitted, students must receive a congressional nomination from either their U.S. Representative or Senator and must meet the highly competitive educational and extracurricular standards that are set by the individual academies as well as standards for physical aptitude and medical fitness.
The following 10 GCPS seniors accepted service academy appointments:
Archer High School
Justin Johnson— United States Military Academy at West Point (Army)
Dacula High School
Dallen Rawson— United States Air Force Academy
Grayson High School
Tiffany Dang— United States Merchant Marine Academy
Rayne Fry— United States Naval Academy
Lanier High School
Benjamin Claypole— United States Merchant Marine Academy
Norcross High School
David Apetrei—United States Military Academy at West Point (Army)
North Gwinnett High School
William Collins—United States Air Force Academy
Ethan Washington—United States Military Academy at West Point (Army)
Peachtree Ridge High School
John Dutton—United States Naval Academy
South Gwinnett High School
Alexander Brookins—United States Air Force Academy