Lincoln-Way West Student Accepted to Air Force Academy

NEW LENOX, IL - Teresa Kozak, a senior at Lincoln-Way West High School, will be an Air Force Academy cadet beginning this summer.

The Manhattan resident received her acceptance letter from the United States Air Force Academy in February, according to a Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 news release.

“I got an email saying I had a new notification in the application portal, and so I opened up the notification and it was my acceptance letter,” Kozak said. “It was right before school started. My parents told me that when I found out whether or not I got in, they wanted to hear about it in person, so I had to wait until after school to tell them…I didn’t even text them!”

Kozak, who is involved in AFJRPTC and five activities within AFJROTC at LWW, will graduate early in May so she can report to the Academy in June.

“The whole experience in JROTC really prepares you,” Kozak said. “It teaches you drill and ceremony, military customs and courtesies; I’m really glad I participated because that’s going to help me a lot with the academy.”

She is also a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Kitty Hawk Air Society, Latin Honor Society and Junior Classical League at school.

Photo courtesy of Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210