UCS senior selected to prestigious Military Academy at West Point

A call for “selfless service” has led one Utica Community Schools senior to earn entry in the highly selective United States Military Academy at West Point.

Stevenson High School senior Lucas Dickerson is among the estimated 12 percent of applicants who have been selected to the oldest of the country’s five federal service academies.

“I think as Americans we take so many things for granted that do not exist through other governments,” Dickerson said. “I think it is important to give back.”

Superintendent Dr. Christine Johns congratulated Dickerson on admission to the U.S. Military Academy and his service to the country.

“Our entire district is proud of Lucas and the leadership he will provide to protect the ideals and values of our community and our nation,” Dr. Johns said.

West Point candidates must meet stringent academic standards and pass physical tests.

The military academy trains its graduates to become officers in the U.S. Army. Graduates must serve five years of active-duty upon graduation, and three years in an inactive reserve status.

In addition to becoming a commissioned officer, graduates also earn a four-year degree. Dickerson has an interest in mechanical engineering or a career in the aeronautics industry.

A UCS student since sixth grade, Dickerson said his experiences in the district have stressed the importance of accepting challenges.

He said his interest in pursuing West Point grew out of his participation in the Michigan National Guard’s boot camp this past summer.

“When I enlisted last year, I knew I had some kind of calling for selfless service, but I didn’t know how I wanted to go about doing it,” he said. “Through that experience I realized that I wanted to go into active service as an officer in the army.”

Superintendent Dr. Christine Johns

Source: Utica Community Schools

Http://www.uticak12.org