Whiz Kid: Muskego Athlete and Acadamic Star Nominated for U.S. Air Force Academy Appointment

Since she was a little girl, Muskego resident Taylor Drolshagen has dreamt of being a pilot. Now, the senior at Muskego High School is one key step closer to making that goal a reality.

Recently, Congressman Paul Ryan announced nominations for several students from his district, including Taylor, to be appointed to attend U.S. military service academies.

Taylor, who scored 34 on the ACT tests and has a 4.2 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, said the experience of talking with Congressman Ryan, as well as with Senators Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold, was rewarding as well.

“For my first interview, I was kind of nervous, but then while I was talking to them I realized they just truly wanted to know who I was and what I was about,” she said. “They asked me about what I expect from the academy and why I wanted to go, and about my academics and athletics and community service.”

Those three areas are home runs for Taylor, who runs track and cross country, and has been doing so at the varsity level for four years. Her best time for the 4K is 15:18. She’s also painted houses with Habitat for Humanity and volunteers at Ebenezer Food Pantry periodically.

But aviation inspires her, and if accepted into the U.S. Air Force Academy, she plans to pursue aeronautical engineering. The nomination she received is the first requirement, and an actual appointment is the next step. She expects to receive a decision in the next couple of weeks.

“I would love to be a pilot for troop transport, or supplies,” she said.

Other schools she’s considering are the University of Wisconsin – Madison and Milwaukee School of Engineering.

Taylor is also a member of Spanish National Honor Society, Spanish Club, Academic All State, and is a candidate for Wisconsin All State Scholars, and a finalist for the National Merit Scholarship.