Plant City High School’s Kellyanne Hurst, Durant High School’s Trey VanDeGrift and Strawberry Crest High School’s Matthew Baker were among the seven students honored by U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross at the 2014 Academy Nominees Banquet April 25, at Toscana Ristorante on the Southeastern University campus, in Lakeland.
The event recognized students from Florida’s 15th Congressional District, who received nominations to U.S. Service Academies. Hurst will attend the U.S. Naval Academy, VanDeGrift the U.S. Air Force Academy, and Baker the U.S. Naval Academy.
Ross makes nominations for the five different U.S. Service Academies, up to 10 candidates for each vacancy at each academy, and the academies make the final decision.
“It is one of the highest honors I have as a member of Congress to assist deserving constituents in seeking appointment to a U.S. Service Academy,” Ross said.
Acceptance of an appointment commits an applicant to a 10-year obligation to the service (four years at the academy and six years on active duty).
Kellyanne Hurst, U.S. Naval Academy
For Plant City High School senior Kellyanne Hurst, the ocean beckons her name. That’s why she chose the U.S. Naval Academy as the place to continue her higher education.
Hurst will be graduating this year, but she won’t enjoy a long summer break like many other entering college freshmen. Instead, she’ll report in July, for Plebe Summer, a required training program, which includes rigorous physical and mental training.
The academic year starts in August. She plans to study either fiber operations or ocean engineering.
“I’m looking forward to meeting new people and being in an environment where everyone is ambitious, athletic and smart,” Hurst said. “Where everyone has a bigger goal than themselves.”
Captain of Plant City High’s golf team, Hurst also has been recruited to play Division 1 golf at the Naval Academy. Golf, along with her impressive résumé of extracurriculars that include National Honors Society, Youth Alive and vice president of Civinettes, attracted the attention of the school and Ross.
Hurst completed a competitive application and interview process to earn Ross’ nomination. She had met him before, when she attended the Congressional Classroom through his office. She was able to visit his office in Washington, D.C., had dinner with him and the other students and visited the numerous attractions of the nation’s capital.
“It was absolutely incredible,” Hurst said. “I could see myself living there one day.”
With the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., Hurst won’t be far from D.C. Many members of her father’s family also live in Maryland.
Trey VanDeGrift, U.S. Air Force Academy
Trey VanDeGrift will be taking flight, from the warm beaches of Florida to the snowy mountains of Colorado, as he embarks on a new chapter in his life to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy.
“The biggest thing is that it is one of the premiere academic institutions,” VanDeGrift said. “And the fact that there is an opportunity to serve. It’s different than any other college. You don’t have to be in a club to serve. Instead, it’s you’re job — serving your country every single day.”
Service runs in his family. His aunt and uncle, Jami and Tom Rotello, both attended the academy. Jami Rotello is still in the Air Force. Tom Rotello is retired and now flies commercial jets for Delta Airlines.
At the academy, VanDeGrift hopes to study chemistry or biology, with the goal of continuing on to medical school. The Durant High senior’s involvement with the Leo Club and National Honors Society will make him a competitive candidate for many programs.
Depending on his academic track, VanDegrift may play football for the academy. He has been recruited after an impressive career as Durant’s quarterback. He’s visited the academy three times, once last November to see a game.
“What I hear is you make a lot of the best relationships with the cadets,” VanDeGrift said. “You meet people from all over the United States. It’s like a large family unit.”
The Valrico resident has a new family to look forward to, but he said he’ll miss his own back home.
“(I’ll mostly miss) seeing friends, going to the beach, fishing,” VanDeGrift said. “But, overall, there’s going to be a lot of opportunity for things I enjoy there.”
Matthew Baker, U.S. Naval Academy
Strawberry Crest High School senior Matthew Baker may be going into the U.S. Naval Academy, but it’s flying and space that interest him most. He plans to study aeronautical or aerospace engineering.
“I think it’s very cool,” Baker said. “Out of all the achievements our species has reached, the ability to fly or go outside of our planet is the most amazing. I want to be part of that.”
Baker will leave for the Maryland-based campus this July, where he’ll attend Plebe Summer, along with Plant City’s Hurst. Baker attended Summer Seminar last year, where he got to live the life of an enrolled student. The training doesn’t scare him.
“I like the whole military lifestyle in contrast to a civilian college,” Baker said. “I like PT; I like obstacle courses. There will be a lot of both.”
For Baker, service runs in the family. His father, Robert Baker, retired as colonel in the Marines.
“Him being a Marine helped me, but he never pushed me,” Baker said. “It was just something I could be involved with to serve my country.”
And although his summer will be cut short, Baker is looking forward to the next stage in his life.
“I think it’ll be very fun,” Baker said. “My dad’s a Marine, and I also want to fly or go into space. The Navy is the best for both.”
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.