Ask 17-year-old Sydney Nekola to recall a memorable experience from Summer Seminar at the United States Naval Academy and she is likely to describe the vigorous physical exercises or rigorous STEM classes.
But if her squad leader were to describe a memory of Nekola, it might be of her efforts to assist a fellow cadet who was struggling and falling behind on a particularly gruelling obstacle course.
Those efforts garnered Nekola, a senior at Lincoln-Way East High School, the session’s Outstanding Candidate Award, one of only five awarded.
“Instinctively I left the front of the line to offer support through the exercise so our entire squad could finish strong together,” Nekola said in a news release sent by her high school.
Nekola sought out the opportunity to attend the prestigious summer session at one of the nation’s five military academies.
“My grandfather was a World War II Navy veteran, and I’ve always had a strong passion to follow in his footsteps,” she said in the release. “He was always my hero and taught me military values.”
The USNA has a highly selective process for deciding who will attend summer session, according to Jenny Erickson, the academy’s director of media relations. “Superior academic performance, demonstrated achievement in athletics, and physical fitness are among the qualifications, she said.
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Erickson said about 7,500 students applied for 2,400 spots available in the three Summer Sessions in June.
The session provides a variety of academic and athletic experiences as well as professional training for high school juniors who attend the sessions and who are considering attending the Naval Academy.
Development of leadership skills and the rigorous physical training were the two components of the summer session that caught Nekola’s attention when she learned of the opportunity at a meeting last summer in Chicago.
Nekola has already demonstrated leadership, having been elected class president all four years of high school. She also has participated in sports every year of high school and plans to try out for the basketball and soccer teams this year.
Nekola said she is as proud of serving as class president as she is of earning the Outstanding Candidate Award at Anapolis.
“As class president, I hope to continue to bring those same values of leadership, performance, and teamwork to help our senior class finish strong,” she said in the news release.
So, what comes next? According to Erickson, the USNA spokeswoman, as many as 16,000 high school students from across the country apply to the Naval Academy each year. Nekola said she plans to be among them, and she is currently attempting to get support for her application from Illinois members of Congress.
Of those who do apply, approximately 1,200 get accepted and inducted into the freshman class, Erickson. All those who are accepted into the Naval Academy own a full scholarship, though they must commit to five years of military service after they graduate, Erickson said.