EARLIER this week, Mount Carmel School senior, Mike Kim, received word that he had been admitted into the U.S. Military Academy at West Point for the upcoming school year, a media release said.
West Point is widely considered as one of the preeminent military academies in the country and the world.
Mike Kim was one of a few graduating seniors from the CNMI that was nominated by Washington Rep. Pete A. Tenorio.
Only nominees of approved sources, such as members of Congress, are considered for admission into West Point.
Admission into the prestigious institution is a daunting task. Candidates must be at least 17 but not yet 23 years old on July 1st of the year of admission, be unmarried, and have no legal obligation to support children.
Each year, over 10,000 applicants seek nomination, of which only about 3,500 are nominated, from which only about 1,200 are invited to enroll.
When Kim heard the news, he said, “I was very surprised.” He was notified by e-mail to call a West Point admissions counselor by phone, who then informed him of his admission.
Kim’s parents’ were especially excited. As he put it, “They were very happy and very proud.” He added, “They couldn’t wait to brag about it.”
When asked about how he feels now that he will be heading to West Point, Kim said, “This is my first step into my future. I look forward to being a West Point cadet.”
He believes that his well-rounded resume helped him gain admission. Kim has been active in a wide variety of extra-curricular activities, especially athletics.
When Kim was asked about what advice he might have for his peers or anyone seeking something similar to what he has accomplished, he simply stated, “Don’t be intimidated.”
West Point was founded in 1802 to produce commissioned leaders for America’s Army with an emphasis on intellectual, physical, military, and moral-ethical development as part of what’s called the “West Point Experience.”
West Point has produced some of the most notable leaders in U.S. history, including President Ulysses S. Grant, Gen. Robert E. Lee, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, astronaut Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin, and Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf.