KHS seniors receive military academy appointments

KELLOGG — Kellogg High School seniors Joey Gibbs and Wolfgang Beier both recently received prestigious appointments to the United States Naval Academy (Gibbs) and the United States Air Force Academy (Beier).

Getting these appointments is no easy task. It requires a lengthy application process, as well as possessing certain grade and extracurricular requirements that most students can’t manage all at once.

“First off, they had to be great students, which they both are,” Kellogg High School counselor Dan Lucier said. “These guys are the top of the top of the 1 percent. These appointments are very much like getting full scholarships to an Ivy League school, and maybe even better with the opportunities that are available to them once they’ve completed their time.”

Each appointment is estimated to be comparable to around $400,000 in scholarship funding.

Beier, who wants to become a pilot, will be joining his brother at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.

“My brother Ben is attending the Air Force Academy right now,” Beier said. “I have always wanted to become a pilot and this is more prestigious than just a regular university. It also almost guarantees me a job as a pilot after I’m done.”

Beier is also looking forward to the military aspect of the school.

“I like the leadership side of the military,” Beier said. “The benefits of being in the military are incredible. I really think this is a good way to set myself up for my future.”

Gibbs, who will be heading to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., has been eying the military academy for a few years.

“I got some information in the mail about the Naval Academy when I was a freshman and after looking into it and attending their Summer Stem Program, I fell in love with the academy,” Gibbs said. “I applied to both the Naval and Air Force Academies, because I also want to be a pilot.”

Both students will be leaving for basic training on June 28 and both are excited for their new adventures.

Gibbs has utilized his grades and leadership training to get him where he is.

“The Naval Academy is more leadership-based, whereas the Air Force Academy looks at academics a lot more. I have a lot of leadership positions in the KHS JROTC, I am the commanding officer this year and I am an Eagle Scout,” Gibbs said. “All of those leadership positions definitely helped.”

Beier, a 4.0 student and probable class valedictorian, used his grades to leverage his appointment into the academic heavy Air Force Academy.

Idaho senator Mike Crapo made his announcement of his appointments in December.

"One of the honors of my role as Idaho’s U.S. Senator is nominating distinguished students to the U.S. military service academies,” Crapo said. “By pursuing higher education in one of these academies, these students demonstrate their strong commitment to service and country. I congratulate each individual on their nomination and have every confidence in their leadership and academic skills as they continue to represent Idaho long into the future.”

KHS 2017 graduate Ted Reed will also be joining Beier at the Air Force Academy.