BY STANLEY BINGHAM

Jordan Barnhart, 12, was recently accepted to the prestigious Naval Academy located in Annapolis, Maryland. She will continue her academic career at the 173 year-old establishment where her tuition will be fully paid for in exchange for service in the United States Marine Corps.

“I did not always want to attend the academy,” said Barnhart. “However, I knew that I wanted to go into the military, so I talked to a Marine recruiter during my sophomore year of high school. I did some research of my own and came across the Naval Academy.”

Barnhart was set on earning a four year degree.The difficulty of getting into the academy combined with her findings and encounter with the recruiter ultimately helped her decide where she wanted to end up. She was also torn between getting a degree and going to the military.

“The academy prides itself on graduating leaders,” she continued. “You are held to a higher standard and walking out of there I will be the person they want me to be in the military and in life.”

During her high school days, she was an outstanding student as well as a star goalie. This has prepared herself for her future as a Marine or Naval Officer by bettering herself through sports and academics.

“There is the mandatory five year commitment which attending the academy entails,” said Barnhart. “I plan to complete this but I am not sure what my life will look like beyond that. I will try to focus on something I enjoy such continuing my studies with nuclear engineering.”