St. Mary’s High School ties high mark for acceptance at service academies

ANNAPOLIS – Five St. Mary’s High School students will attend the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis this year, with three others heading to military academy prep schools and two more ready for Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).

The spate of graduates with careers fixed on military service ties the Annapolis school’s previous record set 20 years earlier.

Teddy Androus, Gabe Berzins, Matthew Brenner, Isabella Brianas and Grace Mitchell will be freshmen this fall at the Naval Academy.

Baily Walden and Angus Miller will attend the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School in Colorado, and Evan Romo will attend Naval Academy Preparatory School in Rhode Island.

Madison Brianas (twin sister of Isabella Brianas) will enroll in ROTC at the University of California Berkeley, with Keifer Chandler set for ROTC at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg.

“The biggest reason why I want to attend the Naval Academy is that I want to be a part of something that’s bigger than myself,” Androus said. “I want to give back to my country, and I believe that going to USNA will help me accomplish that goal, and I know that all five of us feel the same way about going to USNA.”

To gain admittance into the Naval Academy, candidates usually have to obtain a nomination from a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate or the vice president of the United States. The admissions procedure can also include nominations for applicants who are enlisted in the U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine Corps, children of deceased or disabled veterans, children of prisoners of war or service members missing in action and children of medal of honor awardees.

The five St. Mary’s accepted into the Naval Academy had to go through a lengthy process that included multiple interviews.

“I had a rigorous process applying,” said Mitchell, who was also St. Mary’s Class of 2024 valedictorian. “I was already recruited by the Naval Academy to play lacrosse, but even after being recruited, I still had to apply and get a recommendation from a senator.”

The seniors said they feel well prepared for the academic rigors of the academy after spending their high school years at St. Mary’s.

“I’ve been putting work and effort in for the past four years of high school, and a lot of it is because of the standard that St. Mary’s teachers and staff have for us,” noted Berzins, who said school staff “really encourages kids to go the extra mile.”

Brenner believes St. Mary’s sets the standard for sending students to the Naval Academy, located just a short walk from the school.

“St. Mary’s sending five students this year to USNA is abnormal in my opinion,” Brenner said. “USNA is very hard to get into, and five students from our class are going there. I think this shows how amazing the Class of 2024 and St. Mary’s are, because not everyone is going to USNA.”

Brianas said her Catholic education and faith have “created a sense of community.”

“With my faith, I feel supported and not alone,” she said. “I learned to have good morals, and my faith will lead me to trust in God for my future.”

Berzins added that good morals and respect for others is important in a military career.

Many St. Mary’s students have deep roots in the military. Brenner’s two grandfathers served in the military. Berzins’ three brothers, seven uncles and a grandfather also served – as did Brianas’ father and uncles. Mitchell also grew up around military veterans.

“It’s an amazing opportunity and a great honor to be able to do what my grand­fathers did, and I’m inspired to put in a great work effort in the military like they did,” Brenner said.

Chandler is excited to become an ROTC member, noting that he has wanted to be in the military since he was “very young.”

“I believe I was called to serve and will make a difference in the military,” he said.

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