Lapeer East High School senior Alex Hart has been setting and achieving goals since he was a young child.
Whether it was in athletics or the classroom, Alex has set high standards for success.
Now, Alex has reached another milestone. He has been offered a full appointment to the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn. Attending the Academy is the next step toward his goal of working in National Security.
“The Coast Guard has attracted me my entire life,” Alex said. “I like the water, I’ve been a swimmer for 14 years, I love to sail and I want to travel. A military academy offers the kind of education I want and the Coast Guard program fits in perfectly.”
Appointments to the Academy are highly competitive. According to the Academy's website, only 411 appointments were offered to the 1,672 students who completed applications to be among the class of 2013. Of those offered appointments, only 288 were sworn in as cadets.
The Academy's educational program stresses academics, physical fitness, character and leadership.
Those qualities are a perfect match for Alex. Not only has he maintained a high grade point average, but he has competed on the Lapeer Swim and Dive team, on USA and YMCA swim teams for a dozen years and has competed in two national swim meets. He also has played on the Lapeer East High School hockey team and plans to participate in track and field in the spring.
He was selected to participate in the elite six-day National Youth Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C. in October 2009. Only 300 students from around the country were selected for the forum's inside look at the country's fight against foreign and domestic threats.
His mother, Kristen Hart, said her son's leadership abilities and skill on competitive swim teams gave him an edge in gaining appointment to the Academy. He will compete on the Academy's swim team and already has met with the team's coach.
"Alex wanted to serve his country ever since he was little," Kristen Hart said. "His family has a history of service in the military and he was interested in the Coast Guard because of its humanitarian efforts."
With his appointment, Alex will attend tuition-free for four years of school and will receive a monthly stipend. After graduation, he is committed to serving as an officer for five years.
He will attend boot camp this summer and spend a week training on the cutter Eagle, the tall ship used to train future Coast Guard officers. He does not yet know where the Eagle will be when it is his turn to sail on it, but said it could be anywhere in the world. His academic years will start in the fall.
Kristen Hart believes her son will do well at the Academy.
"Since he was very young he has always been very good at setting realistic goals and following through on those," she said. "The Academy will be a perfect fit for him because he is used to a very structured schedule."
Dennis Warner, Alex's counselor at Lapeer East, said Alex's experience at the Youth Leadership Forum cemented his goal of being accepted to the Academy.
"He's just a great kid," Mr. Warner said.
Alex is not done setting goals. He wants to work for the CIA and can apply for an internship with it between his freshman and sophomore years at the Academy. He hopes he can serve his five-year commitment with the CIA after graduation.
“When I went to the National Youth Leadership Forum, the intelligence aspect of it really stood out,” Alex said. “I am open to new cultures and being uncomfortable with my surroundings and having new experiences, traveling the most I can and enlightening people and having them enlighten me. I am open to anywhere in the world.”
Whether it was in athletics or the classroom, Alex has set high standards for success.
Now, Alex has reached another milestone. He has been offered a full appointment to the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn. Attending the Academy is the next step toward his goal of working in National Security.
“The Coast Guard has attracted me my entire life,” Alex said. “I like the water, I’ve been a swimmer for 14 years, I love to sail and I want to travel. A military academy offers the kind of education I want and the Coast Guard program fits in perfectly.”
Appointments to the Academy are highly competitive. According to the Academy's website, only 411 appointments were offered to the 1,672 students who completed applications to be among the class of 2013. Of those offered appointments, only 288 were sworn in as cadets.
The Academy's educational program stresses academics, physical fitness, character and leadership.
Those qualities are a perfect match for Alex. Not only has he maintained a high grade point average, but he has competed on the Lapeer Swim and Dive team, on USA and YMCA swim teams for a dozen years and has competed in two national swim meets. He also has played on the Lapeer East High School hockey team and plans to participate in track and field in the spring.
He was selected to participate in the elite six-day National Youth Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C. in October 2009. Only 300 students from around the country were selected for the forum's inside look at the country's fight against foreign and domestic threats.
His mother, Kristen Hart, said her son's leadership abilities and skill on competitive swim teams gave him an edge in gaining appointment to the Academy. He will compete on the Academy's swim team and already has met with the team's coach.
"Alex wanted to serve his country ever since he was little," Kristen Hart said. "His family has a history of service in the military and he was interested in the Coast Guard because of its humanitarian efforts."
With his appointment, Alex will attend tuition-free for four years of school and will receive a monthly stipend. After graduation, he is committed to serving as an officer for five years.
He will attend boot camp this summer and spend a week training on the cutter Eagle, the tall ship used to train future Coast Guard officers. He does not yet know where the Eagle will be when it is his turn to sail on it, but said it could be anywhere in the world. His academic years will start in the fall.
Kristen Hart believes her son will do well at the Academy.
"Since he was very young he has always been very good at setting realistic goals and following through on those," she said. "The Academy will be a perfect fit for him because he is used to a very structured schedule."
Dennis Warner, Alex's counselor at Lapeer East, said Alex's experience at the Youth Leadership Forum cemented his goal of being accepted to the Academy.
"He's just a great kid," Mr. Warner said.
Alex is not done setting goals. He wants to work for the CIA and can apply for an internship with it between his freshman and sophomore years at the Academy. He hopes he can serve his five-year commitment with the CIA after graduation.
“When I went to the National Youth Leadership Forum, the intelligence aspect of it really stood out,” Alex said. “I am open to new cultures and being uncomfortable with my surroundings and having new experiences, traveling the most I can and enlightening people and having them enlighten me. I am open to anywhere in the world.”
