MORROW, OHIO – For the first time in Little Miami High School history, three students have been appointed to military academies. Jessie Carmack and Owen Waits are headed to the United States Military Academy at West Point, and Melissa Beerse will attend the United State Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.
Jessie Carmack, the daughter of Gary and Terri Carmack of Clarksville, will be playing basketball for the army. "I decided to go to West Point because of the education I will receive. Basketball is a great addition," she said.
In preparation for her June 25 arrival, Carmack was staying fit by playing basketball and working with a personal trainer. She's also mentally preparing herself for the transition to basic training.
"West Point is 85 percent male. More and more females are going into the military, and I think it's good for the men to see women as one of them," she said.
She plans to study engineering and psychology, and her career interests include college coaching and teaching special education. "I'm excited about a new beginning, playing college basketball, developing new friendships and getting a new experience in New York," Carmack said. "But I'm a little nervous about training, keeping my studies up and leaving my family and friends."
Carmack, however, is no stranger to juggling extracurricular activities and coursework: her high school activities have included youth basketball, vice president of Students Against Destructive Decisions, yearbook, student government, National Honor Society treasurer, student liaison, soccer, basketball and track.
Owen Waits is the son of Adam and Sue Waits of Morrow. He expressed his dream of entering the US military: "I've always wanted to be in the military, and I want to be an engineer. West Point is one of the top engineering school, and I knew it would be a great opportunity to go to a good school."
He plans to study mechanical engineering and intends to serve 20 years in the army. Waits said he is most worried about the physical and academic strain. In preparation, he's running, doing push ups, sit ups and pull ups and hitting the YMCA. He's also been reviewing the cadet handbook to learn more about the Army and West Point.
"I know there is definitely a possibility to go to war," he said. "But if I have to go, West Point, or any of the military academies, are the best training."
During his high school career, he was active in marching band, golf, wrestling, tennis, Boy Scouts, and served as the vice president of his class and president of the National Honor Society.
Melissa Beerse is the daughter of Peter and Lisa Beerse of Morrow and the oldest of seven children. Although she acknowledged that the transition has been difficult on her family, she looks forward to pole-vaulting for the Air Force.
"I didn't want to go at first," Beerse admitted. "They started recruiting me in the summer, and I decided to go and visit. I fell in love with it and realized it was the right place for me to go."
Beerse plans to major in biology and may continue on to medical school. While in high school, she was active in indoor and outdoor track and field, cross country, swim team, Junior Olympics, Student Government as Vice President, French Club as President, Art Club, National Honor Society and French National Honor Society.
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