Elijah Bailey, a senior at St. Joseph High School, was notified this week he's been accepted to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. in the Fall. He got confirmation on Tuesday by a call to his home from Arkansas Congressman French Hill.
"This is a highly competitive appointment," Counselor Kristen Piraino said. "Approximately 12,000 highly-qualified young men and women apply and only around 10% are accepted." Elijah's education at West Point will be entirely funded which amounts to about $400,000 in scholarships.
Elijah is the second St. Joseph student in recent years to receive a Congressional appointment to a U.S. Military Academy. Tia Massa, a 2016 graduate, received one to the U.S. Air Force Academy where she is now in her senior year. "Elijah has worked incredibly hard for this," Ms. Piraino said. "He is such a deserving young man.We're all proud of him!"