Hooah, Oorah and Hooyah!
CHARLOTTE — As Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools seniors wrap up their high-school experience with graduation parties and vacations, nine graduates are preparing for upcoming military appointments.
Christ the King has one Crusader attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, two gearing up for the Air Force Academy, and three getting ready for the Naval Academy. Charlotte Catholic will also send three Cougars to the Naval Academy.
“We are very proud of all of our appointees to the academies. It is very clear to us that their hard work, love of virtue, and high level of intelligence will serve them well in service to our country,” said Christ the King Guidance Counselor Todd Porter.
Gaining admission to one of the five federally instituted military academies goes beyond top-notch grades and high SAT scores – it takes physical endurance, leadership skills and a passion to serve one’s country. Having nine seniors and 12 appointments (some students received multiple appointments) emerge from MACS schools is a remarkable feat, school leaders say. That’s because the application process is rigorous: with a fitness assessment, a medical exam, an essay, congressional nomination, letters of recommendation and an interview. Each academy has 12,000 to 20,000 applicants, but only 1,200 freshman slots available each year.
“It’s quite exceptional” to have so many appointments among a graduating class of 106, Porter noted – and even more so, to have so many appointments from a single academy.
Luke Travers and Andrew Bauders from Christ the King are two of the seniors headed to military academies this fall. (Lisa M. Geraci | Catholic News Herald)
Flying high with The Air Force Academy
Defying all the odds, CTK’s Andrew Bauders gained three appointments: to the Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy and Naval Academy. This is an extraordinary recognition only a handful of seniors nationwide can claim.
Bauders ultimately chose the Air Force and credits his CTK education and faculty for his success, along with his time as an altar server at St. Mark Church and being an active member of the Student Government Association.
“Christ the King provided me with the foundation necessary to pursue opportunities. Attending a school with dedicated and engaged faculty has significantly advanced my education, allowing me to grow beyond what I initially thought possible,” Bauders said.
Luke Travers from CTK will join the ranks as an Air Force cadet, reporting to Colorado Springs, Colo., with Bauders.
“You will excel at the Air Force Academy because of your Catholic education from here,” said C.C. Bottner, retired Air Force major. “Not just because you’re used to wearing a uniform and already having the discipline and the ability to prioritize. But, because you know about teamwork, and you have faith, and I encourage you to rely on that faith while at the academy.”
Christ the King High School graduate Ben Habel receives Letter of Assurance by Matt Reyes.
Marching to West Point
Ben Habel from CTK accepted a letter of assurance and plans on attending West Point Prep School, with a full academic scholarship. Habel committed to play on the lacrosse team, trading in his Crusader jersey for a Division I Black Knight one, and will start basic training after Reception Day, June 30.
Matt Reyes, West Point district field force liaison, presented Habel with a plaque for this honor and said CTK is gaining national attention.
“This school broke some kind of record for how many students were admitted to all the service academies,” said Reyes. “You, Crusaders, are really blazing trails. This sets us up for greatness moving forward, so just keep it up. I’m totally proud of you.”
Reyes also presented ROTC scholarships to CTK students Jake Travers and Kyle Corrigan, who will both begin the fall semester at the University of Tennessee.
Melissa McCaslin presented United States Naval Academy recognition to Patrick Walsh, Malerie Lague, Kellan Azzopardi.
Shipping off to The Naval Academy
Xavia Berry-Candelario
Costello
Hyland Xavia Berry-Candelario, Finley Costello and Roman Hyland (who also was accepted at West Point) from Charlotte Catholic High School will study at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. Hyland is slated to continue his football career on the roster of the Navy Midshipmen.
They are part of a proud tradition of Charlotte Catholic grads heading on to the military academies.
“We are fortunate and blessed to have our young adults work so diligently to earn both a congressional nomination and an academy appointment,” said Sandy Needham, a counselor at Charlotte Catholic and faculty advisor of the Academy Club. “Charlotte Catholic has averaged three graduates per year attending one of the five U.S. Service Academies for more than 20 years.”
CTK also has three appointees starting at the Naval Academy on Induction Day.
Malerie Lague, a golfer since the age of 8, is the NCHSAA state champion and the Colonial States Athletic Conference Golfer of the Year. She will continue playing Division I golf for the Naval Academy.
Patrick Walsh, an all-star baseball player who won the CSAC player of the year in 2024 – leading the conference in home runs, doubles and extra-base hits – also committed to continuing his baseball career in the Navy.
Kellan Azzopardi will major in biomedical engineering at the Naval Academy.
Porter is currently verifying whether four naval appointments, including Bauders’ appointment, is a national record.
“I have reached out to the Naval Academy via phone. All the contacts I spoke with stated they have not encountered this situation before,” said Porter.
“While I was interviewing these candidates, two words came to mind: ‘servant leaders.’ Each student possessed an apparent selfless desire to serve our nation,” said Melissa McCaslin, Blue and Gold officer for the U.S. Naval Academy. “I can undoubtedly say with full confidence that our nation will be in excellent hands with these individuals.”
Military appointments are equivalent to full-ride scholarships. Graduates will obtain a bachelor’s degree and become commissioned officers, after which they will serve a minimum of five years.
— Lisa M. Geraci and Christina L. Knauss
