MASSILLON, Ohio — We take great pride in sharing outstanding achievements by Northeast Ohio students. And we've got one for you from Stark County. A Jackson High School Senior named Chad Graham has quite the decision to make.
"I've always wanted to serve my country. And so the more research I did on my own, the more I kind of realized that it's a good opportunity for me," Graham said when we visited him at school recently.
The U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy, and the U.S. Air Force Academy have all extended offers of appointment.
No one at the school can recall anyone receiving multiple offers from the prestigious service academies.
Graham says he was inspired by the military service of family members, particularly a grandfather who served in the Vietnam War.
"My parents and grandparents have always supported me. Even if I didn't want to do this, they would support me in whatever I do want to do," he said.
Getting an appointment to a military service academy, such as West Point, or the Naval Academy is very competitive. Preparation generally begins several years before the student applies. Excellent grades, college board scores as well as leadership, strength of character, and a nomination are all just some of the requirements applicants must possess.
Graham hit all of them. But those who know the young man say, he has even greater qualities.
"Chad is a very humble, down to earth kid, and I think that's really difficult in our world right now. I think with influences of social media and sports and just life as a whole, I feel like kids are growing up way faster than they should. Chad, to me is like the epitome of what a senior in high school should be," said Gretchen Hull, who is Graham's AP Environmental Science instructor as well as student class advisor. Chad is Sr. Class Vice President.
"What's so impressive about Chad is I don't think many of his classmates even knew that he applied to the military academy. He comes off as just your "average Joe kid." Like, someone students can go to if they're having a bad day as our class officers go, he's probably our most laid back class officers. So I think when folks started finding out that he had gotten into all three military academies, those that understood that were were blown away because he's not that kid that is constantly in the library or stressing about a GPA or a grade. He has that thirst for knowledge, but it's not, "let me just build a resume kind of knowledge." It's, "I want to learn and I want to be a better person because of it," said Hull.
Graham is generous too, with causes that are important to him. He showed us a room where Christmas presents are laid out for Jackson families in need.
"We're in the Adopt-A-Family service project, which is we, the student council, goes to Target and we shop for about 90 families here at Jackson that can't afford Christmas presents. So we help them with things like clothes and other gifts. it's really impactful thing and we love doing it," Graham said.
Though he is humble about his achievements, he is quick to acknowledge the help of others. He insists his success has much to do, with those who have supported him.
"The community here at school, teachers, coaches, and everyone has just really extended a hand to help me with whatever I needed in the application process. And so I'm very grateful for that. And the opportunities that I have here at Jackson, there's really no other school like it, so I'm very grateful for that," Graham said.