Madison Tierney, a Pope John XXIII Regional High School senior in Sparta, was accepted to the U.S. Naval Academy in December.
As a midshipman, Tierney will be on active duty in the U.S. Navy. She will attend the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., for four years. Upon graduation, Tierney will receive a bachelor’s degree and commissions as an ensign in the Navy or a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. Naval Academy graduates serve at least five years in the Navy or Marine Corps.
Attending the Naval Academy has always been Tierney’s goal.
“Both my grandfathers were Marines, so I listened to the stories they would tell me. I always thought I wanted to serve,” Tierney said.
The United States service academies have a rigorous selection process. It includes the application, academic and physical fitness requirements, and, in most instances, a congressional nomination. Each congressperson, senator, and vice president can nominate 10 students to each of the four academies that require this process. After a long process, Tierney was nominated by Sen. George Helmy and officially accepted to the Naval Academy, which, like the other academies, has a competitive 7 percent acceptance rate.
While they expect candidates of high academic and athletic qualities, these academies also look for applicants with excellent moral standards.
“Throughout my high school career, I have been trying to establish myself with clubs as president of the Holy Rosary Society and captain of the soccer team and track team. They look for a leader,” Tierney said.
A Pope John English teacher and Holy Rosary Club adviser, Katherine Stehr, said Tierney “will be a tremendous asset to the United States Naval Academy.”
“Her steadfast integrity, unwavering loyalty to her family and friends, allegiance to her country, and her faithful devotion to God are an inspiration to all who are blessed to know this exceptional young woman,” Stehr said.
