MONTPELIER – High school senior Derek Renaud of East Hardwick met with Vermont’s Congressional delegation and received nomination certificates to become a member of the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy and U.S. Naval Academy, at a Vermont Statehouse ceremony, Saturday, Dec. 28.
Renaud was among 20 young Vermonters invited to the nomination ceremony by Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Peter Welch and Rep. Becca Balint to be considered for membership in the Class of 2029 at the United States Service Academies. Gabriel Gardner of nearby Barton was nominated for the Naval Academy.
Renaud, a senior at St. Johnsbury Academy, attended with his parents Jamon and Gretchen. “We are incredibly proud of our son for receiving Congressional nominations to the Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. His hard work, dedication and commitment have been evident in both his academic achievements and his active participation in athletics and leadership roles across multiple clubs,” they said. “This is a huge accomplishment and we are beyond proud of the young man he has become. His drive and character have truly shone through. We are excited to see the future he will build as he continues his journey.”
photo by Gretchen Renaud
Derek Renaud said he was looking for something different from what he saw his peers planning to do after graduation. He felt taking advantage of the quality education offered by the service academies would give him the college exposure others would have, without the cost a traditional college education involves. Instead, he will commit to serving five years in active duty, followed by two years in the reserves.
Renaud said he would be happy to attend any of the three academies he’s already applied for, but, when pressed, identified the Naval Academy as having an edge because of family and friends who have served in the Navy and recommended it. He looks forward to serving his country.
Derek says his teachers have all been supportive of his choice and wrote the necessary letters of recommendation to accompany his applications.
A roundtable at the Saturday gathering allowed the 20 nominees to hear from current Vermont students attending the service academies. Derek was impressed by their comments about how the service academies push students to be the best they can be as they pursue their educations; something he thinks is different at institutions where students are a source of income. He mentioned the physical exam he had as part of his applications being different from a typical college application process.
Derek is interested in pursuing an engineering degree.
“We applaud your willingness to serve your country in an unselfish way; to put yourself in a position where you are putting your lives on the line to defend our country,” said Sen. Sanders at the ceremony.
The five military academies are the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy and Merchant Marine Academy. Applicants to U.S. Service Academies must receive a nomination as part of the application requirements.
While there are other political nomination sources that applicants may qualify for, a congressional nomination is the most common. The names of this year’s nominees, selected by Sanders, Welch and Balint through a competitive application process, are sent to the Academies for final decisions.
Vermont high school students interested in learning more about attending a U.S. Service Academy can visit: https://www.sanders.senate.gov/vermont/services/academies/
Paul Fixx is editor of The Hardwick Gazette and lives in Hardwick.
