By Lori Ehde
Luverne High School senior Tyler Scheidt is enjoying his final days of civilian life before launching a military career at the prestigious West Point Academy July 1.
ItÕll change his life, but it's a commitment that Scheidt is looking forward to. "It's an honor to be chosen," he said.
West Point Academy was established in New YorkÕs Hudson Valley in 1802 to train military leaders for the Army. Its "long gray line" of graduates includes generals, presidents and leaders of industry, medicine and government.
Only the brightest and best of United States high school students gain entry to the academy.
Scheidt, son of Luverne's Tony and Pat Scheidt, said West Point factored into his post-high school plans when a brochure arrived in the mail.
"I had no idea if I qualified," he said. "I just thought I'd try and see what happened."
'Best of the best'
West Point applicants don't follow the same admissions process most colleges require. Potential enrollees are screened through Congress, which nominates students for further consideration.
This year, 10,890 students applied to Congress, and 3,994 were nominated.
Scheidt said the congressional interview process was grueling. "I was really nervous. They wanted to know everything about me," he said.
His successful interviews, plus his class rank (No. 3 out of 106 in Luverne), earned him four military service nominations.
Scheidt received West Point nominations from Rep. Mark Kennedy and Sen. Mark Dayton. He also received nominations for the Air Force Academy from Kennedy and from Sen. Paul Wellstone.
"Tyler Scheidt represents 'the best of the best' of Minnesota's young people," Dayton said in a May 2 press release announcing Scheidt's nomination.
"He has demonstrated clearly that he has what it takes to be a future national leader and handle the academic and physical rigors of West Point."
Congressman Kennedy's office issued a similar release shortly after the nomination process April 8.
"I am confident he will excel as a cadet at the Academy," Kennedy said. "America's continued security relies on quality young men and women like Tyler, stepping forward to serve in defense of their country."
Of those who were nominated, 2,321 qualified for West Point physically and academically.
When it was all said and done, 993 men (including Scheidt) and 195 women gained admittance.
Academic and physical rigors of West Point
Freshmen "plebes" are told to prepare themselves for strict, ordered living.
Scheidt wonÕt need to go school shopping because West Point cadets live in uniform - eight varieties prescribed for use on specific occasions.
When not worn, the uniforms must all face the same direction in his closet, and the brims of his hats must reach just to the edge of the shelf.
It's good thing Scheidt is a man of few words, because "plebes" in most cases donÕt speak unless spoken to.
Between classes on campus they're to march face forward and not fraternize with fellow plebes on the way.
At lunch, they're to sit straight-backed on the edge of their chairs and their forks must enter their mouths at a straight 90-degree angle.
While many college freshmen look forward to the freedoms of living away from home, Scheidt said he's ready for West Point.
"I've always liked all the order and structure of the military," he said.
Scheidt will undergo basic military training while at the same time study toward an academic degree - he plans on civil or electrical engineering.
Rewards for hard work
West Point graduates emerge as commissioned second lieutenants in the U.S. Army and serve at least five years on active duty as Army officers.
This means his leadership training will be put to use managing troops on specialized assignments around the world. "That's the coolest part," Scheidt said. "All the opportunities I'll have to go places."
As a cadet, Scheidt is considered a member of the U.S. Army and receives a full scholarship and an annual salary, from which heÕll pay for uniforms, textbooks, a personal computer and incidentals.
Scheidt will travel alone to New York when he starts at West Point July 1. "They keep telling us about the '90-second good-bye' when we get there, so we figured we'd get that out of the way at home," Scheidt said.
According to local school staff, Scheidt is the only Luverne High School student to be accepted at West Point.
Magnolia High School graduate Keith Oldre completed West Point in 1984, and Luverne High School grad Tim Winter completed the Naval Academy in 1985.