30 Mar 2020 St. Joseph student receives military academy appointment

St. Joseph High School senior Elijah Bailey was recently notified that he’s been accepted to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point in the fall. He got confirmation with a call to his home from Arkansas Congressman French Hill. 

“This is a highly competitive appointment,” said counselor Kristen Piraino. “Approximately 12,000 highly-qualified young men and women apply and only around 10 percent are accepted.” Elijah’s education at West Point will be entirely funded, which amounts to about $400,000 in scholarships.

Elijah is the second St. Joseph student in recent years to receive a congressional appointment to a U.S. Military Academy. Tia Massa, a 2016 graduate, received one to the U.S. Air Force Academy, where she is now in her senior year.