USNA $ value?

Echoing singaporemom:

So, this Monday was Senior Salute night and it was quite amazing.


Out of her class of 640, about 200 were honored with scholarships and academic achievement awards and the all-important school "Hall of Fame". But the presentations left something to be desired in my mind. One of the principals announced each name and the honors, student walked across the stage and received a certificate. Some were met by representatives of the sponsoring organization.

Since our last name begins with B, daughter was fairly early on.
When the Blue and Gold Officer came out to present DD's appointment, she stood at the middle of the stage. He described her commitment to the service and the quality of education (#4 engineering school, #2 aerospace engr. #4 liberal arts), you could hear the air suck out of the room. Then when he announced that the value was $375,000 another gasp. Then, he read part of an email DD sent him: "Dear Cmdr., I would like to become a Navy fighter pilot and I am interested in attending the Naval Academy. I am active in Girl Scouts and several sports at XX Middle School where I am in eighth grade." Another gasp.

She didn't get the most scholarships. But she did have the most impressive presentation. And no parents are prouder than we.

This graduation stuff is time-consuming!
 
you should be extremely proud ...a marvelous accomplishment.

I'm sure this has been noted, edified here. In any case, while the value may be officially as noted, these are not scholarships. The education being provided is a benefit and required training of service and officer education and preparation. In order to have benefit of scholarship, one must have tuition. Neither exists.

Conversely, none of this makes much sense to the uninitiated.
 
WP is correct. If they don't understand it they will not appreciate it. Question at our High School graduation. Why did she get someone in dress whites present a scholarship and I only got a mention?:yllol: "Over The Hills and far Away"
 
ok a little advice here---as previously posted DS school is iritating and inefficient--has DS really irritated and somewhat turning rebellious---all scholarships applied for were not sent on for consideration---we got a email from HS guidance counselor today stating DS has filled out senior honors info omitting his appointment info---and refusing to be in honors and scholarship group shot for local paper on Thursday. Could i please have him reconsider since his appointment is worth 350,000. Well double edge sword here. School didnt do anything to help ,apply or willingly send in paper work when requested. Now they want to add in the 350,000 for county recognition. DS says it's not a scholarship it is a life commitment and he will be paying it back 24/7 for the next 9 years and that said school doesn't deserve to use him in this fashion. Needless to say i agree but---am so very proud of him i want him recognized for his determination and drive. Advise? i knew this was going to happen i know his personality ---he has never told them the value so how she found out we do not know---it's almost making him resentful and hurt. this is not the way we want him to remember HS or get ready to leave.
 
This may be the perfect time to have a meeting with the guidance counselor, principal and student. I would call the group together and explain that the road to get to the Academy has been tough:

"Besides the obvious hardwork that DS went through to get here, the admissions process to USNA is very cumbersome, trying, exhausting and daunting. Perhaps the school and counseling department did not quite understand what needed to happen, the deadlines, the recommendations, and most of all the cooperation that the student needed to make sure all documents were received by the Academy.

But now that the school and administration realizes what it takes to get an appointment and what the value is, let's talk about the commitment and sacrifice involved...(insert commitment and sacrifice speech here)....

Of course, DS will participate in the photo op and list the value of his education....on one condition...that the counseling department and administration will cooperate fully with all other candidates to service academies and ROTC scholarship applicants.

Deal?"

This way your DS will get his acknowledgement and also be able to help future applicants that follow him.
 
I agree with singaporemom - this is a chance to help those who are coming after your son. Even though I totally sympathize with how irritated and resentful your son must feel (and with good reason!), now that the $$$ has gotten the school's attention, he has a chance to say "hey, this is what I needed from you. You let me down, but you can do better with those who follow me."
 
Singapore Mom: Great Diplomacy. I fear I would have just told them to shove it. Good solution!
 
And be clear to tell them ...this is NOT scholarship money. It is a value of the education.

Unlike a scholarship ...which is a reward for accomplishment and requires no repayment or compensation ...this is the value placed on his professional preparation including receipt of his BS degree.

HOWEVER (and caps are meaningful here) ...unlike a scholarship, this requires a commitment of MINIMALLY 8 years of enlisted service to the USA. This is not a freebie.

Again, part of the process of "educating" and "counseling" your HS's educators and counselors.

My own view is that for any school to claim this as value of scholarships received is ignorant at least, and dishonest and misleading at most.
 
Senior Honors Night is tonight. School principal begrudgingly allotted the BGO 1.5 mintues to make a presentation.

OTOH - Son doesn't need the acknowledgement of the entire school. His family and friends are 100% behind him and know what he has accomplished.
 
...and 20 minutes after the ceremony? None beyond close pals and mom n dad'll remember. You'll be

Ours didn't even get noted in the ceremony. The principal ...on his own...realized what they'd forgotten and singled him out at graduation. That made his old man's ego-wound all better.
 
last night was son's last orchestra concert. After the last son, they honor the seniors with pictures on the screen, a walk across the stage and announcing where they are going to college. Orchestra director choked up when he announced son's plans (he's known son since 6th grade) and the crowd whitsled and clapped loudly. Afterwards people from all different age groups walked up to son to shake his hand and tell him their military stories. It's great to be in a community that is so receptive.

Think of this as an opportunity to educate your community. And return to the high school to help others.

I'm hoping next year I can do a few info sessions with the NJROTC for academy and rotc applications. Kids, parents and counselors need to learn the process from someone who has been there/done that from our side of things.
 
ok a little advice here---as previously posted DS school is iritating and inefficient--has DS really irritated and somewhat turning rebellious---all scholarships applied for were not sent on for consideration---we got a email from HS guidance counselor today stating DS has filled out senior honors info omitting his appointment info---and refusing to be in honors and scholarship group shot for local paper on Thursday. Could i please have him reconsider since his appointment is worth 350,000. Well double edge sword here. School didnt do anything to help ,apply or willingly send in paper work when requested. Now they want to add in the 350,000 for county recognition. DS says it's not a scholarship it is a life commitment and he will be paying it back 24/7 for the next 9 years and that said school doesn't deserve to use him in this fashion. Needless to say i agree but---am so very proud of him i want him recognized for his determination and drive. Advise? i knew this was going to happen i know his personality ---he has never told them the value so how she found out we do not know---it's almost making him resentful and hurt. this is not the way we want him to remember HS or get ready to leave.

It is not about the school "using" him. Of course, high schools are proud of their graduates that do well but.... it is also about him representing as a role model and "advertising" for the Naval Academy.
He should as an incoming midshipman be proud and be a role model. Perhaps there will be a younger sibling in that audience who is awed by your son's accomplishments - that is the spark.
He should be willing to show the younger one's - I did this, you can too.
Whether your son likes it or not; he is a recruiter now.
 
Blackhawkmom, my son also gets frustrated at the lack of knowledge many have regarding this honor. He has worked so hard for so many years for this dream. I think he was hoping that many would be congratulatory who were not. For a while he had quite an attitude about it. I finally told him that HE knows what he has accomplished and that now, for the many people in our new city who know nothing about the academy, HE is representing USNA to them for the first time. I told him to rise above the disappointment and start acting like the leader he is striving to be. After all, as moms we know that leaders don't always get the appreciation they deserve :frown: Tell your son to hold his head high and not let anyone take away his joy and pride in his amazing accomplishment!
 
In my son's appointment to the USAFA it stated specifically the 4 year valuation was $414k; it didn't mention the amount in his USNA appointment letter, but I surmise that it is on par with one another......

Hope that helps!
 
thanks everyone -this group is great--i appreciate all the sound advice--thanks for letting me vent and for opening my mind as well as my eyes.
 
Humility

True merit, like a river, the deeper it is, the less noise it makes. ~Edward Frederick Halifax

It is always the secure who are humble. ~Gilbert Keith Chesterton

Wear your learning like your watch, in a private pocket; and do not pull it out, and strike it, merely to show that you have one. ~Lord Chesterfield

A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle. ~Benjamin Franklin
 
Use a "Mom" version of that G.K. Chesterton quote with my kids all the time. I think, though, that security often comes with maturity. Thanks for sharing all the wonderful quotes!!
 
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