School Recognition

In a week my school is hosting an all school assembly of several hundred students to give out a few awards to seniors. they are going to have some kind of formal certificate or something for me for going to the academy. what happens during this, do i just get called up on stage and awkwardly stand there, i dont salute or anything do i?

My ALO made a presentation for me last night. He spoke very briefly about the Academy. Then he mentioned the number of applicants and the number of appointments. When he mentioned the "dollar amount" value of an appointment there was a surprised expression from the audience. He presented me with a formal certificate and I received a standing ovation.

Your experience may be different but I doubt you would have to salute or anything like that.

no, you don't salute. i would just follow what the rest of your classmates do, which should be something along the lines of walking up, shaking someone's hand, taking the certificate, and saying thank you. if people clap, just look grateful and give a nod. they're honoring your selection so enjoy it, but at this point you're no more military than anyone else there (and even in the military, you usually only salute if its a military ceremony, you're in uniform, and the person awarding you is in uniform. then you shake-take-salute)

Contact your ALO

My DS is being presented with his appointment at a similar assembly. An ALO is coming to make the presentation. Call your ALO-ours was busy but happily found a replacement. Makes for a great photo opportunity for the parents! Congratulations!!

Enjoy the moment

Our DS's school had an awards night last year, and I it was like thousands of other senior awards nights held across the country. Several dozen students were acknowledged for their academic achievements and then several dozen were brought up and recognized for the scholarships they've earned for their freshman year in college. Everyone politely applauded as awards of $500 and $2,000 were announced. There were a handful of more substantial scholarships for several thousand dollars which got peoples attention. Then our son's ALO walked to the podium in his dress military uniform and began quietly talking about the Academy and described the rigorous admission standards. He then got to the part that ALO's must love to say. After hearing scholarships of $500 to $20,000, no one is prepared to hear the ALO announce the dollar value of an academy appointment, which is $415,000.00. The number caused an audible gasp and a few "holy moly's" from the audience.
So, as stated above, stand up straight, shake hands like you mean it, look people in the eye, make sure your pants are pulled up, and enjoy the moment.

You guys can be very proud of what you have accomplished here. This is no small feat, to say the least. Good luck enjoy the summer and keep us all up to speed.

God Bless and God Speed,

RGK

I have mine tonight as well, and I'm kinda nervous for it but looking forward to it.

I will second MikeandChris's sentiment about the audience's reaction. At my presentation tonight, I had the biggest smile plastered on my face when I was walking up and it wouldn't come off. Enjoy the moment and take it all in! The audience's gasp was pretty cool to hear. This also happened to be my ALO's final duty with the Air Force as he is retiring next month, so he also had a pretty big smile on his face. It is a reward for the kid, but I think it is almost as big for the ALO for seeing another successful candidate through to the Academy.

cadet15 said:

I will second MikeandChris's sentiment about the audience's reaction. At my presentation tonight, I had the biggest smile plastered on my face when I was walking up and it wouldn't come off. Enjoy the moment and take it all in! The audience's gasp was pretty cool to hear. This also happened to be my ALO's final duty with the Air Force as he is retiring next month, so he also had a pretty big smile on his face. It is a reward for the kid, but I think it is almost as big for the ALO for seeing another successful candidate through to the Academy.

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YES YES YES!!

We ALO's LOVE to do this!!

After all the hard work, the trials/tribulations, goods, bads, ups, downs...it's FUN to stand up in front of a crowded auditorium and tell "just what it took" for you to get to this point, and what the next 4 years will be, and what it means for someone your age to have taken this big step!

And then tossing in the value of the entire package...usually gets a gasp or two! And I'd be fibbing if I said that's not fun too!

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83

I had my awards ceremony last night and I got the same reaction that most of you did. There is nothing more incredible than when an entire audience gasps when hearing the dollar amount of our education. I'm gonna take my moment to brag and then be done with it but...my USAFA "full scholarship" was worth more than all of the scholarships that the genius at my school received (he won a good bit of money in competitions for physics and math). But anyway, the moral of this post is that take your moment to shine in front of your class. It'll be quick but it'll be worth it.

recognition

Called my DS the 'million dollar' man on scholarship night (LOA to AF, NA, MA), even I had never thought of it that way. People in audience had alot of strange looks on their faces. Noticed alot of paraents shaking his hand after the awards. At NA now, tough call between AF and NA.

My son had the exact same experience at his high school recognition nite... ALO made the presentation, and when announcing the "value" of the appointment, got several "gasps" from the audience as well. He also received a standing ovation. (In fact when I read Liberator 45's post, I had to ask my son if that was his online identity...) He also had several parents come up afterward and shake his hand. The really neat part of the evening though, was when he had a couple students (Sophmores) come up afterward and ask about the application process. I stood back and watched as he offered advice and guidance about grades, leadership, school involvement and summer seminar. He really started "mentoring" these kids, and he hasn't finished high school himself yet. As a parent, it was probably one of the proudest moments of my life.

I experienced something very similar last night at our senior awards and scholarship night. Me and my best friend both got accepted in to the academy (we go to the same high school) and we both got recognized during the ceremony. It was amazing to see so many people giving a standing ovation... Indescribable feeling being on the receiving end of it.