While other high school seniors were filling out the common application, Maddy Funk was creating a government ID. To apply to her school of choice, The United States Military Academy at West Point, the ID was a necessary step toward admission. Following comes the more difficult process of being cleared physically. Funk explains that they check everything about every part of your health,
“I had to seek a waiver,” Funk said. “I broke my finger last year.”
Then the interview process begins. Funk recalls that she went to 3 separate interviews before she met anyone from admissions at West Point. These first interviews are to secure a nomination from a member of the State Senate or House of Representatives. After nominations and admission staff interviews all that is left to do is wait.
Funk is proud to have made the cut into her highly prestigious school of choice, and says she picked it for her interest in academics and leadership. Funk is currently the only senior on the girls hockey team, so leadership is a familiar skill. She describes her admittance as a dream come true,
“[It means] That all of my hard work has paid off and that my future goals are achievable,” she said “I don’t know how to explain it, it’s just unbelievable.”
Maddy Funk will be sharing her story at the Story Show at the Marion Ross Theater on March 25. All proceeds go to the charity “Beyond the Yellow Ribbon”, a organization dedicated to supporting military families.