U.S. Military Academy accepts Marion's Collett
Sports reporter
Among other things, Hank Collett is a wrestler, stage performer, football player, singer, musician, and scholar.
Next fall, he will be a Cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.
"It feels good," Collett, a senior at Marion High School said about his acceptance. "It's what I wanted."
Modest also could describe the well-rounded student-athlete who has found himself on the football field and stage this past fall, as well as in a classroom learning to speak Arabic.
He downplayed a bit his nomination by Congressman Jerry Moran.
But Moran had a different point of view.
"He's a very impressive young man," Moran said after meeting Collett. "He's obviously an athlete, and very bright. He can get a long with people, and he was an Eagle Scout. I'm always impressed with anyone who is an Eagle Scout."
Collett was Moran's principal nominee, but he still had to meet the physical and academic requirements of the academy.
"He met all those thresholds," Moran said.
Another threshold Collett met was simply getting past the idea his secondary education isn't going to be a party.
That wasn't hard for him.
Although Cadets do choose a major, it's not until after two years of learning how the military works and taking the same prerequisite classes.
There's also the fact that he is a part of the U.S. Army, and is committed to active duty for five years.
His father Keith said his son was excited, but realistic as well.
"He knows he has a big job in front of him," the elder Collett said.
"You have to take it in stride," Hank said. "They are going to find something wrong with you, that's what they do."
How he got there
Although Collett was nominated by Moran, the selection process wasn't that simple.
A 16-person committee in Kansas that meets once per year, interviews candidates, reviews their accomplishments, and helps select individuals for Moran, had to first be interested in Collett.
One of the members is retired Colonel Dick Schwartz of Marion.
"They were overwhelmingly supportive of Hank," Moran said of the committee members.
Collett said he didn't remember one defining moment where he knew West Point was his choice, but he also knows he made the right one.
"I just kind of started talking about it with my parents," Collett said.
Keith and Anne wanted him to be happy.
"They're encouraging," he said.
Moran was encouraged with the fact the younger Collett would represent his district and state at one of the nation's most prestigious academies.
The congressman was impressed with Collett's personal mission statement, and with his well-rounded personality.
From the first time he met with him, Moran felt confident Collett would represent himself, his state, and his hometown well.
"I called Hank to tell him he was my principal nominee," Moran said. "It was a great moment."
