Kingsford grad heads to Air Force Academy

From Congressman Dan Benishek’s office in Washington, DC:

Dr. Dan Benishek (MI-01) today announced that Sean Ryan was appointed to the U.S. Air Force Academy.  Ryan, a senior from Kingsford High School, will be attending the Colorado Springs military school this fall.

“I am extremely excited in being able to attend an academy. It has been my dream ever since my father mentioned his experiences while at the Air Force Academy and being in the military had brought him. I would like to thank the people that helped me reach this goal, everyone that has written letters of recommendation for me, friends that have prepared me for interviews, teachers that have aided in the preparation for the aspects of applying to colleges, and my family and friends who were behind me in this decision,” said Sean Ryan.

“This is an excellent opportunity for Sean.  He certainly earned it.  Sean has been a leader both in school and in the community.  I have no doubt that he will be a top-caliber student at the Air Force Academy.  Sean and his family should be deservedly proud of this accomplishment and we wish him the best of luck in the future,” said Dr. Benishek, a doctor and Iron River native.

Ryan excelled as a student at Kingsford High School for the past four years.  Not only did Ryan excel academically at Kingsford High, achieving a 3.9 grade point average, but he was also a leader in numerous extracurricular activities such as serving as the team captain of the football team his sophomore year, an assistant captain on the hockey team, and is the U.P. champion and number two doubles in tennis. Ryan has also been part of the National Honor Society and been very involved volunteering in the American Martyrs Church.

The U.S. Air Force Academy was established in 1954 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has approximately 4,400 cadets. Over the past five decades, the Academy has graduated over 37,000 military officers.