West Virginia students continue to pursue careers in military service, engineering, medicine, and other fields after graduating from U.S. Service Academies. In 2025, graduates from counties including Berkeley, Cabell, Greenbrier, Harrison, Jefferson, Marion, Mercer, Morgan, Ohio, Putnam, Randolph, Wayne, and Wood are among those beginning new professional journeys.
Early preparation is important for students interested in U.S. Service Academies or ROTC scholarships. Planning coursework and extracurricular activities during middle and high school increases the chances of success. Families and school staff also play a key role in supporting students through the application process.
To provide information about these opportunities, Academy Day 2025 will take place on Saturday, September 20 at 2:00 p.m. at South Charleston High School in South Charleston. The event does not require registration and is open to students, parents, guardians, and school officials.
The event will cover the five U.S. Service Academies: U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Military Academy (West Point), and U.S. Naval Academy.
Local ROTC program representatives will be available to discuss scholarship options with attendees. Participants can take part in mock interviews and hear from a representative of the Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board about the application process.
Representatives will answer questions regarding educational requirements as well as physical and recreational standards needed for academy admission or ROTC scholarships. Guidance on the nomination process—a necessary step for academy appointments—will also be provided.
“Each year, West Virginia students prove they are more than capable of meeting the rigorous challenge of attending and graduating from these prestigious institutions,” an organizer said.
“The key to success is early preparation and awareness,” they added. “Students interested in U.S. Service Academies or ROTC scholarships are most successful when they begin planning coursework and extracurricular activities early in middle and high school. Just as important, families and school staff play a critical role in providing support during the application process.”
This annual event aims to give prospective applicants comprehensive information about service academies and scholarship opportunities so that they can make informed decisions about their futures.
