ST. GEORGE — The acceptance rate for the United States Military Academy at West Point was 10 percent in 2017, with 22 percent of that being female. A southern Utah high school student is now among that acceptance rate.

Hurricane High School senior and track team member Alexis Martin was first introduced to the prestigious school in New York when the West Point track and field high jump coach recruited her.

“After learning about the school and visiting the campus, I decided that it was something I wanted to be a part of,” Martin told St. George News. “I love everything West Point stands for.”

Martin said she understands getting into West Point is not something that happens for a lot of people, so she’s grateful for the opportunity.

As a track team member, she said what drew her to the military academy is that it requires all students to be athletes. According to the academy’s physical program, it provides a foundation for all cadets to complete core physical education coursework and physical fitness testing, as well as participate in competitive sports.

“Every day, students attend practice for one of the Core Squad teams or a club that they are a part of,” she said. “This is something about West Point that I really liked. They prioritize their focus to be first, leadership; second, academics; and third, athletics.”

Martin’s accomplishments in these priorities is what made her application to West Point stand out. In her four years of high school, she’s participated in leadership conferences, competed in sports and maintained a 4.0 grade average. She was also the president of her high school’s Hope Squad, a group of students nominated by their peers who are trained to watch for at-risk students and provide friendship, identify warning signs, and seek help from adults as necessary.

However, Martin said she thinks it was one of her setbacks that put her on the path to success.

To read the full story, visit St. George News.

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