Among the 31 Mid-Michigan students that United States Congressman Mike Rogers nominated last week for consideration to four military academies, one was selected from Oxford High School.
Senior Alex Pollack, the son of Richard and Brooksie Pollack of Ortonville, was nominated for the United States Military Academy at West Point.
‘We are very proud and very happy for him,? said Richard Pollack.
‘They only take the best of the best,? said Brooksie Pollack. ‘So for him to get nominated was pretty fantastic.?
‘I was really relieved when I found out that I got nominated,? said Alex Pollack. ‘Before that, the academy sent me a letter saying that if I did get a nomination, I would be accepted.?
According to Pollack, one of the things that attracted him to West Point was their nuclear engineering program, which is the career path he would like to pursue upon graduation.
Pollack said that the application process for a nomination was extensive. The process began back in March of 2009 when ne needed to get his high school records for both West Point and the Rogers nomination.
‘My mom was helping me apply because it was a really long process, so I knew I needed to get one (nomination), so I started to get recommendations from teachers and other people I knew from outside the school,? he added.
In addition to the numerous applications he needed to fill out, he needed three recommendations from staff members at Oxford High School and to write essays.
Before consideration, he had to meet specific criteria in academic achievement, community involvement and leadership experience.
He was also personally interviewed by a former graduate of West Point, who talked with him about how he got interested in the academy and why he wanted to attend.
He also met with committees from United States Senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin.
‘Nominees for these appointments have demonstrated strong character, leadership potential and achievement in academics,? said Rogers in a press release. ‘They are high achievers willing to accept the challenges of leadership and training for some of the toughest jobs in our nation. I am very pleased to be nominating them to the academies.?
Upon receiving the nomination, Pollack said that he didn’t want to fully commit yet because he wanted to keep his options open for the time being.
This past June was an application-booster for Pollack.
He attended the American Legion’s Boys State, which is a leadership program that teaches students how government works, while developing leadership skills and appreciation for their rights as citizens.
He also spent a week at West Point’s Summer Leader Seminar, where he experienced what a typical week at the academy was like.
Pollack has been involved in many activities during his four years at OHS, including running for the track and field team and participating in National Honor Society and Boy Scouts.
He also played football and wrestled during his freshman through junior years. He also ran cross country this past season.
When he is not hitting the books or running, he enjoys several outdoor activities with his friends, including dirt-biking, hunting, fishing, snowboarding and snowmobiling.