‘Anchors Aweigh’ for Keystone student

CHRISTINA JOLLIFFE THE COMMUNITY GUIDE

PENFIELD TWP. — As his classmates contemplate their path after graduation, one Keystone High School senior already has his future mapped out attending the Naval Academy in Annapolis with an ultimate goal of flying fighter planes.

Of course, Jacob Linden’s choice wasn’t easy considering he received not one but two Congressional nominations to attend the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis and the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Former U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs, R-Ohio, nominated Jacob for both the Naval Academy and the Military Academy, while former U.S. Sen. Rob Portman nominated him for the Naval Academy. His long-time goal could not have been achieved without their assistance, Jacob said.

“I am extremely grateful for what they did,” he said. “This definitely wasn’t an easy path put in front of my by my teachers and counselors. When I started to explore opportunities for higher education my freshmen year, my parents mentioned the military academies. We’re not a military family by any means. My grandpas served in the Navy, but that was it. I started to do some research and my sophomore year, I attended a couple of summer camps. I fell in love with the programs.”

Additionally, Jacob has spent considerable time speaking with alumni, veterans, midshipmen and others to help guide his decision.

“They are all super inspiring people,” he said. “I knew it was going to be a long application process. I started applying at the end of my sophomore year. I knew I was going to need a Congressional nomination, too. My parents helped me through the whole thing and were right there next to me.”

They were right there when he received a large packet in the mail on Feb. 2 from the Naval Academy and again when he received one from the Military Academy at the end of February.

“If you get a big packet, they are congratulating you,” Jacob said. “A small letter and they are rejecting you. I saw the packet and had a really good feeling I was going to get good news that day.”

Jacob already was leaning toward the Naval

Academy when he received his letters.

As captain of the football, basketball and track teams at Keystone, Jacob doesn’t have a problem making decisions. He has served as class president all