The Antelope Valley Times

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Desert High student nominated for Air Force Academy

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(Courtesy photo)
(Courtesy photo)

EDWARDS AFB – Each year, high school students in the 23rd Congressional District in California compete for nominations to the United States Service Academies. Congressman Kevin McCarthy (Rep.) announced his selections Jan. 5. Among those students is Desert Junior-Senior High School student Gabrielle Evey, 17, who was selected as a nominee for the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Prior to this announcement, Evey received a Letter of Assurance from the academy, offering her early admission pending a congressional nomination. She has already accepted her slot at the academy and will head to Colorado June 25.

“Being nominated to the Air Force Academy is an absolute honor,” said Evey. “I was recently accepted to USAFA, after receiving a Letter of Assurance, the Principal Nomination from Senator Feinstein, and a competing alternate nomination from Congressman McCarthy. It is a complete honor to be accepted. My Academy Liaison Officer, Lt. Col. Kay, helped me through the process, to which I am very grateful.”

Evey won first place in her grade at the DHS Science Fair last year. [Read more here.] (U.S. Air Force photo by Rebecca Amber)
Evey won first place in her grade at the DHS Science Fair last year. [Read more here.] (U.S. Air Force photo by Rebecca Amber)
Cadet Col. Evey is the wing commander of the Air Force Junior ROTC at DHS and commands over 130 cadets. JROTC is where Evey says “this journey” began.

“I found leadership and support through the program, which led me to the career choice of becoming an Air Force Officer,” said Evey.

Her JROTC instructor, Colonel Sullivan, encouraged her to attend the Edwards Aero Club’s first Aero Camp. During that camp she was introduced to flying and today she is actively pursuing her private pilot’s license.

“I took the opportunity and fell in love,” she said.

Upon graduating, Evey hopes to be service-selected into pilot training.

“Blending my goal of becoming a career Air Force Officer and dream of being selected as a pilot made USAFA a perfect choice,” said Evey.

At Desert, she participates in Cross Country, Track and Field and she is captain of the varsity Mathletes.

“We are very proud of her. This is a great honor and privilege,” said her parents, Randy and Rebecca Evey. “We feel very strongly that this appointment would not have happened without the support of the entire Edwards team, especially the 412th Medical Group, Aero Club and the base gym.”

Looking back on her high school career, Evey has found support from the Edwards community to achieve all of her goals, whether that meant help with her science fair project or learning to fly.