NE Oregon Young Man Has Choice Of Armed Forces Academies

In the tiny town of Athena, Oregon, population 1,134, there is a young man who had his choice of getting into two different military academies where just above one in 10 applicants even has a chance to try and qualify to get in.

Hayden Scott has accepted an appointment to the United States Military Academy and will begin cadet training this summer in West Point, N.Y. Between now and then he will graduate high school May 27th and later attend a seven-day Oregon Boys State leadership convention in June at Willamette University in Salem.

He also was nominated for an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado. His family, educators and even communities (Athena, Weston and Milton-Freewater) have supported this always-driven-to-succeed child from a very early age. One of his principals said, "Hayden has demonstrated a moral, an ethical, and a hardworking character during his time at Weston-McEwen High School. His work ethic is best described as self-motivated, relentless and focused."

Hayden became a pilot and EMT at the age of seventeen. His cross country running, which he will continue to participate in while at the academy, is done with determination and motivation to keep pushing and is matched by his tenacity toward all things academic in the classroom.

Hayden is quick to help others, is respectful to all and is a role model for his community. He plans on a career in medicine after college and the fulfillment of his military commitment. While a sophomore at Walla Walla High School, Hayden participated in the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps and that experience was one of the things that sparked his interest in the military. Generations of men in Hayden's family have served in most branches of the military including the U.S. Army, Coast Guard, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy.