A Mountain Home High School student has been selected for admission to the United States Naval Academy, marking what appears to be the school’s first recorded appointment to the prestigious academy in at least 35 years, and the first on record.
Dylan Prins, a senior at Mountain Home High School, received a full offer of appointment after completing all academic prerequisites, passing medical and physical examinations, and securing a congressional nomination. He was nominated by U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, Sen. Tom Cotton and Sen. John Boozman.
The Naval Academy offers approximately 1,200 appointments each year, with about 800 going to high school seniors. The remaining appointments are typically awarded to active-duty military members and college students.
KTLO News spoke with Prins, who says his goal is to become a Navy pilot. He credited his involvement in the school’s NJROTC program and the Civil Air Patrol for helping set him on that path.
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In addition to his academy appointment, Prins recently earned the Gen. Ira C. Eaker Award through Civil Air Patrol, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel. The award is the second-highest honor available to cadets, with fewer than 3,000 recipients nationwide in the program’s history and only a handful currently holding the rank in Arkansas.
Prins says he has plenty of people to thank for helping him get to this point.
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He encouraged younger students interested in attending a service academy to stay focused, maintain strong grades and get involved in programs such as Civil Air Patrol and NJROTC.
Prins will report to the Naval Academy later this year to begin his training.
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