“At first I didn’t know anything about West Point, but after going up there for a summer visit, I knew it was the place where I needed to be,” said Kyla Johnson ‘20. “The people there are so encouraging and transparent about everything that West Point has to offer, the academics and athletics are unmatched, and the campus is simply beautiful. All of those amazing things combined with the fact that I get to serve in the highest possible fashion are the reasons why I am deciding to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point in the fall.”
Kyla is one of the area students nominated by Congressman Garret Graves this year to attend the nation’s service academies. She recently met with Graves at his office to discuss her appointment and her goals for the future.
“I congratulate Kyla on her appointment to West Point. Attending a United States Service Academy is a great honor that provides students with a quality education while preparing them to serve as officers in the United States Military,” said Graves. “ I commend Kyla for making it to this point, for her continued hard work and wish her success as she begins her service. I am confident she will do an excellent job representing our district and the great state of Louisiana. Congratulations on this great honor!”
A history buff who served as Head Prefect this past year, Kyla has a strong sense of West Point’s rich history and the achievements of its graduates. “This appointment means so much. The number of generals, governors, CEOs and Presidents that West Point has produced is simply amazing. For me to become part of that tradition is truly humbling and a blessing from God,” she said.
Kyla is not the only Dunham Tiger who will call West Point home next year. She will join Dunham alums Erik Semien '17 and Kobe Semien '19 as West Point cadets in the fall.
Her West Point journey officially begins in July when Kyla arrives on campus for what is affectionately called, “The Beast,” six weeks of rigorous training and indoctrination/orientation that all first year cadets endure before the academic year begins. For all the stories she has heard and the small taste of this grueling tradition she sampled last summer,, Kyla looks forward to this new adventure. “I am looking forward to eventually joining the Long Gray line and meeting my fellow cadets, specifically those in my class. We’ve been chatting over social media for a while, so it’ll be nice to meet them and begin this 47 month journey together,” she said.
