Lakes High School senior Cadet Major Nathan Ballesteros has accepted an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and will be attending next Fall.
Nathan is a dedicated member of the Lakes JROTC program and last April he began the long process of applying to the U.S Military Academy at West Point.
The rigorous application process included evaluation forms from his teachers, an interview with his field force representative, a medical and physical test, a presidential nomination from his father who is service connected, and interviews and nominations from Washington state Senator Patty Murray and 10th District Representative Marilyn Strickland.
Nathan developed a passion for wanting to give back to the country that allowed his family to overcome hardships due to the opportunities provided to his family by his father’s service in the military. Nathan decided to join JROTC because his father was able to migrate from the Philippines to the United States through his service.
“I feel like the branch of the U.S Army is a cloth from which I’ve been cut and it’s made me the resilient and adaptable person I am today,” said Nathan. “There’s a bond and community that you can’t find anywhere else.”
Nathan is an exemplary student and athlete at Lakes whose favorite subjects are math and history. At West Point, Nathan wants to further his interest by majoring in Defense and Strategic Studies and minoring in Cyber Security. Nathan is honored and excited to attend West Point this Fall.