BHS Guidance Sidebar

Christie Beveridge <cbeverid@bsdvt.org>

Dov Stucker <dstucker@bsdvt.org>

Rep - Gavin Bannister
Midshipman at USNA
m270336@usna.edu

Topic: BHS USNA Virtual Session
Time: Jan 14, 2025 04:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us05web.zoom.us/j/84909937698?pwd=4o13zORUdFcejsSfTUtoEkhC31SGv9.1

Meeting ID: 849 0993 7698
Passcode: V8b9CG

Hello Burlington HS, 

My name is Gavin Bannister and I am a Mt. Abe graduate from the class of 2023. My hometown is Bristol, and at Mt. Abe I participated in Soccer, Basketball, Track & Field, Band, and Jazz Band. 

In 2023, only 19 days after I had graduated from Mt. Abe, I was in Annapolis, Maryland at the United States Naval Academy, swearing an oath to defend our constitution. Since then, I’ve been through immense personal growth that has developed me into a far better person than I was when I left. Now, in my sophomore year at the United States Naval Academy (USNA), I have been given the opportunity to come back and share why going to the USNA has been such a beneficial experience for me. Hopefully, by doing so I’ll peak your interest in the Academy and lead you down the same rewarding path I am on. 

First, here are some quick facts about USNA:

• Tuition is FREE (we actually get paid to go here).

• Just like a regular college or university, you graduate after 4 years with a bachelor's degree. 

• USNA has an 11% acceptance rate, but don’t let that intimidate you, there is more than one way to get accepted! 

• USNA is ranked the 4th best liberal arts school in the nation (above Bowdoin, Bates, and Middlebury College)

• USNA is also ranked 6th best in undergraduate engineering programs 

• Upon graduation, you must become an officer in either the Navy or the Marine Corps for a minimum of 5 years on active duty (active duty means that the military is your full-time job).

The United States Naval Academy is a very unique undergraduate institution, and it can seem intimidating and confusing. 

So, to simplify it down:

If you want:

• Free school 

• A challenge

• A great education

• A guaranteed job after graduation

• To develop as a leader

• To form a network with our nation’s future leaders 

• Unique opportunities 

• To make life-long friends

Then you should consider attending USNA!

A military academy obviously isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. USNA pushes you to your limits in more ways than one, but pressure makes diamonds, and likewise hardship makes midshipmen (students at USNA) into effective naval officers and people into the future. 

The Academy has its ups and downs, but I can be 100% truthful when I say that going to USNA has been the best decision and experience of my life. The Academy is not for everyone, but if it is for you, there is no better school in the world that you could attend.

Christie Beveridge <cbeverid@bsdvt.org> Dov Stucker <dstucker@bsdvt.org>

Christie Beveridge <cbeverid@bsdvt.org>

Dov Stucker <dstucker@bsdvt.org>

David Moody
Admission Counselor

dmoody@fit.edu