McCook High School senior to get taste of service academy life

Colton Craig bows his head at a Memorial Day service in 2008 during a prayer for America's military and veterans.

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — A McCook High School senior will attend the Summer Leadership Experience (SLE) at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., and the Summer Seminar at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

Colton Craig has been selected for the week-long sessions designed to allow cadet candidates to experience academic, military/naval and athletic programs at each academy. The USMA SLE runs from June 1 through June 7. The USNA Summer Seminar runs from June 8 through June 13.

Upon returning to McCook, Colton will submit his nomination packages to the academies, and prepare to start his senior year at MHS.

Now 17 years old and a high school senior, he will attend summer camps at two U.S. military academies.

Carrie Roberts Photography

This is an excerpt from one of Colton's essays for nomination: “Serving this country is one of the main reasons I want to attend a service academy. This nation is free because of the men and women who have sacrificed. I want to do my part in keeping our nation safe. There are people that cannot defend themselves, and serving is a great way to help those that cannot help themselves, both foreign and domestic. Learning at one of the academies would give me the opportunity to lead, serve and honor those who have come before me.”

Colton is descended from a long line of Americans who have served their country, all in the U.S. Army:

PFC Vinton Silverthorn, World War 1, munitions, France (great-great grandfather)

PFC Cleo Craig, World War 2, Pacific, 81st Infantry, Peleliu and Philippines (great-grandfather)

2nd LT Earl Myers, World War 2, 45th Div. Combat Engineer, N. Africa, Anzio, Sicily (great-grandfather)

LTC CJ Craig (Ret), Desert Storm, Liaison, 12th Special Forces Group (grandfather)

SGT Aaron Craig (Ret), Kosovo (uncle)

Summer Leadership Experience

SLE is highly competitive. Each year, 6,000 applicants compete for 1,000 slots. SLE gives high school juniors considering the U.S. Military Academy a one-week immersive experience as a cadet. SLE is a fast-paced program consisting of academic classes, military training, physical fitness training and intramural athletics.

Summer Seminar

The United States Naval Academy Summer Seminar is the first step for high school juniors considering the Naval Academy as their college of choice. Summer Seminar will introduce participants to life at the Academy, where they will experience academic, athletic and professional training, experience life on The Yard and learn from some of the Navy's best midshipmen and most esteemed faculty.

Summer Seminar has a strong focus on academics — such as IT, engineering, aerospace flight testing, seamanship and navigation — and physical training.