Central senior to attend U.S. Air Force Academy

Joining several Central High School graduates, Jonah Roop has been named to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The journey was a short one for Roop, a senior, who decided to pursue the seat in September after his father, Bethel Assembly of God pastor Phil Roop, suggested it. Justin Gibbs, deputy chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, said Smith nominates candidates for the military academies, but uses an advisory board to help make the selection.

Along with Roop, Daniel Manley of Marston, Mo., a New Madrid County Central High School student, also was appointed to the Air Force Academy, and Christopher Radford of Bourbon, Mo., who attends Bourbon High School, was named to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.

Smith called Roop personally to give him the news and then visited Central High School on Tuesday, in part to meet Roop in person. Roop starts at the academy in June, his father said. Smith also recognized senior Vikas Rudrappa, who got a 36 on his ACT, the top score possible.

The congressman got right to the point and said Roop received the appointment -- which offers a full scholarship -- and should be proud.

"I didn't really know what to feel at first," Roop said. "It was exciting [and] a little scary at the same time; it was kind of a new feeling I'd never experienced before. ... I was just sitting there in awe when he told me."

The idea came about when he and his father were coming home from lunch after church on a Sunday. Roop said his father had a chance to attend the Air Force Academy, but decided to wrestle at the University of Texas at El Paso instead. Roop also was inspired by family members who had served in the military.

Roop said his dad hoped his son would consider the idea.

"So I did, and I started thinking that it was really something that I'd like to do; something that I could do. It's been all kind of snowballing from there," he said.

There are several steps to the application process, including filling out the initial application with test scores. Then the academy decides whether to take an applicant any further.

"After you go through that first application, you go to a really in-depth application with in-depth test scores asking about leadership, essays, all sorts of stuff like that," plus a physical fitness test and medical exam, Roop said.

"That's actually about 40 to 50 percent of the appointment. The other 50 to 60 percent is ... the congressional nomination that includes another application, more essays and an interview with the congressman's review team for the Air Force Academy," at Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff, Mo., he said.

"It was a nice interview; kind of relaxing ...," Roop said.

Roop is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the National Honor Society, plays soccer, and is on the tennis and academic teams. The academic team, also called the scholar bowl, goes to meets, a moderator asks questions on a wide range of subjects and students buzz in to answer.

He's also active in church.

Roop is the youngest in his family with an older brother, Jared, a criminalist specializing in toxicology at the Department of Public Safety crime lab in Springfield, Mo., and sister Sabra Smith, who works with Convoy of Hope, a first-responder organization that helps in disaster areas.

Roop's father is quite proud of his son, noting that Jonah always has been a go-getter.

"We're obviously very proud of him. We hate to see him go that far away, but we believe it's part of the plan for his life," Phil Roop said, speaking for himself and Jonah's mother, Denise. He noted that Jonah is "very strong in his faith."

Dr. Mike Cowan, principal of Central, said when Roop first asked him to offer his support in writing for his Air Force appointment, he was more than glad to.

"Jonah is just a stellar young gentleman, and I mean that in the purest sense of the word. When he first asked me to write in support of his nomination, I was honored to do so, and thrilled ... when he told me he had actually been appointed," Cowan said.

He added the high school has had several academy appointees -- male and female -- in his 13 years at the campus.

"I have no doubt ... [that] Jonah will represent Cape Central well. I have no doubt Jonah will serve and represent America well in the role that he's going to have," Cowan said.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

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