ACADEMIES ANNOUNCE APPOINTMENTS; FOUR-YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS COST ABOUT $260,000 PER STUDENT

Waiting for a college acceptance letter is nerve-wracking for any high school senior, but even more so when the letter comes from the U.S. military.

Tony Moore of Perryville was "relieved" when he got his acceptance phone call from the Naval Academy in February. "I was relieved after all that paperwork," he said, adding that he first applied last summer.

Moore and Casey Cook of Cape Girardeau will attend the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. Shawn Nickell of Sikeston will attend the West Point Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. Classes start in early July.

All three students were nominated by U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson but their actual appointments came from the individual academy. By accepting academy appointments, each student receives the approximate equivalent of a four-year scholarship totaling $260,000. However, they must serve five years in the military after college.

Like all colleges, students at military academies must first submit an application. Instead of going directly to the college, however, U.S. senators or Congress members accept applications. The vice president also accepts applications at-large. Appointments usually are announced in April.

Cook learned about his appointment a few weeks ago, and since then a top priority has been getting in shape. Part of his daily routine, includes exercise. "They sent me a workout that I need to go by for the next eight weeks," he said. "Once we report in July, it's just basic training."

Cook, the son of Mark and Lana Cook, will study mechanical engineering. "I feel honored because it's such a prestigious school," Cook said of his appointment. He is the first in his family to attend a military academy.

Nickell, son of Steve Nickell and Doris Chunn, learned about his acceptance in February while in class at Sikeston High School. "When I went to vist my mother with the news, she started crying, she was so excited for me," he said.

He also applied to the Naval Academy but liked the West Point campus better after visiting both. He will play football for the academy.

During a campus visit last month, Nickell met many of his new teammates. "I went to classes and lunch with the team and then spent the afternoon with the coaches," he said, adding that he is on a special diet and workout routine since the visit.

Joe Clark of Cape Girardeau also was recruited by the West Point Military Academy to play basketball at the school.

Military appointments are presitgious and often hard to come by. About 25 students in the 8th Congressional District seek military appointments each year. Both Missouri's senators and the area's congressman receive five appointment slots each at the four academies. Multiple appointments are often allowed to fill vacancies.

Student selection is based on test scores, class standing, character, leadership, scholarship and physical fitness abilities. They also must be between 17 and 21 years old and legal residents of the state from which they are seeking appointment.

"It takes a great deal of commitment, dedication and leadership to make it at the academies, but the rewards are well worth the hard work," said U.S. Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond.

And there will be plenty of hard work ahead for these students. As "plebes," or freshman, they will spend the day in classes, inspections, drills and studying. The average day begins at 6 a.m. and doesn't end until 7 p.m. or later.

But that didn't bother Nickell. "I knew what I was getting into," he said. "I did a lot of research before I decided to apply." Nickell spent two years trying to get an academy appointment.

Moore also is not worried about a tough first year at college. "I knew going into it that it's going to be tough," he said. "But if you think things through and don't worry about the present, it will go by in a hurry."

Alternate candidates include Jesse Reed of New Madrid, Ryan William Seabaugh of Cape Girardeau; Ryan O'Loughlin of Jackson and Matthew Puckett of Malden.

To apply for 1997 classes at an academy, write to either Missouri senator at 1736 E. Sunshine, Suite 705; Springfield, Mo. 65084 or Congressman Bill Emerson at 339 Broadway; Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63701. The deadline is Nov. 15.