DCHS Student a Naval Academy Nominee

The branches of the American military are replete with the brightest and the best our nation has to offer.

But we'd have to admit that, here in the tri-state, we swell with just a bit more pride when one of our own has exemplified what it takes to be a member of the armed forces. One such student is attending Daviess County High School.

INTRODUCING DAVIESS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR JAW TAE PAW

Meet Jaw Tae Paw, a DCHS senior who has, to say the least, made the MOST of her years as a Panther. Nominated to be admitted into the United States Naval Academy by her Navy JROTC senior naval science instructor Commander Tyler Goad, Jaw Tae has, to say the least, made the MOST of her time at Daviess County HIgh where she currently serves as the rifle team's executive officer and is one of only two women on the DCHS wrestling team.

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THE DIFFICULT PROCESS OF BEING NOMINATED FOR NAVAL ACADEMY ADMISSION

And, by the way, from what I've learned via a press release from Daviess County Public Schools, is that not only is the nomination feature is unique to service academy admissions, it is a difficult milestone to achieve, if not impossible for some applicants. So the work that Jaw Tae has put in to get to THIS point is already most impressive.

DAVIESS COUNTY NAVY JROTC AND ITS DISTINGUISHED UNIT AWARD

I spoke with Commander Goad who told me that Daviess County High School's JROTC unit has received the Distinguished Unit Award with Academic Honors--the highest unit award in the NJROTC program--meaning it is allowed three additional nominations on top of the three the program is already allotted. Cdr. Goad informed me that senators and congressmen only receive four. So this is extra special.

And despite that number, Jaw Tae is STILL the first recipient of such a nomination in seven years.

JAW TAE PAW'S CONTINGENCY PLANS

At present, Jaw Tae plans to attend Eastern Kentucky University in the fall where she plans to major in criminal justice which Goad says is simply "another way for her to focus her efforts in a life-long goal of helping others." But he also said that if Jaw Tae is accepted into the Naval Academy, she will forgo EKU and change her focus of study since the Academy does not have a criminal justice program. Her second choice has yet to be decided.

What an exciting time for this intelligent and determined young woman and for her parents and the rest of her family.

We're very excited for and congratulate Jaw Tae Paw for her accomplishments and, needless to say, wish her all the best as she pursues her dream.

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