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Wheeling Park High School senior class president Luke Knollinger always had a dream of someday attending the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., and he soon will realize that wish.
Knollinger has received his official "certificate of accomplishment" informing him of his acceptance into the academy. He was nominated by U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., who called Knollinger and his parents, Scott and Barbara Knollinger, last week to let them know the acceptance letter was coming.
Knollinger carries a 4.38 grade point average in the honors program at Wheeling Park, with an emphasis on studies relating to science, technology, math and computer technology. He also is captain of the hockey team.
He plans to study aerospace engineering and learn to fly Navy planes while at Annapolis. He reports for duty June 29.
"I plan to make the military a career," Knollinger said. "I've worked for some time for this."
Both his grandfathers were war veterans, with one receiving both the Silver and Bronze Stars for his accomplishments. Knollinger said this inspired him to strive toward a military career.
His lengthy resume indicates that during his time at Wheeling Park, he founded and is president of Patriots Helping Patriots, a student organization that assists local veterans. He has been a member of the Civil Air Patrol and the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps.
Knollinger has attended the Travis Manion Leadership Academy and the Navy Performance Enhancement Leadership Clinic at Annapolis, as well as cadet leadership training courses at Camp Dawson in West Virginia and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.
Knollinger's love of computers led him to found the the WPHS Cyber Patriots club at the school. In this club, students work together to examine virtual computer networks and resolve cybersecurity issues and compete against those from other schools.
Not surprisingly, Knollinger's favorite class at Wheeling Park is the computer systems repair technology class taught by Chuck Hill.
"He is a very good student," Hill said. "He is conscientious, and a leader in the classroom to the extent he elevates the students around him. Now and then we turn out a student with self-confidence and leadership abilities. But Luke is exceptional."
Ohio County Schools Superintendent Kim Miller said many of the students in the school district are "focused and driven" toward achieving goals, and it leads them to success.
"They set the bar very high for themselves," she said. "A lot of these kids are products of structured homes and structured education, and they are now ready to take the next step."
Knollinger's mother, Barbara, expressed pride in her son's accomplishments, but also showed emotion when thinking about what a career in the military might bring him.
"He's worked hard for it, and it's something he has always wanted to do," she said. "He can do whatever he wants to do."