Published April 11, 2017 at 9:47 a.m.

KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Dobyns-Bennett High School senior Melissa Meaghan Allen has received appointment letters to the United State Air Force Academy, the United States Naval Academy, and the United States Military Academy at West Point.  She is one of a handful of students across the United States that has been appointed to all three academies. Meaghan is the daughter of Michael and Mary Jane Allen.

“It is such an honor to receive an appointment to any one of the United States Military Academies, but to receive an appointment to all three, it is almost unreal,” said Meaghan Allen. “I did a lot of jumping around and screaming when I received my first appointment letter. I was not expecting others, then additional appointment letters arrived and I was just thrilled and living in the clouds a little!”

Allen accepted the appointment to the Naval Academy as a member of the Class of 2021. The appointment is a rare opportunity to participate in one of the country’s finest officer training programs. This appointment was awarded to only 1,200 out of 9,700—applicants.

“I have chosen to attend The United States Naval Academy, but to be given an appointment letter by The United States Military Academy at West Point and The United States Air Force Academy as well, presented me with equally exciting and worthy opportunities to serve,” Allen noted. “I am grateful to United States Senator Bob Corker, United States Congressman Phil Roe, Colonel Eric Vogt, and the Secretary of the Army for recommending me for these opportunities. I will do my best to be deserving of their confidence. I am also thankful for the letters of recommendation and support that were offered on my behalf as requested by the military service academies from Dr. Monty Lobb, Judge Cliff Corker, and Clay O’Connell.”

At the Naval Academy, Allen will major in Chemistry and minor in Arabic, Russian, or Spanish. When she completes her Bachelor of Science degree, her goal is to attend medical school and remain in the Navy. Allen’s long term goal is to serve as a doctor in Staff Corp Specialties as an epidemiologist studying infectious diseases.

“I could not be happier or more proud of Meaghan and these very exciting opportunities for which she has worked so hard,” said D-B Principal Dr. Chris Hampton. “I have no doubt that at the Naval Academy; Meaghan will succeed the level of success she has earned at Dobyns-Bennett.”

Each midshipman in the Navy is required to play a varsity, club, or intramural sport. During Plebe Summer, Allen will have the opportunity to try-out for different sports during a scheduled sports period. She plans to attend the try-outs for Navy Spirit – the Cheerleading, Dance, and Spirit Team.

Allen, currently DBHS AF JROTC Staff Sergeant, has been involved in DBHS AF JROTC her junior and senior years.

Founded in 1845, the U.S. Naval Academy today is a prestigious four-year service academy that prepares midshipmen morally, mentally and physically to be professional officers in the naval service.  More than 4,400 men and women representing every state in the U.S. and several foreign countries make up the student body, known as the Brigade of Midshipmen. U.S. News and World Reports has recognized the Naval Academy as a top five undergraduate engineering school and a top 20 best liberal arts college.  Midshipmen learn from military and civilian instructors and participate in intercollegiate varsity sports and extracurricular activities. They also study subjects such as leadership, ethics, small arms, drill, seamanship and navigation, tactics, naval engineering and weapons, cyber security, and military law.  Upon graduation, midshipmen earn a Bachelor of Science degree in a choice of 25 different subject majors and go on to serve at least five years of exciting and rewarding service as commissioned officers in the U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine Corps.

For more information about the Naval Academy, please visit: www.usna.edu.  

Kingsport City Schools (KCS) is a public school district located in Kingsport, Tenn., serving students in Sullivan and Hawkins county. The district is comprised of 13 schools, including a Pre-K, eight elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school, a high school program of choice and an alternative learning program; with total enrollment over 7,500 students. The vision of Kingsport City Schools is to be, Student Focused … World Class.

KCS has been named the top school district in Tennessee as winner of the 2014 SCORE Prize District Award by the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) and has earned the 2014 Achievement Award in the annual Excellence in Tennessee Recognition Program by the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence (TNCPE).

For more information on KCS, visit k12k.com, listen live on WCSK 90.3 FM, The Voice of KCS, read our blog, We Are KCS, or call (423) 378.2100. We’re social too; follow us on Facebook (Kingsport City Schools), Twitter (@KCS_District) and check out our YouTube Channel (KPTSchools).

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