PHS senior accepted to West Point

PORTAGE | When the U.S. Military Academy at West Point goes looking for its newest class members, it is searching for well-rounded individuals.

They found one in Portage High School senior Othie Freeny Jr.

Freeny recently received his acceptance to the academy for the class of 2016. He's awaiting word as to whether or not he'll also be accepted to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Freeny has a 4.12 grade point average. He's a second lieutenant with the U.S. Marine Junior ROTC, a member of the school's National Honor Society and Captain's Council, was named a National Merit Scholar, scored three touchdowns this past season as a wide receiver on the school's football team and represented the school at the state track and field meet.

"He is just an all-around good kid," PHS JROTC Marine Maj. John Johnston said, adding that each year some 13,000 youth are nominated to the academy, but only between 900 and 1,000 are chosen to attend.

Attending West Point, which Freeny said he'll probably choose over the Air Force Academy if he receives that nod too, has been a dream.

He credits his parents, his school and God for helping him make it.

"My dad is in the military," said Freeny, adding his father is a U.S. Army staff sergeant stationed at Fort Gorden in Georgia. The 17-year-old said he saw his father's source of pride in his service in the military and wanted to feel the same thing.

Freeny and his mother, Lakeysha, moved to Portage when Othie was in eighth grade. He's lived in Germany, Georgia, Hawaii and Indianapolis before moving here.

He received word of the acceptance in a "little brown envelope," he said.

"I was just elated. I started dancing," Freeny said. Then he called his mother.

Freeny will leave for West Point shortly after the June 10 Portage High School graduation. He'll have six weeks of boot camp before classes begin. He's hoping to become either an engineer or a lawyer.

Those who graduate from West Point become U.S. Army second lieutenants and must fulfill a five-year commitment to the military.