Harmony Grove student receives appointment to Naval Academy

— It’s “anchors away” for Sean Allen Daisuke Jackson, who will graduate magna cum laude Thursday night from Harmony Grove High School in Haskell. The 18-year-old student has received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., which includes a four-year scholarship of $430,000.

Sean was honored Tuesday, along with other students, at an awards assembly. Retired Army Col. Douglas House, district representative for military and veterans affairs in the Little Rock office of U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin, R-Ark., recognized Sean and spoke about his appointment to the academy. Griffin nominated Sean for the appointment.

House read the letter Griffin sent to Sean. It reads, in part:

“I was happy to learn that you have accepted the offer of appointment extended to you by the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Your appointment is special to me as your United States Congressman because yours was my first nomination to a uniformed service academy.

“Please know that you have my utmost respect because of this honor that you have earned. I am proud for you, your family, your school, your church and your nation. It is an honor to represent an individual as distinguished as you. Again, congratulations.”

In recalling how he decided to apply to the academy, Sean said, “I have always been interested in the military, but I wanted a good education, too. This seemed like a good opportunity for me. I’m excited about going.”

Sean said his scholarship covers food, clothing, shelter, training, education and a monthly stipend.

He also applied to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.; Florida Technical Institute; the University of Arkansas; and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He said he was accepted to the U of A and Florida Technical Institute and was put on a waiting list at West Point. He had already accepted the appointment to the Naval Academy by the time he heard from Embry-Riddle.

Sean started the application process last June. For a physical assessment, he was interviewed by a representative of the Naval Academy who lives in Saline County. Sean then contacted Griffin’s office to seek a nomination.

“I had a conversation with him on the phone,” Sean said.

Sean will report for induction on Thursday, June 30.

“They cram the Navy’s 10-week boot camp into six weeks,” he said with a smile. “I’ll go in as a cadet. When I graduate, I can join the Navy as an ensign on a ship or join the Marines as a second lieutenant.”

Sean said graduates have to complete five years of military service.

“I’m interested in engineering, and they like engineers,” he said. “I’m thinking about aerospace or mechanical engineering.

“I have to serve those five years. I’ll have to see if I like it or not before I decide if I will stay with it.”

Sean is the son of John and Fusae Jackson; his mother is Japanese. He has four siblings — Aaron, 17; Maya, 15; Sarah, 14; and Yusuke, 12, all of whom are students in the Harmony Grove School District.

The Jacksons moved into the school district in 2006 when Sean was in the eighth grade. They had previously lived in Redhawk, N.Y., where his father completed a degree in theology. John Jackson, who is from Arkansas, pastors a nondenominational church, The Family Garden Church, in Haskell.

Sean has been active at Harmony Grove High School. He was a member of the National Honor Society, serving as secretary for one year; the Student Council; and the Beta Club. He also played football and soccer, serving as captain of both teams. He also played clarinet and saxophone in the band but had to give up that activity for lack of time.

“I still play my tenor [saxophone],” he said with a smile. “I’m into music. I listen to music and work out a lot. That’s pretty much my day since classes are finished.”

“It’s truly exciting for our school district to have a student like Sean,” said Tim Holicer, first-year principal at Harmony Grove High School, “but for him to have this opportunity, it’s even more exciting for him.

“I’ve seen Sean throughout the year develop his leadership skills on and off the football and soccer fields. You can’t help but notice his presence when you’re in a room with him. The academy is looking for leaders — for students like Sean for their abilities and leadership.”

Susie Simmons, high school counselor, echoed Holicer’s assessment of Sean.

“I think Sean has every possibility of succeeding at the academy,” she said. “It’s a plus for us for him being a student at our school.”

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