Lake Hamilton grad accepted to Air Force Academy

PEARCY — Nick Amerson, 18, is about to embark on an experience of a lifetime.

He has been accepted to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He graduated from Lake Hamilton High School on Friday and will leave June 29 for the academy, where he plans to study engineering. When he graduates from the academy, he will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force.

“I am really undecided about my job in the Air Force,” he said. “This is going to be quite an educational experience … and a career opportunity.

“When you are accepted, there are no expenses.”

However, he will have to commit several years to the Air Force, depending on his career path, after he graduates.

Amerson said he also applied to, and received an appointment to, the U.S. Naval Academy.

“I also received a full ride at Louisiana Tech,” he said. “But the Air Force Academy was my first choice; the Naval Academy, my second choice.”

The application process included a lengthy application, as well as having a medical exam, a physical test and interviews. He also had to have a congressional nomination.

“I received two nominations, one from [U.S. Sen.] Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and one from [U.S. Rep.] Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.),” Amerson said.

He learned he was accepted to the academy in January.

Amerson is the son of Chad and Christi Amerson of Pearcy. He has a younger brother, Lucas, 15, who is in ninth grade at Lake Hamilton.

Amerson was an honor student at Lake Hamilton High School, scoring a 32 on his ACT. He served as president of the 2016 senior class and was a member of the varsity basketball team, the Student Council, the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta math honor society. He played percussion in the school band.

Amerson said his parents are excited about his appointment but don’t know much about the academy.

“We hope to take a family vacation before I go,” he said. “I plan to stay in shape. The academy requires that you do intramural sports, so I will probably continue with basketball. The academy does have a Division I NCAA team, but I probably won’t try out for that. I’ll just play club sports.”

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