Randall gets nod for the Naval Academy

Shock, disbelief and excitement were the reactions from the Randall family of Troy when they received news their son, Troy High School senior, Justin Randall, was nominated for an appointment to the Naval Academy for 2012.

“I had no idea I would get the decision this week,” Randall said.

Randall applied for the nomination at the beginning of his senior year.

Approximately a month later, Randall was notified of his upcoming interview with U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Montana). Unable to make the trip to Bozeman, Mont., for the interview because of a conflict with his calculus-college preparation class schedule, Randall was given the option to interview via telephone.

“I was pretty nervous, but I saw the long list of candidates and knew the process would be a long one,” Randall said.

Rehberg appoints and works with a volunteer Academy Review Board consisting of military and civilian personnel to ensure Montana students are afforded the maximum opportunity to receive one of the highly sought after nominations.

Each candidate for nomination is interviewed by the Board and scored according to academic performance, leadership qualities and community involvement.

Unsure of the time frame for a response from Rehberbs office, the Randall family has been waiting with bated breath for a response letter for Randall’s nomination. The nomination was announced Wednesday, Randall was one of 27 nominees in Montana to be chosen.

Randall’s mother received the letter first. She asked her son to come upstairs and sit down before she placed the letter in front of him.

“She had me read it out loud and then she read it over herself,” Randall said.

“I am just so proud,” Randall’s mother said.    

Randall will continue to wait for a response to the application he submitted to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. He is expecting a response by next spring.

“This is such a huge honor and a huge step in the right direction,” Randall said. “I’m grateful to Representative Rehberg, (Montana Senators) Baucus and Tester for considering me and making this a possibility.”

The nomination will aid Randall in the process of acceptance into the academy. Randall chose the Naval Academy to serve his country.

“No matter what route I take at the academy, I will gain an education and it will be the experience of a lifetime,” Randall said.

“It would be an honor to serve my country.”