Duty, honor, country: Judge Memorial has seven military academy appointees

Intermountain Catholic

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Jack Barnett was recognized at the beginning of Judge Memorial Catholic High School's 2012 Academic and Activities Awards Assembly. Barnett is the seventh Judge graduate in five years to have been appointed to one of the national military academies. IC photo/Laura Vallejo

SALT LAKE CITY – Over the past few years, six Judge Memorial Catholic High School graduates have accepted appointments to the nation’s military academies.

This year Jack Barnett became the seventh student to make such a commitment; he was appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point.

"This means a lot. It’s a great honor for my family," said Barnett, who was captain of the football team, played baseball and competed in track and field. Among his awards are the Knights of Columbus Moran Award for football and being named to the Region 10 All-Region team.

Receiving an appointment to a military academy requires not only outstanding academics, morals and community service, but also senatorial recommendations.

U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) appointed Barnett to the academy, but Barnett also wrote letters to Senator Mike Lee and Congressman Jim Matheson.

"Getting the nomination was stressful, but when I got the letter in the mail I was pretty excited," said Barnett, who also had to write a special essay, in which "I told them that if I was appointed I wouldn’t let them down, that it would be a great honor for my family and I wouldn’t mess things up. … I have been given so much growing up. I have had it really easy, so now it’s my time to give it back to my country."

Barnett’s uncle Bill Anderson, a West Point graduate, played an important role in helping him achieve this goal.

"When he found out that I was interested he started helping," said Barnett, who has three younger brothers.

"This is such a great example for my little brothers and I am very honored that I have been accepted," said Barnett, adding that he is also very grateful to his parents for all of that they have given to him.

A member of Saint Ambrose Parish, Barnett has found great strength in his religion, he said. "God has blessed me with so much and I am trying to give back to the community for all that has been given to me."

Anyone can accomplish their dreams if they believe in themselves, stay focused, and work hard, he said. "The bottom line is doing in life what God expects you to; it is also important to treat others the way you wish to be treated."

Attending Judge Memorial has also marked Barnett.

"I am really blessed to have had really good teachers. I can’t thank them enough for helping me," he said.

Judge principal Rick Bartman and Marianne Bartman, the school’s director of communications, "both have been a great support for me; they were always there for me. It has been a real blessing having them in my life," said Barnett.

Marianne Bartman said a high school in Utah can expect one of its students to receive an appointment to a U.S. service academy once every six years, but Judge has had seven since 2008.

"As one of the academy’s recruiters and graduates recently told us, this is a pretty remarkable record," she said. "This record at Judge is a pretty remarkable record of scholars and service, like few others."

Judge Memorial graduates at national military academies are: U.S. Air Force Academy, Matt Thorne, Class of 2008; U.S. Naval Academy, Jon Huntsman III, Class of 2009, Dylan Cawdery and Isaac Losee, both Class of 2010, and Will Huntsman, Class of 2011; West Point, Alexis Martinez, Class of 2010 and Jack Barnett, Class of 2012.