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Service academy hopefuls enroll in program
By Carlina Villalpando

The Daily Times
Published September 20, 2004

Starting this semester, Schreiner University has opened its campus to Greystone Academy, a preparatory school designed to prepare students for qualification into one of five United State Service Academies.
According to school director David Bailey, Greystone is the result of close to five year’s research and is the only program of its kind. Designed by actual service academy faculty and staff, Greystone is unique among prep schools because it is absolutely in sync with the academies, he said.
The Greystone program is a rigorous, intensive program designed to train students mentally, morally and physically. Greystone’s students don’t fret over 8 a.m. classes. They’re up at 5 a.m. daily, ready to begin physical training at 6 a.m. They are enrolled in a full freshmen courseload — calculus, chemistry with a lab, history and English composition and rhetoric — and they are satisfied with nothing less than perfection.
“They are here to be students and get a 4.0 first and foremost,” Bailey said.
What sets Greystone students apart is not just their pursuit of excellence. They are above average students — intelligent, hardworking and uniquely capable. These students, however, have all experienced defeat. They are at Greystone this semester, reapplying for the academy for the second and, for some, even the third time around.
“These six kids have been handed a significant body blow. Everything they have done up to this point has been about getting into the academy,” Bailey said. “Now, they’re willing to give up another year of their lives and come here to Greystone in pursuit of their passion.”
That commitment to fight for what they want, Bailey said, is exactly what the academy is looking for. These academy hopefuls all want the same thing — to make a career of the military service, becoming officers and dedicating their lives to the service of their country.
“All of us have a very strong faith and all feel we are being led in this direction for one reason or another,” said student William Israel. “I want to make soemthing of myself and not just be succesful, but to impact as many lives as I can.”
They say another year sacrificed in pursuit of an academy appointment is the smallest sacrifice they are willing and expect to make.
“Sacrifices need to be made,” said student Bart Kercheval. “So many have protected us and there’s a responsibility to keep that lineage going. We’ve been given so many opportuntiies in America, and if someone doesn’t stand up for that, we run the risk of losing them.”
Bailey shares this responsibility — to his students and the academy. These kids, he said, will not only get into the academy, but they will stand out in the crowd.
“We’re here as a back-up plan,” Bailey said. “That’s what our sole purpose is — maximizing every opportunity, every minute of every day.
“We have some pretty lofty goals,” he said. “We’re preparing them morally, mentally and physically to become officers at graduation.”
To make this happen, Bailey serves as coach, teacher and counselor, available to his students nearly 24 hours a day. Their typical school day usually is more than 15 hours long, of which every waking minute is focused on getting into the academy.
“We’re all resolute that we will be going there next year,” student Aaron Marshall said.
But having enrolled in an unproven program that promises to secure six of the highly competitive academy appointments, their resolve is underlined by an undeniable sense of risk.
“This is a huge risk for everyone involved,” Bailey said. “Nothing is guaranteed, but each day that passes has exceeded my expectations on all levels.”
Greystone’s first freshman class already are sold on Bailey and Greystone and they say that being apart of the freshman class, which could go on to produce future academy grads, is privilege enough.
“The fact that we founded this so that other people could also be involved in it in the future means a lot,” Israel said. “Who knows, one of us could be a future president or a war hero later in life, or maybe not, but what’s important is that we are here now so that someone else eventually will also have the same opportunity.”
Carlina Villalpando may be reached at [email protected].

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