WTOK-TV Meridian
Military Matters: Lauderdale County teen to attend U.S. Air Force Academy
News
MERIDIAN, MISS. (WTOK) - A Lauderdale County teen recently received his high school diploma and now he’s on his way to Colorado to further his education at the United States Air Force Academy.
Trey McDaniel said an elementary school field trip to the local naval air station sparked his interest in becoming a pilot.
“We were able to tour the hangar full of fighter jets. Just looking at all those planes, I thought ‘It’d be amazing to fly one of these one day.’"
McDaniel lives on his family’s farm in Lauderdale County and enjoys daily tasks that include feeding Wendy, the family cow and chopping wood. Soon, McDaniel will face new challenges as he heads to the U.S. Air Force Academy.
“My first nomination was from Representative Michael Guest and I was very surprised to get that nomination. Then I found out I’d gotten a nomination also from Senator Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde Smith,” said McDaniel. “It was just really surprising and very humbling to find that out.”
As a recent Russell Christian Academy graduate, McDaniel thanks God, his family and friends for supporting his dream of becoming a pilot. He also says former instructor pilot and RCA board member Langford Knight played a large role in his decision to attend the academy.
“I took him flying with me on a corporate flying trip and he loved it, asked a lot of really good questions,” said Knight. “Then he came back to me and told me he really wanted to try for an appointment at the air force academy.”
McDaniel heads to basic training next week and will begin working towards a civil engineering degree in august at the academy.