Joy Hampton
Staff Reporter
CHELSEA —
Kayla Lockhart was a bit of a late bloomer as a kid, so her parents held her back a year. Little brother Keaton was an early bloomer who started school young. As a result, the two ended up in the same grade at Chelsea Public Schools.
“My brother has been my number one competitor,” said Kayla who finished at the top of her class and snatched Valedictorian honors.
The petite blond has some pretty big dreams. She will attend College of the Ozarks to pursue a nursing degree. And not just any nursing degree. Kayla wants to be a traveling RN.
Eventually, she hopes to save up enough money to continue her education — at law school.
“My parents have always, always driven me,” she said. “I’ve always had a really high work ethic.”
Kayla said her plans to attend college started as far back as third grade.
College of the Ozarks in Missouri is a unique private college founded on Christian values and work ethic. Drinking and partying are not part of the campus life. It was named a “Stone-Cold Sober School” by the Princeton Review for 10 consecutive years. Only top students are accepted. And the private school is supported through donations so students attend on a scholarships with the rest of their funding coming through a work-study program designed to allow students who couldn’t otherwise afford a top notch school to attend while learning the value of work-ethic.
Being accepted into the College of the Ozarks is quite an accomplishment, but little brother Keaton was not going to be outdone, even if he did end up taking Salutatorian honors slightly behind his sister.
Keaton has been accepted into Annapolis, the U.S. Naval Academy. He is the first-ever graduate of Chelsea to be accepted into one of the prestigious military academies in this country. When he completes his education, he will come out as an officer and will serve for five years after which time he may stay in the Navy or leave to pursue other interests.
Each of the military academies receives between 10,000 and 15,000 applicants each year with only 1,200 to 1,300 being inducted as new students. This year, the Naval Academy is reporting an increase of applicants with over 17,000 applying and only a little over 1,200 accepted.
To receive an offer of appointment to the Naval Academy, an applicant must obtain a nomination from an official source such as a U.S. Representative or Senator.
Congressman Dan Boren nominated Keaton.
District Attorney Gene Haynes also wrote a letter of recommendation.
Keaton’s road to Annapolis was not without a few bumps. Keaton had been accepted pending a health exam. He was found healthy, but one eye was slightly less than 20-20 vision.
Eventually, he was able to receive a waiver for the vision discrepancy and now he is Annapolis-bound.
Keaton said everyone in his family had been in the Navy which is why he became interested in the Academy. He visited in January for three days to experience the life of a Midshipman.
“That’s what sold me on it,” he said.
Eventually, he wants to be a nuclear engineer on a submarine or a ship. Each summer he will be able to travel abroad to a different naval station to experience a variety of settings.
Keaton and Kayla are very close.
“In eighth grade we were co-Salutatorians,” said Kayla. “We decided to step it up a notch.”
Both will miss family but are excited to be pursuing their dreams.
“I’m extremely proud,” said John, their father. “We give all the glory to God. The Lord’s blessed our family and our kids.”
