Laird DesMarais (left) with Rep. Kim Schrier, who nominated him to the U.S. Naval Academy (Credit: Kim DesMarais’ Facebook page)
Kentridge High School graduate Laird DesMarais will head to the U.S. Naval Academy for her first year of training — one of the toughest colleges in the country to get into, with an acceptance rate of just 8 percent.
On the Naval Academy website, nominations must come from official sources, such as the vice president or members of Congress. Days before Christmas 2021, DesMarais received the primary nomination from U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier.
De Marais, who is of Chinese descent, hopes the military will enhance his “sense of structure and discipline” and make him a better leader. “It gave me the opportunity to defend and represent America abroad,” he told reporters in Kent.
DesMarais plans to study aerospace engineering at the Naval Academy. If he enters aviation after graduation, he will need to serve eight years in the Navy.
