A Pella High School senior who has been a standout on the track and in cross country races, as well as a mainstay in the Marching Dutch, will run into an entirely new challenge this summer and beyond.

In a ceremony held Wednesday afternoon in front of his family, friends, peers, teachers, and school administrators, Tony Schmitz officially signed to join the West Point Military Academy Class of 2025. Schmitz initially approached Iowa Army National Guard Recruiter Sgt. Matthew Trout about enlisting in the military to follow in the footsteps of family members who served, and from there, pursued the opportunity to become a Cadet at the elite institution in New York.

Last week, Schmitz was also recognized on the floor of the U.S. Congress, as Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks — also a 24 year veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve, recognized Tony for enlisting and his acceptance into the West Point Military Academy.

Hear more from Schmitz about the recognition from this past Thursday’s Let’s Talk Pella.