May 18, 2019
Summit Christian Academy (SCA) is proud to announce that Senior Josh McConnell was appointed and has accepted his appointment to the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA). For the first time in school history, SCA will have two Eagles taking flight as USAFA Falcons as McConnell is joining SCA 2017 Alumnus William Finch at the Academy in Colorado.
The USAFA is highly competitive and has an acceptance rate of 12 percent, with appointments being offered to only the most qualified students in the nation. One must be nominated by a member of the U.S. House of Representatives or a Senator to be eligible for an appointment to the Academy, and Josh received his nomination from Senator Claire McCaskill.
The USAFA has a mission to educate, train, and inspire men and women to become officers of character who are motivated to lead the United States Air Force in service to our Nation. Josh feels honored and equipped to fulfill this mission, “When I was making the decision for college, I really liked the options the USAFA would give me,” shared Josh. “But ultimately, God will use you wherever you go, so I wanted to make sure that I was making the decision for God’s glory.”
Josh will attend USAFA in the fall of 2019, where he would like to study aerospace engineering and potentially continue on to Air Force Pilot training.
Josh was also named as the 2019 SCA Secondary Christian Character Student of the Year. Josh, son of Preston and Michelle McConnell of Lee’s Summit, attended SCA for four years. Josh was a member varsity football, varsity track & field, Concert Chorale, and Junior/Senior Ensemble at SCA. He was also a Math Fellow, International Buddy, and Small Group leader.
In football, Josh was named team captain, Crossroads Conference Player of the Year (senior year), National D-3 Player of the Year Finalist, All-State, and Academic All-State. Josh is also part of the school’s record-breaking 4×100 meter relay team. Other honors for Josh include being inducted into the National Honor Society (named President senior year), earning an Academic letter, and being named to the Principal’s Honor Roll.
“Josh McConnell is a young man that makes every environment he is in better,” shared SCA Secondary Principal Joe Hesman. “From his charismatic personality to his drive and hard work, Josh lives out the Colossians 3:23 verse by working hard at everything he does. He is academically very strong, athletically a beast, spiritually a mentor, and just a wonderful young man to be around!”
