St. Joseph students accepted to U.S. military academies

Friday, Jun. 05, 2020

OGDEN — St. Joseph Catholic High School seniors Abby Belko and Pierson Wade are preparing to follow in their fathers’ footsteps in serving their country. 

Belko will attend the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. Her father, Michael Belko, was an Air Force pilot for more than 25 years, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. Currently he is a contracting officer for the Air Force. 

Abby Belko, who hopes to become an engineer, has always had the goal of following her family’s military legacy, she said. 

“I always knew I wanted to serve others,” she said. “Growing up in the military, I got to see what my dad did and what the military life really entailed. I knew that was the life I wanted, helping serve my country.”

She had planned to apply for the U.S. Air Force Academy, but changed her mind last summer after attending the Summer Seminar at Annapolis.

“That’s when it really just clicked for me,” she said.”Knowing the Navy and their traditions, as well as a lot of that community, is something that really spoke to me.”

The community spirit at St. Joseph’s and the healthy competition among her peers inspired her to excel academically, she said. “It really helped me push myself and kept me focused and motivated to take those hard classes and challenge myself.”

Belko has been a member of the National Honor Society all four years of her high school career. She has been a student ambassador, a co-captain of the track team for three years, and was recently named to the Academic Allstate Team in volleyball and track.

She will report to the Naval Academy on July 1.

“I always knew I wanted to be something bigger than myself,” Belko said. “My goal is to become a pilot, but at the end of the day, I will do whatever the Navy requires of me.”

Her classmate, Wade, plans to leave for the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn. on July 8. His father, Major General Patrick Wade, graduated from the University of Notre Dame’s Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and spent most of his military career as an Air Force pilot, flying F-16s out of Hill Air Force Base. He currently serves in the Air Force Reserve.

Pierson Wade credits his father with teaching him about service to others, camaraderie with fellow servicemen and having a fulfilling life giving back to his country, he said.

“I learned about the Coast Guard’s mission and its service orientation of protecting people, so I really thought it was a compelling lifestyle,” Pierson Wade said of his decision to enter the Coast Guard.

After four years at the academy, Wade will graduate as an ensign. 

“If I have a chance to make a career in the Coast Guard, I’d love to do that,” said Wade, who transferred from a public school to St. Joseph’s in November of his freshman year.  

St. Joseph’s has helped him achieve his goals academically through the many classes it offers, and through the opportunity to participate in three varsity sports and two service trips, he said.

“St. Joe’s has given me the opportunity to push myself,” he said. “Compared to my previous school, I was surrounded by individuals who were very strong in many categories, so it pushed me, being driven by like-minded individuals.” 

“There is no greater pride than the sacrifices these students will make,” Advancement Director Kari Lane said. “Our students are amazing and precious to us – this has been our mantra throughout this unprecedented time.” 

Belko and Wade are two of the 39 St. Joseph Class of 2020 graduates, who cumulatively earned more than $5 million in scholarships.