Drury Student Accepted Into USAF Academy

Drury High School senior Holly Boudreau has been formally accepted to attend the United States Air Force Academy.

The honor student from Clarksburg received the news this morning in the school's auditorium in front of her parents Don and Laurie Boudreau, her brother Brian, grandmother Beverly Troop, fellow students, and dignitaries. Drury Principal Timothy Callahan introduced U.S. Rep Richard Neal, State Rep. John Barrett III, North Adams Mayor Tom Bernard, and School Superintendent Barbara Malkas. They spoke about Holly's excellent academic record and her involvement in school activities and service to the community. "Commitment" was a key word among their remarks.

Congressman Neal made her acceptance official, saying to Holly, "Congratulations from the United States of America" as the Drury Band played and the assembly gave her a standing ovation. Emotions overtook her as she started to "give a very big thank you" to those who helped her get to this day.

A very big day, not just for Holly and her family but for the school and the community. Mayor Bernard told me that the last Drury student to be accepted into a service academy was Alex Schueckler to the U.S Naval Academy in 2008. The Air Force Academy's website says that only 1,147 cadets were admitted to the Class of 2023. Holly will be joining the highly select group at the Academy in Colorado this fall. But first,her father told me she'll be taking part in the upcoming Haiti Plunge service project. There's that "commitment to service" again.