All five students in University of the Ozarks’ Greystone Preparatory School have received multiple nominations to the country’s military service academies.
Greystone is a college-level academy prep school that prepares students for nomination, appointment and success at one of the five military service academies in the United States.
This year’s Greystone class includes, Rocco Alessandro of Hartley, Del.; James “Coley” Cowden of Austin, Texas; Madison Crosley of Camden, Del.; Cole Muraszewski of Oakhurst, Calif.; and Ethan Rios of Severance, Col.
“We are extremely pleased with the multiple nominations that have come in for our students, and that are still coming in,” said Greystone Executive Director David Bailey, a retired U.S. Navy commander. “The students have put in the time and work to earn these nominations, which is the first hurdle to the presentation of admission to the academy admission boards.”
Bailey said one key component of the nomination process are School Official Evaluations (SOEs) by professors on behalf of the Greystone students. Bailey commended three U of O professors for their efforts in providing SOEs — Dr. Befrika Murdianti, assistant professor of chemistry, Dr. Amy Oatis, associate professor of English; and Christie Shoulders, instructor of mathematics.
“Each of those professors have written multiple SOEs for our students in their free time and that is greatly appreciated,” Bailey said. “All of our professors at Ozarks have been great to work with. One of the questions that our students get asked during the nomination process is about the classes they are taking and the time they get to work with their professors, both inside and outside the classroom. That has been a very positive experience across the board. That speaks very highly of the University and of the professors here.”
Rocco earned two senatorial nominations each to the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and the U.S Military Academy.
Cowden received a senatorial nomination to the U.S. Military Academy with a letter of assurance and a congressional nomination to the U.S. Naval Academy.
Madison received two senatorial and one congressional nomination each to the U.S. Military Academy with a letter of assurance, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
Muraszewski received a congressional nomination each to the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
Rios received a congressional nomination to the U.S. Air Force Academy and two congressional nominations to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
All six Greystone students from last year’s class are currently enrolled in a service academy — Issac Braeske and Ellery Doyna in the U.S. Military Academy; Sean McCabe and Matthew Yonkers in the U.S. Naval Academy; and Lee McDonald and Adrian Post in the U.S. Air Force Academy.