April 12, 2018
By JAMES EVANS
Rutherford County Schools
It’s nice to be pursued.
Just ask Riverdale senior, Katherine Victoria King, who holds the rank of Cadet Lieutenant Colonel as part of the school’s JROTC program.
After receiving offers to attend both the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, King has accepted an appointment to West Point. In addition to the military academy offers, King was also awarded the option of a four-year Army ROTC scholarship to one of five colleges in the country.
“Ms. King is the recipient of numerous awards and decorations and is an exemplary cadet, athlete and scholar,” said Mike Schwartz, senior Army instructor at Riverdale.
Katie is class valedictorian and commander of the National RAIDER team in JROTC at Riverdale, Schwartz said. She is also the commander of the Riverdale High School “Warrior Battalion” for the 2017-2018 school year and student body treasurer.
She has a long list of awards, including the Superior Cadet Award all four years in JROTC, four Raider Varsity Letters, the Army Recruiting Command Award, the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Medal, the Non-Commissioned Officers’ Association Medal, the Raider Team MVP, “Iron Mike” Award recipient, American Legion Scholastic Excellence Medal recipient (2 awards), and AUSA Most Outstanding Cadet Award (three awards).
Leigh Morton and Greg King are the proud parents. She also has an older brother, Alex, who is scheduled to receive his degree in mechanical engineering this fall at Tennessee Technological University and is enrolled in the university’s ROTC program. He will commission in 2019 and join the Tennessee National Guard as a lieutenant, Schwartz said.
King is one of four Rutherford County seniors who have been offered and committed to placement at a prestigious military academy.
Casey Couch from Central Magnet School recently accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the United States Air Force Academy. Oakland High senior Kyle Lennon had been accepted to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, while Eagleville senior John “Hunter” Hailey was accepted to the Merchant Marine Service Academy in Kings Point, New York.