Lansing High School senior Aidan Lessard has achieved an extraordinary honor—acceptance into all three of the United States’ most military academies: the United States Military Academy at West Point, the United States Naval Academy, and the United States Air Force Academy.
After much deliberation, Aidan has chosen to commit to West Point, a decision rooted in a dream he has held since childhood and a desire to refine his leadership abilities through the values and challenges offered by the United States Army.
“Ever since I can remember, I’ve been saying I wanted to go to West Point,” Aidan shared. “West Point and the Army will force me to get better at leadership, so I am very excited.”
The journey to triple acceptance was no easy feat. Aidan described the application process as both long and demanding, requiring rigorous academic preparation, physical fitness training, and the challenge of presenting himself confidently to admissions boards.
“The hardest part was advertising myself to the academies—writing about the hours of studying, sports practices, and leadership,” he said. “It was a struggle to prepare for the physical tests and intimidating interviews, but I made a plan and tackled it one bite at a time.”
Aidan’s passion for service grew as he matured, strengthened by his belief in the values embedded in the U.S. Constitution and further inspired by his experience attending Boys Nation this past summer.
Family and mentors played a pivotal role in Aidan’s path. His father, a 1991 West Point graduate, was both a role model and motivator, while Dr. Murnane—his summer internship mentor—challenged him to push beyond his limits and remain humble.
“She humbled me in order to realize I should not feel over-confident and arrogant that I would get in easily.” Aidan said.
Throughout high school, Aidan emerged as a natural leader, especially during his time as football team captain. He also found strength and resilience through wrestling, which taught him to push through adversity and trust in his preparation.
Looking ahead, Aidan plans to commission as an Army officer with aspirations in infantry or aviation, and possibly pursue a future in Army Space Command—with his sights set on joining NASA’s astronaut program due to his passion for space and physics.
When asked what advice he would offer to other students pursuing a similar path, Aidan was candid:
“You probably will not finish the application process if you are not genuinely interested in an academy and military service. They purposely make it difficult to root out the applicants that don't really care. Prepare throughout high school and do absolutely anything and everything you can to shine in front of the admissions office and interviewers: physical excellence; leadership; great grades, AP classes, and high percentile ACT/SAT scores; officer positions in clubs; Boys State is highly recommended; and volunteer service. You want to demonstrate you have a well rounded resume and that you can handle several responsibilities while performing at an impressive level nonetheless. It will feel like everything you do is prepping for the future, but the work you put in will be invaluable when you succeed."
Reflecting on his time at Lansing High School, Aidan expressed deep gratitude for the community that welcomed him in seventh grade.
“My friends have pushed me to succeed since I met them, and my teachers and coaches have shaped me to have a high expectation of myself. The memories and experiences made as a student are invaluable and I will cherish them forever."