March 23, 2019

Pope Francis grad Connor Koziol appointed to West Point

REGIONAL
Story and photos by Stephen Kiltonic

 

SPRINGFIELD – Connor Koziol, a 2018 Pope Francis Preparatory School graduate, has been appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point.

U.S. Congressman Richard E. Neal made the official announcement in a brief ceremony held in the atrium of the school in front of Pope Francis’ staff, faculty, and students, as well as Koziol’s parents, brother, and grandfather.

Koziol, from Westfield, is currently is in his freshman year at Clarkson University in Potsdam, N.Y., where he is majoring in engineering.

“I can’t emphasize enough just how much competition there is for a very limited number of opportunities to attend the military academies,” said Neal.

Each year, Neal nominates qualified young people to four of the five service academies which include the U. S. Military Academy; the U.S. Naval Academy; the U.S. Air Force Academy; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. 

Koziol previously applied to West Point after graduating last year but was not accepted.

“I think the fact that he stayed with it is even the better part of the story. I think that it’s a reminder in life that we are all, in a sense, committed to the idea that, like Sisyphus, we have to continue to roll the boulder up the hill,” said Neal.

The nomination process is a rigorous one. Nominees have to exhibit high SAT scores, high class rank and be involved in many extra-curricular activities. In addition, Neal said the military academies look for the “multi-dimensional” student who is an “achiever in all phases” of their student life.

While at Pope Francis, Koziol was a National Honor Society member, ranking 13 in a class of 85; achieved a cumulative GPA of 4.24; a co-captain of the baseball and golf teams; the recipient of numerous academic honors and awards; a 2017 Massachusetts Boys’ State attendee; a participant in many community and civic activities including volunteering as a youth hockey and Babe Ruth coach and religious education assistant at St. Mary Parish in Westfield; as well as a member of the Civil Air Patrol and ReGreen Springfield.

“I think that on occasions like this, we’re reminded that these are amongst the best young people in America. When you meet them during the interview process and when you meet them during the selection process, you’re reminded of how great the future of America is going to be because of this commitment they make,” said Neal.

Koziol has been interested in the military academies going back to middle school visiting the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy and West Point several times prior to and during the selection process.

“Going through the application process was long and frustrating, especially after being turned away the first time. But I definitely knew it was something I wanted to pursue, so I did it again and completed my goal,” said Koziol.

“This is something I’ve wanted for a while,” he added. “I was actually inspired by one of the kids in high school who was applying when I was a freshman, Cam Griffin.”  
 
Griffin applied to West Point but wasn’t accepted and is now a student at Our Lady of the Elms College.

In addition to Neal, Koziol appealed to Massachusetts U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey as well as Vice President Mike Pence.

Attending the ceremony were Koziol’s parents, Jeff and Kristen Koziol; his brother, Tanner, a student at Pope Francis; and John Koziol, Koziol’s grandfather. His sisters, Maddie and Jen, couldn’t make the event.

“I think he actually started leaning more toward the military academy through a friend of his in Southwick who also went to St. Mary’s (Westfield) where he had gone to middle school, Harry Reed, and I think Harry was a great influence on him,” said Kristen Koziol.

Reed is currently a senior at West Point. “As Harry was going through college, Connor was going through high school so he kind of lived that experience through him a little bit,” added Jeff Koziol.

At Clarkson, Connor also belonged to the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, or ROTC.

“We’re proud more of his determination to come back and obviously it’s something he really wanted. I think he’s had a good year up at school but I think its helped guide him to where he really wants to be,” said Jeff.

At the ceremony, Koziol thanked many people for their support during the nomination process and for making his “dream come true” including his parents, Neal, Jeanne Ahern, an aide to Neal, and many Pope Francis staff and faculty for writing letters of recommendation.

Koziol reports to West Point July 1 for seven weeks of basis training before starting classes at the end of August as a first year plebe.

 A video version of this story will be on an upcoming edition of “Real to Reel” which airs Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. on WWLP-TV22 NEWS and in the Berkshires Sunday mornings at 5:30 on Albany’s Fox 23, WXXA.