Taylor student receives Navy nomination
Taylor High School juniors and seniors gathered in the gymnasium this week to honor a classmate.
Cameron Johnson received the Congressional Nomination for the United States Naval Academy from Congressman Pete Sessions Monday, May 13.
Johnson will head to Annapolis, Maryland, in the fall.
“I’d like you all to know that I intend to make my town proud through service as an officer in our nation’s military,” Johnson said. “Lastly, I’d like to express my deepest gratitude to not only Congressman Sessions and his team for all their help throughout the process, but also my community, my friends, my ily, coaches and teachers.”
Speakers included Johnson’s father, Principal Matt Wamble, Marco Ortiz, Taylor Independent School District school board president, Superintendent Jennifer Garcia-Edwardsen, teacher Vicki Rowe and Sessions.
Sessions, who represents the 17th congressional district that covers parts of Williamson County, Waco and Nacogdoches, said Johnson’s path to receive his nomination for the Navy was a process that took over a year.
“Young man, I’m very proud of you,” Sessions said. “I watched you as you told us, (being) one of some 16 people that wanted to go to the United States Naval Academy. It is you, my friend, who have been selected.”
Rowe, who had Johnson in her English class, described the student as being “resilient,” staying strong with a positive attitude whenever academic challenges arrive. She said Johnson learned that not everything
he writes will be perfect the first time around. Rowe added that Johnson was not content with whatever grade he originally earned, but came early in the morning and worked on it to improve.
“To me, that’s the definition of grit and determination,” Rowe said. “It’s a lesson we all should learn. Cameron wanted to do better, he wanted to be better and he wanted to accomplish more. One of the joys of being a teacher is to witness those dreams coming true for our scholars.”
