SSHS’ Jake Lee is nominated to West Point

Jake Lee and his father, Chong Nam Lee. (Contributed Photo)

Saipan Southern High School senior Jake Lee received last Wednesday a special visit from Delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan (Ind.-MP), who announced to the 17-year-old student’s classroom that the admissions board at the U.S Military Academy at West Point has decided to offer an appointment to Lee.

According to Sablan, Lee is one of many CNMI students who asked to be nominated for admission to a military academy this year.

“It has been my goal my entire high school career to get into West Point,” Lee said. “It is a great opportunity and this also means less of a burden on my parents financially.”

Lee, a Saipan native, said that there really is no better way for himself to serve the country.

The Manta Ray student is also an avid soccer and tennis player. Lee has represented Saipan in several off-island competitions. This, he said, prepared him for the physical aspect of making the cut at West Point, besides maintaining a high GPA. “Staying active really helped me with my agility and cardio. It was definitely something I had to work really hard for.”

He said the combination of quality teachers at his school and after-school SAT tutoring made him confident while writing essays and undergoing the application process. He did give credit, though, to others for helping him along the way. “Without the help of my family, friends, teachers, and coaches I could not have done it. They have always been there.”

Lee, who speaks English, Japanese, and Korean, said his ultimate goal would be “to do the best that I can. I also hope to graduate stronger in every aspect, both physically and mentally.”

He plans to study medicine while at the Naval Academy.

Lee is also part of the award-winning Manta Ray Band and will be the first in his family to go to college.

“I plan on coming back to Saipan and giving back to the community,” he told Saipan Tribune.

He expressed hope that other students on island will seek similar avenues. He said, “My advice to other students would be to not procrastinate. Starting something is the hard part. When you do start, everything else should be OK.”

He was also accepted into UC Irvine and received various athletic scholarships but the Saipan youth said he has his mind to study at the Naval Academy.

He said he chose to attend West Point because he believes he can truly serve the country and islands by going there. “I think it is a great honor to be able to serve the islands. I have always liked to serve those in need and I know that when I am doing this I am helping a lot of other people and fighting for them.”

Lee will have to fly to the academy in June for a month to undergo a test and training period. The training will determine whether or not the student will officially study in the academy school system.

He is the son of Chong Nam Lee and Ryoko Chang.

More slots

Delegate Sablan told Saipan Tribune that Lee’s entrance into West Point will not only be of significance to the student and his family, but to the islands as well. When Lee enters the academy the Northern Marianas will have seven cadets throughout the academy system: West Point, at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, and at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.

“Our community has never had so many students in the academies. This is a tribute to the hard work and determination of these students and to the support they received from their families and from the educational system in our islands.”

He noted that when he first stepped into office the CNMI was only allowed to have three cadets in the entire academy system. “I was able to change the law and double that number,” he said.

He added that people thought there was not enough talent and ambition and patriotism in the Northern Marianas to fill all of the slots. “Apparently, they were wrong,” he added.

Sablan hopes to change the law again, “so even more CNMI graduates can serve their country in this way.”