For the first time in a decade, a Warren Central High School student has received an appointment to a military academy, principal Eric Green said.

Senior Nick Wright said he was thrilled to get his acceptance letter to the United States Military Academy at West Point — his top choice — in the mail Monday.

“Someone who went there told me about it and got me interested in it,” he said. “The idea of how their school works: it’s a good education, they build leadership and make you a better person. You basically go there to be taught in a certain subject, but also you’re taught to be a leader.”

West Point was founded by Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, with roots tracing back to 1801. There are approximately 4,000 cadets who attend the school, and the acceptance rate is about 9 percent.

Wright plans to major in engineering, though he hasn’t nailed down a specific field of engineering yet.

To prepare, Wright has been dedicated to his studies, and this year his only non-advanced placement course is choir.

Wright said he’s looking forward to the challenges West Point will afford him.

“It’s not just academics,” he said. “The training is also a grade there. It will be tough, but it will be good.”

Wright said the application process was lengthy, much more so than most other universities.

“I was recommended by (U.S. Rep.) Bennie Thompson,” he said. “Then you have to go through medical exams, write essays and take a physical test.”

Wright said he had a lot of people supporting him throughout the application process.

At Warren Central High School, Wright plays football and soccer and he’s a member of Mu Alpha Theta, Beta Club, Astronomy Club and National Honor Society. Outside of school, Wright is active in Crawford Street United Methodist Church’s youth group and Service Over Self.

Green said Wright was also the male nominee for the Lindy Callahan scholarship, an award given to outstanding senior student athletes in the state of Mississippi.

“Nick is a great representative of our school,” Green said. “Anything that Nick does, he does well, whether it’s athletics, academics or something else in the community.”

Green said he and the rest of the Warren Central family will be rooting for Wright as he heads to New York.

“This is a big deal, and we couldn’t be more proud of Nick and his representation of the school,” he said. “I have no doubt that Nick will excel. Anything he puts his hands on, he does well. I have no doubt we’ll look up 10 years from now and Nick Wright will have a very successful career in whatever he wants to do.”

“My family had no doubt I’d get in, and there were a lot of people in Vicksburg who were always behind me,” he said.

Wright, a lifelong Vicksburg resident, said moving to New York will be a big change.

“Especially in the winter when it’s cold,” he said. “I’ll actually have snow in my life.”

Wright also said he’ll miss the Wamsley family, who he’s lived with since seventh grade. Since kindergarten, Wright has been good friends with Max Wamsley, who is also a senior at Warren Central High School.

“We’ve been together I don’t know how long, more than 10 years,” he said. “It’s going to be weird without him there.”