Joining the military is a tradition steeped deep in the families of St. Aloysius seniors Matthew Jenkins and Michael Evans.

Both have been appointed to military academies, the first time two appointments in one class of the parochial school have been made in years.

&#8220My mom and dad both went to West Point, and they’re very proud of my appointment there,” said Matthew, 17.

Although still undecided about where he’ll attend college, he said the process of applying to West Point was a challenge. To become eligible for any service academy requires individual appointment by a member of Congress.

&#8220I guess I started around the spring of my junior year,” said Matthew, who was nominated by District 2 U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson.

&#8220Then you have to take the PFT – Presidential Fitness Test – to meet the requirements,” he said.

St. Aloysius has no Jr. ROTC program, so all preparation had to be done independently, he said.

Now all Matthew’s waiting on is a visit to West Point this month to make his decision.

&#8220I also applied to Ole Miss and got the ROTC scholarship, but I have to let them know something by the end of this month,” he said.

For Michael, the hard part was deciding if he wanted the full college experience at Louisiana State University or Auburn University or the intense training experience at the Naval Academy.

&#8220It was hard to decide, but I’ve chosen the academy,” said Michael, 18. &#8220I think it’s worth it.”

His grandfather served in Army intelligence during Korea and his cousin, Bert Winschel of Vicksburg, signed up with the Marine Corps two years ago.

&#8220I want to be a helicopter pilot in the Marine Corps,” he said. &#8220It’s just something I’ve always wanted to do.”

Both agree that playing sports helped them get appointed.

&#8220They look at grades, but they’re looking for extracurricular activities, too. People with straight A’s don’t necessarily get in,” said Michael, a straight-A student who plays football and soccer and runs track.

Matthew said he makes A’s and B’s and plays soccer and tennis and runs cross country.

The teens are the sons of Greg and Lori Evans and Col. Richard and Clare Jenkins. Richard Jenkins is now serving as commander and district engineer for the Gulf Region North of the Army Corps of Engineers in Iraq.

Both students agreed their families and friends have been supportive, despite the idea that they might be moving far away to West Point in New York or the Naval Academy in Maryland.

&#8220We’re all going different places when we graduate,” said Matthew. &#8220We don’t know if we’ll ever see each other again, except for reunions. But that’s part of graduating.”

Counselor Holli McBrayer said one St. Al student, Lance Logan, received a military appointment last year.

&#8220It’s very unusual to have two from one class. It definitely hasn’t happened in the past several years,” she said.