West Point Graduate!
Edna’s Hunter Howell was recently commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and earned a
Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering.
Jackson County now has a West Point graduate: Hunter Howell, a 2021 Edna High School alumnus. He was recently commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and earned a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering.
Howell will report to Fort Benning, Georgia on July 11 to begin his active-duty service as an infantry officer. He is committed to a minimum of five years followed by three years in the reserves. For now he’s in the midst of his 60-day leave before starting his next chapter.
“The United States Military Academy at West Point is located 50 miles up the Hudson River from New York City,” Howell explained. “West Point pushes you hard. They intentionally load you with responsibilities so you develop discipline and resilience. It’s tough, but it’s the kind of pressure that brings out your best.
“A typical college course load is 14 to 15 credit hours but at West Point the average is 18 to 19. Some cadets even take 21 or 22 hours.”
During his senior year Howell served as a company commander responsible for leading 130 cadets. His daily schedule was demanding, starting with morning formation at 6:50 a.m. and continuing through classes, physical training or sports, meals and late-night studying.
“Most days I worked nonstop from 6 in the morning until 11 at night juggling 100 different things,” he said. “The second I finished I’d go straight to bed with no time to relax or unwind.”
Academics proved especially challenging at first. “It was a kick in the face,” Howell admitted. “I never had to study in high school so when I got to West Point it took years to figure it out. I just started earning high grades this past year.”
What he valued most was the ambition of his peers and the strong sense of trust among them. “If someone left a phone or wallet on the ground someone else would track them down and return it. It’s almost an unrealistic level of trust but it built a strong community,” he said. “That’s part of the culture at West Point. We live by the Cadet Honor Code: ‘A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal or tolerate those who do.’” Howell emphasized that success at West Point depended on leaning on others. “I couldn’t have made it without my close friends,” he said, referencing a group that included cadets from Louisiana, California, Dallas, Utah,
see WEST POINT GRADUATE on page A3 Thailand and Massachusetts.
Looking ahead Howell is focused on his Army service and is open to pursuing a master’s degree in the future. His commitment and determination are evident in the rigorous application process he completed to attend West Point.
“It takes about six months and is very detailed. You can’t have any criminal history or disqualifying medical conditions,” he said. “You also need a nomination from a U.S. senator or representative.
I got mine from Congressman Michael Cloud.
“Each member of Congress can only nominate a limited number of students. The academies aim to reflect a balanced representation of the country.”
Hunter is the son of Kate and Session Howell. His younger sister Lily will be a junior at Texas Tech University this fall. Hunter is also the grandson of Kathleen Martin of Edna.
“A lot of my friends are getting married and moving across the country,” Howell said. “It’s time for all of us to get our lives situated before the next phase begins.”
