19-year-old SD woman training at West Point in New York

Via KSL

MITCHELL, S.D. (AP) — A 19-year-old Mitchell woman is among 13 South Dakota residents currently training for military service at West Point.

Alexis Blindauer applied to all five U.S. service academies, needing to apply for congressional nominations from former Sen. Tim Johnson, Sen. John Thune and Rep. Kristi Noem for four of them. Although she initially had her sights on the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, she received a rejection letter. The cadet eventually chose to attend the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, within a week of acceptance.

Blindauer tells The Daily Republic in Mitchell that the United States Military Academy, commonly known as West Point, focuses on academics, military and leadership.

She hopes to enter aviation upon her graduation from West Point.