An Arvada West High School grad’s journey to the U.S. Naval Academy

BY LILLIAN FUGLEI LFUGLEI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

For many high school seniors, the college application process is complicated. But for Arvada West High School graduate Isabelle Lopez, applications were a special kind of complicated.

Why so complicated? Lopez is attending the United States Naval Academy.

For Lopez, the application began with a nomination from a senator or congressman. She interviewed with Rep. Perlmutter and received an appointment from him.

But, that was just the rst step. Lopez then had to ll out a fairly typical college application and undergo a physical readiness test. e test evaluated her in a variety of ways, such as a mile run, pull ups, push ups and more.

ere was one more hurdle before acceptance: a medical test. For this, Lopez lled out a lengthy medical form and was evaluated by a military doctor.

While waiting for her medical results, Lopez received an appointment to the academy–contingent on her medical evaluation being passed. When she got the results back weeks later, she learned she had failed–on ve di erent accounts.

From there, she had to appeal each failure separately.

“I was going to two doctor’s appointments for every little disqualication. So we went to our military doctor as well as a specialist doctor for each of those disquali cations,” said Lopez. “When we got it back they approved everything except for one disquali cation. And the process was pretty much looking like it was over for me.” ere was one last resort for Lopez, which was having a representative from congress ght for her acceptance. With help from Rep. Pettersen, she was nally in.

“I came home and there is a sign in our yard that says ‘Proud home