Two Seeley grads now classmates at West Point

Sam Weisenburger graduated Seeley-Swan High School in 2020 at the top of his class. Three years later, he is in his final year at West Point Military Academy in New York. Weisenburger was not expecting to be joined three years later by his friend, Owen Hoag, who was a freshman when he was a senior.

With Hoag graduating from high school in 2023, he is now starting off his first year at West Point, meaning two Seeley Swan High grads are two of roughly 4,300 students at the college.

West Point is one of the most prestigious service academies in the country, only accepting around 1,000 students per year. The application process isn't exactly painless either.

¨There are a lot of things you have to do when applying to West Point. You have to have a good GPA and standardized test scores, so I worked really hard in high school to attain those things,¨ Hoag said.

Both Weisenburger and Hoag worked hard throughout high school to keep up their above average GPAs and standardized test scores, and played sports throughout their high school careers. On top of all that, they passed a fitness test called CFA (Candidate Fitness Test) in order to ensure they can complete the intensive physical training at West Point.

The final step in the application process involves getting a nomination from a Montana senator or representative. Students around the state apply for a nomination, and not many are granted one. Overall, to have two students from a small town school in Montana end up together at West Point is a rare phenomenon.

¨There are four cadets out of 1100 in the Class of 2024 from Montana: a kid from somewhere out east, a kid from Bozeman, a kid who went to Hellgate, and me," Weisenburger said. "Other classes don't even have Montana cadets - there's gotta be less than 15 of us total. So for two of them to be from little Seeley Lake, Montana, makes me really proud of our town for building us up to be able to do this sort of thing."

Weisenburger and Hoag's parents are continuously proud of their sons for this accomplishment.

¨I am very proud that he was able to look at the big picture, and know what was important. I'm sure he looks back and knows it was worth it, but it was hard at the time,¨ said Owen's mother, Kelly Hoag.