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Haskell teen plans to serve in the skies |
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Monday, 04 February 2008 |
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 By Lynda Hollenbeck Courier Staff A Haskell teenager wants to take to the skies.
Stuart Coston, who has aspirations to be fly planes and possibly become a physician, has received an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colo.
He received nominations from U.S. Rep. Vic Snyder and U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor and still is hopeful to receive an additional one from U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln.
A unique aspect of Coston’s admission to the academy is that he has been home-schooled for the past three years. The son of Jerry and Tina Coston, he has been taught primarily by his father. The home-school approach to learning wasn’t pursued for some of the usual reasons, but was done with the goal of Coston making the academy’s tennis team, the academy candidate’s mother said. And he’s achieved his goal.
This fall he will join 12 or 13 other Air Force cadets on the academy’s team, something he’s aspired to for many years, Stu Coston, 17, said.
An academy appointment entitles a cadet to the equivalent of a full undergraduate scholarship including room and board, medical and dental care and a monthly pay allowance. That package currently is valued at $387,000. Upon graduation from the academy, he will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force.
“Each year, an estimated 20,000 persons apply to the academy, and about 1,200 are accepted for admission,” Jerry Coston noted.
Before the home-schooling venture was undertaken — strictly to give the younger Coston an opportunity to train under a tennis coach in Little Rock — Stu Coston attended Harmony Grove High School. He played a year on the Harmony Grove tennis team under Coach Rick Mooney but wanted to go beyond what the school had to offer in that sport.
Jerry Coston, a member of the tennis team all of his four years at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, understands his son’s love for the game and is proud of his athletic and academic accomplishments.
“He reached the state quarterfinals and played the Junior Davis Cup, which takes the state’s top three players in each age division,” Tina Coston said. “He’s ranked No. 2.”
Stu Coston began playing at 10, but his mother says it seems as if he “got his first racquet when he was born.”
Before his tennis interest escalated, Stu Coston was involved in Tai Kwon Do, which he stopped about age 11. He also played baseball and has done some skateboarding, but he didn’t develop the kind of love for those activities that he has for tennis. Having enjoyed ski trips in Colorado, he says he’s also looking forward to snowboarding after taking up residency at the school.
As things stand now, Stu Coston is scheduled to report for basic training at the academy in June. This will last five weeks, followed by a break, then academic and physical training will resume in August. He’ll also have a Christmas break.
Academically, Stu Coston has done well, his mother noted. While still attending Harmony Grove, he made good grades and was a member of the Beta Club, an honor society. His grades have continued to be high as a home-schooler.
While Jerry Coston is the instructor of record for his son, he said he “gets most of his teaching from video instruction.”
The core curriculum used is A Beka, which is Christian-based, Jerry Coston said.
“He’s very disciplined,” he said. “He gets up and starts working at 5:30 a.m., spending about three hours daily on his academic work. Last year, it required five hours. Then he goes to Pleasant Valley Country Club for his tennis lessons.”
Stu Coston also works part-time at Larry’s Pizza in Benton.
He was flown to Colorado Springs in November and during that visit met other members of the tennis team.
The extensive application process to the academy began about a year ago, he said.
“I had to write essays about why I wanted to go to the academy and what I wanted to do when I get out, and others that related to patriotism — what it means to be an American — and about my future,” he explained.
Rigid physical requirements are part of the procedure, he noted, and the ACT test score also was a factor in acceptance.
“There was a tremendous amount of paperwork,” Tina Coston said, “and each congressman required different things. They sent us pamphlets about what they required. All were similar, but slightly different.”
A letter of recommendation also was required from a school counselor and “since he’s home-schooled, he has none,” she said.
“Instead of that, Jerry had to send copies of his daily work and his grades to prove that he had really done his work,” she explained.
“I’m getting excited about getting out to Colorado,” Stu Coston said. “I’ll take a gliding class and then a jump class, but mainly I want to fly.
“My father’s dad, Rod Coston of Tyler, Texas, was a pilot for American Airlines,” he said. “He flew out of Dallas.”
Rod Coston, who is deceased, is a former resident of Malvern.
After Stu Coston completes his term at the academy, he is considering medical school.
“The Air Force will pay for all of his training if he’s in the top 3 percent of his class,” his father noted. After that, he will be required to serve eight years of active duty in the service.
Stu Coston said he never had an interest in the Naval or Army service academies. “I always wanted to go to the Air Force Academy,” he said.
Neither of his parents has a background in military service.
Jerry Coston commended his son for setting goals and attaining them. “Since he was a very young boy, he’s been a goal-setter and a goal-achiever. He’s amazed us and, of course, we’re proud of him. He’s a good boy.”
His mother agrees with that assessment. “Everybody looks up to Stu. We’re very proud.”
At Calvary Baptist in Benton, Stu Coston plays the guitar in the congregation’s praise band.
Coston’s other grandparents are Bob and Wanda Tarver of Haskell, Gene and Dianne Clark of Benton and Kathy Coston of Dallas.
According to the Air Force Academy’s Web site, the application process typically begins in the spring of a person’s junior year in high school. After filling out the online pre-candidate questionnaire, an initial screening is done based on the questionnaire. Applicants passing this screening will receive a candidate kit beginning in August.
Next, the student must apply for a nomination from all available sources and get in shape physically to prepare for the fitness test through conditioning exercises and running. Applicants are told to continue to exercise throughout the application process in order to be ready for the academy’s requirements.
After receiving the candidate kit, additional paperwork is required of the candidate. After this, the candidate will interview with the academy’s liaison officer to discuss goals, qualifications and reasons for desiring to attend the academy. |
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