ONTARIO – John Guisinger IV of Shelby will begin his postgrad career as a member of the United States Air Force Academy, an accomplishment not to be understated.
Guisinger began the long and difficult process of applying to a United States Service Academy during his junior year at Ontario High School. He applied to both the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Air Force Academies, and had numerous appointments and deadlines to meet as well as maintaining a high level of academics and extra-curricular activities to remain competitive in the long process.
Part of the process included physical exams and interviews with Ohio’s U.S. Senators’ staff and U.S. Representative Bob Gibbs’ staff to seek their necessary nomination to an academy. Guisinger eventually received a nomination to the U.S. Air Force Academy from Representative Bob Gibbs.
Ohio politicians may nominate up to 10 students to service academies each year. A committee of active and retired military and community leaders reviews student applications, and selected students are provided with the required congressional recommendation upon applying for admission.
Over the next few months, Guisinger waited for what seemed like years to ultimately receive an offer of appointment on March 16, which he promptly accepted on March 17. To put the weight of his accomplishment into perspective, nearly 10,000 congressional nominations are given out nationally and only approximately 1,200 appointments are offered.
On June 1 at Ontario High School’s Senior Awards assembly, Guisinger was presented his official appointment to the USAFA class of 2020 by Ret. USAF Lt. Col. Richard Freeborn, his Academy Liaison Officer as well as Rita Heath of Representative Bob Gibbs’ Ashland office.
Guisinger will report to the USAFA in Colorado Springs, CO on June 30. The college education he will receive as he becomes an officer in the U.S. Air Force is valued at over $400,000.
Guisinger is the son of John and Jennifer Guisinger of Shelby and has two younger sisters, Haley and Katie. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with honors on June 3 from Ontario High School, ranking 16th out of 144 graduates.
While in school, Guisinger was active in student council, student peer tutoring, football, and baseball. He attended Buckeye Boy’s State in June 2015 courtesy of American Legion Post 535 of Bellville, and was a member of the Ontario National Honor Society and Drug Free Seniors.
