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MAY 13, 2026—For Pal-Mac senior George Newsome IV, the path to the United States Military Academy at West Point didn't start with a formal application, but with popsicle sticks and hot glue.

The Class of 2026 Valedictorian recently celebrated his acceptance into the prestigious academy, a feat that marks the culmination of a rigorous year-long process.

Newsome will be studying Engineering and will compete for the Men's Swim team. 

The application process started in his junior year. He first received a Congressional nomination, then passed both a physical and an academic test, and received several letters of recommendation. He found out about his acceptance in late April, shortly before he was formally introduced as top of the class.

"I'm very proud to have the opportunity to represent my community at such a high level," Newsome said. "And I am very excited for what the future will bring as I attend West Point."

Newsome said what drew him to the academy was threefold. First, it has high academic standards, as the academy boasts the third-ranked engineering program in the country. He also mentioned the swim program's overall success. Newsome understands that best, as he was a multi-Section V Champion in the pool, with three appearances in the New York State Championships, and several pool records to boot.

Then, of course, there is the opportunity to also serve his country. Newsome says his goal for his Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) is to join the Army Corps of Engineers, which, among other tasks, responds to disasters and other emergencies.

"West Point provides an amazing opportunity where I can serve my country, compete athletically, and pursue my academic goals," Newsome said.

As mentioned before, his passion for building started young and has grown steadily over the years. He went from building smaller structures with hot glue and sticks to what he says was his most ambitious project: a massive 12-foot trebuchet he designed and built as part of the 2024 International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) Personal Project Community Showcase.

This love for "tinkering" is what eventually led him to set his sights on West Point’s top-tier engineering program.

While Newsome is the one heading to New York’s historic military post, he credits some within the Pal-Mac community, specifically his teachers and varsity swim coach, for helping him navigate the complex admissions process.

"I just couldn't have made it this far without all that help," Newsome said.