Twice the soldier: Center Hill senior chooses Navy over Air Force
By Chris Van Tuyl
Center Hill High School senior Tyler Pichard fielded two important phone calls, one after the other, last month.
After applying for appointments to the Naval and Air Force academies, he was hoping to be accepted by at least one of them.
"It was within like a minute's time period," said Pichard, who lives in Olive Branch. "I got the call for the Air Force. I hung up the phone, I walked to the refrigerator, I was about to get a snack and then the phone started ringing. I was thinking, 'Who could this be?' I went over there and it (displayed) 'U.S. Federal Government' so I answered it and it was the Naval people."
The two pieces of news brought immediate jubilation.
"I was sitting there hoping and praying that I would get one (appointment), and I got both. I told my mom and she was screaming and yelling, and saying we had to call everybody in the family and let them know."
All those folks, though, soon wanted to know one more bit of information: Which academy would he choose? Pichard picked the Navy, which has its campus in Annapolis, Md.
"I know it was hard for him to make that decision," said Center Hill science teacher Tyler Arnold, "because a lot of people only have just one option -- Northwest (Mississippi Community College), ICC (Itawamba Community College), Ole Miss. I feel really good to have somebody make that kind of choice."
Pichard's first look at Annapolis was Jan. 21-23, as part of a candidate visit weekend.
"Pretty much lived the life for a couple of days," he said. "Ate with them, walked around with them, went to class, lived in their dorm -- it was fun. I had a good time."
The naval music, however, began sounding good about the seventh grade.
"One of my neighbors moved up here from Jacksonville and he happened to be the Blue and Gold Officer for the Navy," said Pichard. "He started talking to me and got me interested. That's when I started looking into it. One of his other friends was the Air Force liaison officer and I started talking to him -- that's when I kind of widened my spectrum to both academies."
On top of his stellar academic record, Pichard's extracurricular activities proved to be eye-catching. He's a member of the Mustangs' cross country and baseball teams, and also takes part in the ACT 30+ club, the Science club, the Interact club and the FCS (Fellowship of Christian Students).
"Tyler's a very quiet leader -- he leads by example," Center Hill principal George Loper said. "You'd hardly ever know he's in the hallways other than the fact that he's here, doing what he's supposed to, when he's supposed to."
Pichard, who recently turned 18, graduates May 27. Induction Day is July 1.
