BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
Top Photo, from left are: Colonel Mark Brown, Earnest Raife, Lasonya Raife, Joan Cox with Congressman Barry Moore’s office, Olivia Raife, District Director Bill Harris with Congressman Barry Moore’s office and Millbrook Mayor Al Kelley. (EAN photo by Sarah Stephens)
Lasonya and Earnest Raife beamed with pride Tuesday evening, as their daughter, Olivia, was introduced to council members and guests as a new Cadet for the United States Air Force Academy.
Olivia graduated recently from Stanhope Elmore High School and is set to begin a grand adventure as she chases her dreams. She received a full-ride scholarship to the Air Force Academy and will also continue her gymnastics career with the military, while pursuing studies in civil engineering.
There to help recognize her accomplishments was Col. Mark Brown with the United States Air Force and Space Force. Representing Congressmen Barry Moore were his staff members District Director Bill Harris and Joan Cox.
Mayor Al Kelley said he was so impressed with Olivia, that his business Kelley’s Accounting Firm offered her a scholarship on Awards Day for Stanhope Elmore High. He said learning more about her, he was incredibly impressed with her work ethic, academics, and believes she will be an amazing representative for Millbrook in the future. “This young lady is just amazing, and we are so proud to welcome her and her family here today.”
Colonel Brown addressed the council, saying, “I stand to honor a resident of Millbrook and a brand-new graduate of Stanhope Elmore High School, Miss Olivia Raife. She has been appointed to the United States Air Force Academy out in Colorado Springs. I am here to represent both the Air Force and the Space Force to make this presentation. The Air Force Academy is a four-year university inside the military and the competition to become a cadet is quite intense. Olivia has been through months and months of a rigorous application process. That process is not just about her schoolwork, but it also requires a member of the United States Congress to nominate her. It is not just a matter of a big GPA and a high school resume. It is also that you have to rise to a level of interviewing with the Congressman’s staff and earning his nomination. Olivia Raife has accomplished all those things. On behalf of the president of the United Sates, I announce that Olivia Raife has been appointed to a cadet at the United States Air Force Academy for the class of 2027.”
Bill Harris said, “You hear a lot of stuff in politics, a lot of bad stuff going on out there in our world. But it is truly an honor to introduce young people like this. This is what makes you feel confidence in our country. When we had opportunities to interview Olivia and she went through, if you see her story she is a remarkable young lady. And she also interned in our office after the nomination process. On behalf of the Congressman and our staff, we are so proud of you and one day you won’t be a colonel, you will be a general.”
Joan Cox said, “We did have Olivia come through our office and interview. We were so pleased that she got an appointment. She was also an intern, and I would like to keep her but she wants to go to Colorado.”
Olivia said that being named a Cadet for the Air Force Academy is a huge honor, and she is thankful for the opportunity. We wish the best of luck to Olivia as she begins a new adventure.
The EAN featured Olivia in May of this year as a Student Spotlight. You can view that story here – https://elmoreautauganews.com/2023/05/03/student-spotlight-stanhope-elmore-senior-olivia-raife/
