Kirkwood High School Senior Earns Prestigious Naval ROTC National Scholarship

Kirkwood High School senior Christian Ermilio has been awarded the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) National Scholarship. This $200,000 scholarship will allow Christian to attend one of 170 Navy partner schools across the country to earn a degree. Following graduation, he will serve in the U.S. Navy for five to eight years.

Christian earned the scholarship through a combination of strong academic performance, ACT score, volunteer service, a physical fitness test, and two interviews with Navy Officers. Out of more than 10,000 applicants, he was one of only 2,500 students selected nationwide.

Christian learned of his selection during his business class at Kirkwood High School, where members of the Navy, along with KHS administrators and his family, surprised him with the announcement. Commander Matthew Howell of the Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG) Mid America presented Christian with a ceremonial $200,000 check.

“Congratulations, Christian. You are an exceptional student who deserves this scholarship. No student gets to this point without a large support system behind them,” said Commander Howell.

Christian’s parents, Melea and Paul, attended the announcement. “We are immensely proud of his hard work,” said Melea.

Christian is a member of the Kirkwood High School hockey and tennis teams. He volunteers at the veterans’ food pantry at Jefferson Barracks and serves as a youth hockey coach. He feels grateful for everyone who has helped him with his academic journey. “Thank you to my parents, and all my teachers, administrators and coaches at KHS who have helped me along the way,” said Christian.  Christian plans on earning a degree in International Relations from either Georgetown University or George Washington University.