North Andover Native Is Off to the Naval Academy

NORTH ANDOVER – Almost three years after earning the rank of Eagle Scout, North Andover native Joseph Guggenberger is heading to the Naval Academy, the Eagle Tribune reports.

Guggenberger earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 2013, determined to attend the Naval Academy after graduating from high school in 2015. He applied to Annapolis with recommendations from U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Congressman John Tierney, D–Salem, and Congressman Seth Moulton, D–Salem, but ultimately wound up on the waiting list.

According to the Eagle Tribune, Guggenberger had a back-up plan to attend a college or university with a Navy ROTC program if he did not earn admission into his top choice. So he attended Virginia Tech instead, where he joined the Naval ROTC.

After ranking second among cadets for academic achievement, physical fitness, leadership, and character, he applied to the Naval Academy for a second time. This time, he got in.

To read more about Guggenberger's journey, visit the Eagle Tribune.