Congressman Neal hosts Academy Day information session for youth seeking military careers
Season finale concert held at Springfield Symphony Orchestra
Currently, the United States Military, Naval, Air Force, and Merchant Marine Academies are in need of nominations. Academy Day helps interested students determine if a military service academy or a similar education path is something they want to pursue.
In order to qualify, students learned that they must be involved in extracurricular activities while having a high SAT score and GPA. Congressman Neal said they're looking to nominate aspiring candidates to serve our country.
'These are individuals who generally aspire to military academies, maybe when they're 14 or 15 years old,' Neal said. 'The process is arduous, it's a family commitment that has to be made.'
During the forum, Congressman Neal recognized four local students who were accepted to service academies this summer. Three of them are joining the military academy, with one going to the Navy academy and another going to the Merchant Marines.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
19 hours ago
- Business Insider
As an upper-income dad, I spend most of my expendable income on my kids' activities. I fear I'm giving them an unfair advantage.
In suburban Philadelphia, they'll teach your baby to swim for $1,050. A lifeguard-turned-PhD developed a program to train kids to become comfortable in water before they can even walk, and then they franchised it around the country. Now my wife and I have to decide if we're going to pay to see if our baby can float. It's part of the dizzying array of decisions that confront parents with any expendable money, beginning even before birth. There are sleep coaches, automated bassinets, and early SAT prep. For me, an upper-income father, this gauntlet is both anxiety-inducing and a worrying component of inequality. My kids have access to unlimited activities and services As two professionals in Philadelphia's mixed-income Fishtown neighborhood, my wife and I feel this pressure deeply. This fall, our eldest daughter starts at the neighborhood's well-liked public school, which is making more urgent the same question millions of parents ask: Where's the line between helping my children and unfairly stacking the deck? We chose the nearby, affordable day care we could walk to over the highly-credentialed one farther away. We skipped most of the premium products marketed to new parents (no $1,700 Snoo bassinet here). We frequent our neighborhood secondhand store, swapping clothes and toys with local families there. But we also made decisions we know others can't. For our first kid, we opted for the sleep coach ($400), which saved my wife and me from yelling at each other at 3 a.m. We also set a recurring monthly ($100) contribution to each of our kids' 529 plans. And then there's water safety. Ultimately, we passed on the intensive, thousand-dollar infant survival swim classes. Instead, we became regulars at our neighborhood city pool, enrolling in more affordable swim lessons at the nearby YMCA, which we can reach by bicycle. I believe giving my kids access will also give them an unfair advantage Parents have always had to make decisions about how much money and attention to invest in their children's future. Today's achievement culture has raised the stakes. The " meritocracy trap," as one Yale professor calls it, is an arms race in which too many parents buy their kids any head start they can find, daring other parents to do the same. According to Afterschool Alliance, upper-income families now spend five times more on out-of-school activities than low-income families, significantly widening opportunity gaps before kindergarten even begins. Plus, I know that putting my kids into all these after-school activities will only intermingle them with kids whose parents also have an expendable income. I can't help but think about the families that don't have the privileges I have. It's hard to spend money you don't have, even on a kid you love dearly. But stories abound of parents stretching beyond their means, going into debt, or forsaking retirement savings to fund activities they feel pressured into. I want my kids to spend time with children from different backgrounds. Research consistently shows that mixed-income friendships significantly boost economic outcomes for lower-income kids, enriching empathy and social outcomes for all. My wife and I are focusing on three principles moving forward Many more decisions are coming our way, so we're developing a philosophy. We are guided by three clear principles. First, we prioritize interactions with people from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Second, we choose activities close to home to maximize family time. Third, we focus on our children's happiness rather than relentless skill development. I want my children to have opportunities, but not at the expense of reinforcing societal inequities or their own sense of meaning. I believe that if I parent intentionally, I will benefit not only my children but also my community.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
What I Want My Son to Remember As He Goes Away to College
My oldest son is leaving for college. He's more than ready. George can't wait to live with his peers, not his parents. And he really wants to go to school – he's spent hours reading the course catalog and he's made a spreadsheet to figure out how to fit in all the classes he's excited to take. Our family will miss him. I will miss him. Even when he's in his most sloppy, forgetful, self-centered teenager moments, George is a person I love to be with and makes our foursome complete. (Yes, I got a little teary putting that into words.) More from SheKnows Majority of Teens Talk to Their Parents About Money - But Still Don't Feel Confident in Financial Literacy But when my husband and I drive him a couple of hours away to his new campus home, a dorm-room double in an all-freshman hall, I won't make his bed. I recently made this statement to two other moms I know well, both who are delivering their own sons to college this fall. One replied wistfully, 'I really want to make his bed for him.' The bed, it seemed, was central to showing him a last bit of mommy love. 'I feel like I should. At least I'll know that it started out made,' the other said. Making a bed is not rocket science, I thought. Perhaps it's time he learned. Somehow this last 'bedtime' tuck-in carried meaning for these moms in a way that baffled me. I silently scoffed at their neediness. The bed-making wasn't going to help out their son. It was going to reinforce the hovering mother (or the privilege of a housekeeper) that had been in their lives for years. And the bed-making would double down on the stereotype of what a mom needs to do for a son. Smooth the blanket, and tuck the corners in tight. See? Mom is essential. At least this one last time. I easily get choked up at the thought that George will no longer live closely with us, be home to eat innumerable tacos on Tuesdays, or streak from his room to the laundry in search of clean shorts. But I've been trying to make myself dispensable for years. My boys both know how to make a bed and clean a bathroom. They go to the dentist and the doctor on their own. Danny, my 16-year-old, went backpacking solo in June (including driving himself 200 miles each way to the trailhead.) I will also admit to my own moments of holding on too tightly. I've dutifully organized too many duffle bags for summer camp and filled too many lunch boxes. I've reminded about deadlines and been a backup alarm clock. I drove George to the SAT so he could save his brain power during the hour drive to the test center. And yes, I made Danny take a GPS emergency device on the solo backpacking trip. (He did forget bug spray, though.) George couldn't care less about his bed and the furnishings of his dorm. The dorm beds require twin XL size sheets, something we needed to pick up rather than swipe from the supply from our bunk bed days. I asked George to pick some out. Not white, George said. Navy or gray? Shrug. I'm not sure he will even pack anything very personal, though he's been a collector of many things over the years. (I'm told his bottle cap collection, arranged carefully with magnets on metal boards on his bedroom wall, will remain here for my enjoyment.) Another mom described to me the carefully curated collage of posters her daughter is bringing from Massachusetts to Michigan. The posters have just the right color combinations and say exactly what she wants to say about who she is and what she cares about without her having to say it. George might not come up with the artistic idea to use wall art to introduce himself, but he's far from shy. He's a big talker. He loves improv theater, and meeting new people is a fun game for him. He's ready to jump in and start doing what he wants to do: join the rock climbing team, try out for a singing group, and take a class called 'How to Survive in Space'. So how will I be helping George if I complete this expected ritual of bed-making? I won't. He doesn't want us to linger. He doesn't want help in putting away his stuff. My guess is he will live like college is temporary, like summer camp, running from activity to class to gathering to meals, and barely organizing anything. At least through Halloween. He doesn't plan to come home before winter break. Meanwhile the message I want to send when I hug him goodbye can't be said by carefully folding his top sheet. Be open. Care for others. Find others that might keep an eye out for you, too. Eat a salad. Better yet, eat a cooked vegetable here and there. Put your phone away as often as possible. Find other people who put their phones away as often as possible. Ask questions. Laugh your ass off. At no other time will George have a more fertile place to be unsure, unfettered and with only the expectation that he engage. Sing. Run. (George loves to do both.) Find people to sing and to run with. Shoot your mom a text every few days. In fact, send me a text after you make your bed that first night. … Or a selfie. A selfie of you, tucking in your very own self. Best of SheKnows Birthday Freebies for Kids: 25+ Places That'll Make Their Big Day Extra Sweet These Raw & Beautiful Breastfeeding Photos Show There's No 'Right' Way to Nurse 'But I Hate School': What To Do When Your Teen Dreads Going Back Solve the daily Crossword
Chicago Tribune
01-08-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Prep smarter with the best PSAT study guides
No one likes taking tests, especially tests as difficult and important as the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test. This test both prepares students for the actual SAT and acts as a qualifier for the National Merit Scholarship. A good PSAT prep book not only prepares students for the test but also helps them develop a study plan, which can decrease their test anxiety. The best PSAT prep book is the Princeton Review PSAT/NMSQT Prep, 2025. It includes three practice tests (one in the book, two online), several math drills and detailed explanations for the answers to ensure maximum understanding. Sections of the PSAT and what they measure The PSAT has two separate sections whose scores combine to produce your total PSAT exam score: math and reading and writing. Each section will have two subsections, called 'modules.' Recent PSAT changes Since the fall of 2023, the PSAT has been offered only in a digital format. The paper PSAT is no longer an option. It has also been condensed into a shorter test, now only taking 2 hours and 14 minutes. The digital test also includes built-in tools, such as a graphing calculator, text annotation, a timer, a zooming tool and the ability to cross out answer choices. However, you can still use your own graphing calculator if you'd like. While the PSAT is administered on a computer, you still have to go to your local high school to take the test. Studying and test-taking strategies Not everyone has good study habits, and most students have different studying styles. A good PSAT prep book should offer helpful guidance for all levels and types of test-takers. It should also give users test-taking strategies and provide ample practice opportunities. Drills PSAT prep books may contain drills, although not all have them and some only have them for certain sections. They usually contain questions found in PSAT exams to help students improve their understanding in areas where they struggle. Answers and explanations For practice tests and drills to be useful, the book must explain answers to help students understand where they might have gone wrong. Make sure your PSAT prep book has detailed explanations of its practice tests and drill answers to deepen your understanding. Basic PSAT prep books can cost as little as $15 or less, but you can spend up to $50 for in-depth prep books with multiple practice tests. When is the PSAT offered in 2025? A. The PSAT is administered every year in October. This year, the PSAT will be offered between Oct. 1 and Oct. 31, with a Saturday option on Oct. 11. However, the exact dates in your area depend on which date your local high school chooses to administer the test. If you're a homeschooler, you can still take the PSAT, but you'll need to sign up through your local high school. I don't need to take the PSAT for a year or two. What can I do now to get ready? A. One of the best ways to prepare is to purchase a few different PSAT prep books and make your way through them, as each one can contain different questions and have varying levels of difficulty. You might incrementally improve your chances simply by engaging in your classes, asking questions if you don't understand, doing your homework and studying for quizzes and tests. Are the practice tests in PSAT prep books really that important? A. They can be. Taking the practice tests can prepare you for how the real test will go and help you understand the areas of the exam on which you should focus your studying. It also may help lower test anxiety. Top PSAT prep book Princeton Review PSAT/NMSQT Prep, 2025 What you need to know: The Princeton Review makes a fantastic all-around PSAT prep book to cover your studying needs. What you'll love: Three practice tests and several math drills give students plenty of preparation. What you should consider: This isn't the right PSAT prep book for last-second cramming sessions, because it's much too large. Top PSAT prep book for the money Barron's PSAT/NMSQT Study Guide Premium, 2025 What you need to know: If you've taken the PSAT before and are trying to raise your scores in a specific area, this is the PSAT prep book for you. What you'll love: It contains two full-length practice tests and 200 online practice drills. What you should consider: Barron's book provides more of an overview of the test rather than an in-depth guide. Worth checking out PSAT 8/9 Prep: Full-Length Practice Tests, Online Video Tutorials, Digital PSAT 8/9 Secrets Study Guide: [8th Edition] What you need to know: This PSAT prep book is comprehensive and provides ample practice. What you'll love: Detailed explanations of the answers for practice test questions increase understanding of key concepts. What you should consider: The high level of detail may overwhelm certain students. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
