Philly kid on path to U.S. Naval Academy
Complete coverage of the Philadelphia School District by the Philadelphia Inquirer's Kristen Graham.
Philly kid on path to U.S. Naval Academy
Kristen Graham
Meet Shaquil Keels.
The senior at Randolph Technical High was recently accepted to into the Naval Academy Preparatory School, a yearlong program that’s a gateway to the U.S. Naval Academy.
“Class of 2017,” he notes proudly.
Shaquil introduced himself to me in an e-mail this week. He wanted me to know about his Naval Academy news.
“I just thought this would be something good to send to you, being a teen in Philadelphia and all the violence and bad news with teens going on I thought it would be great for you to know this,” he wrote.
It is.
Shaquil, 18, is vice president of his class, and also ranked second academically.
For the past two years, he’s been a member of the Navy Sea Cadets, a leadership training program. He devotes one weekend a month to training at the Navy Yard.
The Southwest Philadelphia resident is also a certified EMT and a volunteer at the Fireman’s Hall Museum. He started volunteering to fulfill a service learning requirement for school, but got hooked. Shaquil is up to 500 hours of service now.
Last summer, he was picked for the U.S. Naval Academy Summer program; he also won the Philadelphia Fire Department’s Harvey J. Lewis Award for outstanding service.
Shaquil is a good kid with a strong handshake and a dazzling smile. He’s long had dreams about being a military man like his grandfather.
“My mom is worried about me, but she’s proud,” Shaquil said.
After graduation from Randolph, one of the Philadelphia School District’s vocational schools, he’ll travel to Rhode Island (a place he’s never been) for a year in the Naval Academy’s prep program, where he’ll beef up his academic skills.
“It will prepare me mentally and physically and academically,” he said.
In 2013, he'll head to Annapolis. He eventually wants to train to fly an aircraft.
Is Shaquil up to the challenge?
The officials who recommended him to the Navy think so.
U.S. Rep. Bob Brady (D., Phila.) sponsored his application; Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers wrote one of his recommendations.
“I, along with the rest of my staff, know we can depend on Shaquil to go above and beyond our expectations,” wrote Henry Magee, curator of the Fireman’s Hall Museum.
Ayers, in a letter, described Shaquil as an “intelligent, hardworking and exceptional young man of great integrity.”
Sounds about right.
“I’m not the only one in Philadelphia who does good stuff,” Shaquil said. “People should know about that.”
- This comment has been deleted.
— Alfred-King of Wessex - I think that the censor was too quick to cut Darnel's opinion. I can't remember exactly word for word what he wrote be he said something to the effect that we should have more positive image stories like this because the haters here see our public school students one dimensionally and often paint them very negatively. So why was that comment deleted? I think that the censor just gets a report of abuse and just deletes it with no regard to content or point of view. Shame on you Philly.com.
I'm a suburbanite. I happy for the young man. I wish him well. Darnel, YOU are the racist.— Mickey Cross Eyes
Comment removed.- Way to go Shaquil! You'll do well. We need more young men like you.— dogman5
- Yes, let's reward and recognize what's good about Philadelphia.— ptahan
- Let me see - he is touted as 2nd academically in his class - but he needs to go through a program for a year to buff up his academics? Whose qualified spot is he taking?— Bobphxville
- Congratulations, you have found a way to take a positive story and have something negative to say about the boy. You must be so proud of yourself. — mindstorms
- Bravo to this wonderful young man! Good luck in the future Shaquil!— nikki1231
- @Bobphville: Here's a quote from the Naval Prep Academy's website about the school.
"The mission of the Naval Academy Preparatory School is to enhance midshipman candidates' moral, mental, and physical foundations to prepare them for success at the U.S. Naval Academy. The ten-month course of instruction at NAPS, lasting from August through May, emphasizes preparation in English Composition, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, and Information Technology.
Demanding military, physical and character development programs complement the academic preparation to fully prepare students for the challenges of life at a service academy. As part of the physical development program, NAPS offers a varsity athletic program that competes against other preparatory schools, junior colleges and college junior varsity teams."
It seems as though this academy serves lots of students entering from high school. Shaquil isn't taking anyone's "qualified spot." He earned it.— nikki1231 - Go and get it young man. Nice job!— hillbillybirdsfan
- Mr. Keels has worked for and achieved success. He can stand tall and proud, not for just his acceptance by the Navy, but for the volunteer work he has done. In the face of the chaos and blight in Phila, that he can rise up and accomplish this shows his guts and determination....especially in rejecting the temptations and evil swirling around him. He wasn't born with a silver spoon in his mouth either...but made it on his own merits. Mr. Keels: Keep doing what you have been..and NEVER BE LED ASTRAY! You will make all of us proud, even this suburbanite. I urge every kid in Phila who wants to shoot for good goal in life to join groups like the Sea Scouts, or Civil Air Patrol. Both groups will provide great training for the future. Life is What You Make It. Mr. Keels...( Let's hope it is Ensign Keels in 2017) is a shining star in Phila and I hope his peers follow his example.— Alfred-King of Wessex
- Best of luck to him. It's always nice to see a local boy do well.— Joe198
- Mr Keels is a fine example of a youth who perseveres in his vision. Let all the young people know that success comes by hard work and a positive good attitude. Anyone can do it if they really want to. Thanks Mr Keels.— denjamr
- The story fails to mention the millions of our tax dollars the Navy is spending to recruit inner city blacks for the Naval Academy.The success rate has been terribly poor because these recruits can't make the academic standards at Annapolis and drop out.I sincerely hope this young man makes it.— streak1
During the school year, you’ll frequently find her hosting live chats about the district on Philly.com. Please do pass along the scoop about what’s going on at your Philadelphia public school; Kristen welcomes tips, story ideas and witty banter at kgraham@phillynews.com or 215-854-5146.
You can also follow Kristen on Twitter here.
