U.S. Congressman Mo Brooks congratulates James Pruneski for his appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. (Contributed/Mason Overcash)

MADISON – The U.S. Military Academy at West Point has accepted James Pruneski, a recent graduate of James Clemens High School.

Pruneski wanted to attend West Point for “multiple opportunities that I’ll be able to take part in that are not offered at any other institution in the world.”

“(West Point) is the only place I (can) get the best leadership, academic and military training, while given the opportunity to shadow physicians at a U.S. military base in Germany, or jump out of airplanes over the summer,” Pruneski said.

His father Col. Jim Pruneski is a West Point alumnus and suggested the idea of attending the academy to James. Col. Pruneski is stationed at Redstone Arsenal. James’s mother Sandy works at Doodles Personalized Gifts.

“West Point is the best institution to prepare me for the rest of my life, while developing me academically, physically and morally. The fact that I (can) serve the country that has given me everything is an added bonus,” James said.

At James Clemens, James participated in Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA), National Honor Society, and Mu Alpha Theta math honor society. “My biomedical debate team won first place in the state at the Alabama HOSA Convention,” James said.

As an Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction, James was required to have a 3.5 scoring minimum on exams and 3 minimum on at least five exams. “I placed in the national Ayn Rand Institute essay contest,” he said.

For the past two years, James has volunteered at Special Olympics. “I enjoy volunteering on Redstone Arsenal in various activities with my family,” he said. “I also help instruct ‘Learn to Play Hockey,’ which allows me to help young kids in the Madison/Huntsville area learn the fundamentals of my favorite sport.”

James’ twin sister Alex received an athletic scholarship for lacrosse to attend the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

At the academy, Pruneski plans to major in chemical engineering with a pre-medical focus.