Top gun: Dreamed of being a fighter jet pilot – then he had a few growth spurts. Too tall to fly for the Air Force, he plans to design their jets instead.
Ouch: Stands 6 feet 6 inches, two inches above the Air Force’s height limit. “It rips your kneecaps off if you eject and are too tall.”
Top flight: Heads next fall to prestigious Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Prescott, Ariz., campus for aeronautical engineering. Interested in jet propulsion.
Top secret: Wants to work for a government agency that does cutting-edge research, “all sorts of things we don’t even know about.”
Quote: “I’m interested in pushing the boundaries and making money.”
Why fly? Father served on an aircraft carrier in Vietnam; grandfather was a fighter pilot in World War II. But who really knows? “I just always wanted to fly.”
Running Start: Took classes at Bellevue and Everett community colleges while in high school, including English, political science and math.
No drama: “I like the (college) atmosphere so much better. There’s none of the busywork or hassle between people. I love learning. I just don’t like the high school environment.”
Musician: Played tuba since barely big enough to hold it. Participated in all-state and all-Northwest bands. Music is a big part of his life. Final school concert a couple weeks ago. “It was kind of – final.”
Brothers: Goes snowboarding every chance he gets with older brother Ben. Also has a fraternal twin brother, Taylor.
Pets: Down to a massive dog named Wolf and three cats, Al, Sophie and B.C., a joke on the battalion chief at his dad’s former firehouse. Used to have a goat, rabbits, gerbils, a leopard gecko and a second dog – all of which died of old age, except the dog, which ran away.
Mentor: Looks up to dad. “He’s kind of a hard ass. No, he is a hard ass. He makes the right decisions and gave me my work ethic.”
Speaking of work: Works 20-25 hours per week at a Duvall pizza joint. And no sleeping in on Saturdays. Since age 6, up by 8 a.m. to help with chores.
Value of a dollar: “We pay for what we can and mom talks dad into picking up the rest.”
Benefit: He has no doubt he’ll be able to handle his own laundry in college. Just hoping his roommate can, too.
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