OXFORD – A year and a half after graduation, Craig “Alex” Champlin had the chance to return to his alma mater, Oxford Academy, for the first time Tuesday. This was no casual visit, however. The 6’6” 19-year old came dressed in the signature cadet gray uniform worn at West Point for close to 200 years, and prepared to talk about his experience so far at the United States Military Academy.
“I’m not here to recruit,” said Champlin, who is the son of James and Maryann Champlin of Oxford.
The 2009 Oxford graduate is now close to mid-way through his second, or “yuck,” year at West Point. As a member of the Cadet Public Relations Council, he is invited to speak to students about the military academy. This week, he visited high schools in Marathon, Cortland and Norwich. He said he saved the best, Oxford, for last.
“I still love it with all of my heart,” he told the students who gathered to hear him speak. Early on in his presentation he outlined his objectives for the talk – to communicate where West Point is located, and what it is. He also shared many of his own experiences, including daily life at the academy and meeting the challenges of the West Point’s rigorous academic, physical and military standards.
“It’s definitely challenging,” he admitted. “(But) I knew what I was getting into.”
Located roughly 50 miles North of New York City on the Hudson River, West Point has helped shape the countries most prominent military leaders since 1802. It was that history which Champlin says first captured his attention when he was a sixth grader at Oxford. By the time he reached high school, he was determined to earn admission to the prestigious institution.
During his high school years, Champlin excelled academically, even though he loaded up his schedule with advanced classes. An all around athlete, he played three sports – football, basketball and baseball at first. But by sophomore year, he had decided to concentrate on basketball. He was a captain his senior year, and helped lead the team to a Section 4 Class C Championship, a first for the school in some 39 years.
“I was very fortunate to play on a team with those guys,” said Champlin, who considers his time as captain as one of the most important leadership experiences he had prior to going to the academy. “It definitely translated over to West Point.”
When asked what he would have done differently if he had it all to do over again, Champlin answered without hesitation.
