William Henry has known he wanted to go to West Point since the fourth grade.

His father was in the Army, and while he never particularly pushed Henry down that path, Henry said he knew that’s what he wanted to do.

“We decided the best road for success in the military was West Point,” Henry said. “West Point would be the option to set me up for success.”

Henry’s childhood dream came true one day during his senior year at George Rogers Clark High School. He was walking back from a military history class with his friend, Barry, at Eastern Kentucky University, as per usual on a Tuesday or Thursday, when he got a call from an unknown number.

He almost didn’t answer.

“At first I wasn’t going to answer because I didn’t know it,” Henry said. “… I answered the phone call, and this lady said she was with (U.S. Rep.) Andy Barr’s office. She said ‘Andy Barr wants to personally tell you and give you a message.’ Andy Barr gets on the phone, congratulates and thanks me and tells me I got appointed.

“My heart just dropped.”

Henry is one of two GRC graduates attending Barr’s Military Academy Sendoff Friday.

Henry, along with Winchester native Christopher Michael Stefanski, will be among the eight young Kentuckians Barr will recognize.

Stefanski, son of Michael and Catherine Stefanski, will attend the U.S. Air Force Academy. Stefanski couldn’t be reached for comment in time for publication.

Henry, son of David and Tonya Henry, will attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Members of Congress nominate a limited number of students each year to these four service academies.

After they submit nominations, each service academy selects which students will receive an appointment to attend, according to a news release. The honor of attending a service academy comes with an obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation.

Henry said he hopes to be a helicopter pilot after graduating from West Point; more specifically, he’d like to fly Apache helicopters. He leaves for West Point June 30.