Illinois Brothers Make Graduating West Point Military Academy A Family Tradition

Jet, Feb 26, 2001

Many don't make it through the rigorous program of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY, but in the Rodgers household, not one but three family members left Champaign, IL, following high school, to graduate from the prestigious institution.

Alex Rodgers, 31, the oldest sibling in the Rodgers family, was the first one to attend the academy. West Point recruiters noticed him because of his academic, athletic and leadership skills.

Despite the fact that Alex had been accepted into Cornell and Dart mouth, it was West Point that appealed to him the most.

"West Point offered a great education and its reputation spoke for itself," says Alex about some of the key qualifications of the school that he took into consideration.

The 1991 graduate currently works as a financial analyst for GE Medical Systems in Waukesha, WI.

The second Rodgers brother to head off to West Point was Darryl. The 28-year-old admits that his brother's attendance at the school influenced his decision to go to the academy because it gave him a realistic picture of what the experience there would be like.

"The opportunity was too good to pass up," says Darryl. "I thought long-term it would open up a lot of opportunities to go forward."

After graduating in 1994, Darryl has gone on to become a junior trader for Merrill Lynch in the NASDAQ department in New York City.

West Point, 50 miles north of New York City, differs from other institutions of higher learning because of its structure and regimented environment. Each student completes the program with a second lieutenant rank. Another major difference is that the students receive a free education in exchange for five years of Army service upon graduation.

The "West Point Experience" is comprised of four years of development in the areas of intellect, physical, military and moral ethics. According to the school's mission statement, the goal of the academy is to educate, train and inspire students (cadets) into leaders.

"I think time management was my biggest challenge," says Alex about the heavy course load. "The hardest part was being able to juggle all of those areas and dedicating enough to each one so that you wouldn't let any one drop."

The enrollment of Black students was less than 10 percent during the time each brother attended West Point. None of the brothers however experienced any racial prejudice at the predominately White school.

"I never had anything derogatory said to me," says Elliot, the youngest Rodgers brother. "West Point for the most part is based on merit and you can let your performance speak for itself, especially in the physical and academic arena."

The 25-year-old Army captain is currently completing his military service requirement in Petersburg, VA. When he finishes his duties, he will return to West Point to work in admissions as an outreach recruiter.

Elliot adds, "I strongly recommend it [West Point] to other Blacks because it's an institution that belongs to everyone in the United States."

Fredrick and Dr. Arnetta Rodgers are very proud of their three sons as well as their daughter, Allison, 20, who is a student at Illinois Wesleyan University.

Fredrick Rodgers says that West Point was a positive experience for his children and one that has given them a "tremendous advantage."

Arnetta Rodgers has no regrets about not sending her sons to a traditional college. "They have what we sent them to school for and they've done very well as a result of that experience. They're very confident and can compete with the best."

The demanding academic and physical challenges at West Point taught the Rodgers brothers skills that they'll keep with them for life.

"It was a tough experience but s rewarding one," says Alex. "Looking back, I would say it was my greatest accomplishment."