West Point cadet and Ooltewah High School alumna Heather Purkey speaks to a Spanish II class Tuesday at Ooltewah High School about her experience as a West Point student of language. Purkey shared her travels overseas, including a semester spent in Spain with the students.As a girl on the Ooltewah High School boys’ wrestling team, Heather Purkey stood out. She returned Tuesday to the school as its first female cadet set to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy.
Purkey sat in her gray and black cadet uniform in front of a Spanish class of 24 students and answered questions about her time at West Point.
The 21-year-old cadet lieutenant graduated from Ooltewah High School in 2008. Since entering the military academy, she has traveled to Spain and France to study languages and to Puerto Rico for the school’s judo team.
She told the Ooltewah students that effective prioritization is the most important skill at the academy. As a cadet she must do well in classes, participate in a sport and perform as a leader in her military job.
“Juggling all these things, a lot [of cadets] don’t know how to prioritize,” Purkey said.