Cadet candidate pursues leadership despite difficult upbringing

Cadet Candidate William Roe said he is determined to make it work at the Academy. "I've been given this great opportunity," the Air Force Academy Preparatory School student said Oct. 3, 2012. "If I mess up, I have nothing." (U.S. Air Force photo/Carol Lawrence)

Cadet candidate pursues leadership despite difficult upbringing

Cadet Candidate William Roe writes an essay in his English class Oct. 3, 2012. “I’ve never written so many essays,” Roe said about the class he loves. He is a native of Robinson, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Carol Lawrence)

Prep School Inprocessing

The transition to Academy life happens quickly for Cadet candidates during inprocessing at the Air Force Academy Preparatory School July 18. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Raymond McCoy)

Prep School Inprocessing

Cadet candidates received an eye-opening introduction to Academy life during inprocessing at the Air Force Academy Preparatory School July 18. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Raymond McCoy)

Prep School

Dr. Mark Dibben, a preparatory school professor instructs preppies in the intricacies of the periodic table of elements. (Photo by Rachel Boettcher)

Prep School

Athletics is a big part of the prep school program, with many preppies going on to play on Falcon sports teams. (Photo by Rachel Boettcher)

Prep School Class of 2011 joins Academy family

Cadet candidates at the Academy Preparatory School hoist Cadet 1st Class Douglas Parrish onto their shoulders during the Prep School's Acceptance ceremony and celebration July 31, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo/J. Rachel Spencer)

Prep School Class of 2011 joins Academy family

Air Force Academy Preparatory School cadet candidates help one of their own scale an obstacle at the Academy's Ropes Course July 31, 2010. The course is designed to build esprit de corps among team members as they cooperatively navigate obstacles. (U.S. Air Force photo/J. Rachel Spencer)

Cadet candidates roll out for TX

Cadet Candidate Mercedes Dexter gets encouragement from Paula Gould as she climbs the "Stairway to Heaven" at the end of the Air Force Academy Preparatory School's 2010 Transition Exercise May 15, 2010. One hundred ninety-nine cadet candidates graduated from the Prep School May 18; of those, 186 received appointments to the Academy's Class of 2014. (U.S. Air Force photo/J. Rachel Spencer)

Cadet candidates roll out for TX

A team of cadet candidates goes on the offensive during mobile urban operations training in Jacks Valley as part of the Air Force Academy Preparatory School's 2010 Transition Exercise May 13, 2010. The exercise, which serves as the pinnacle of cadet candidates' military training, took place May 12-15. (U.S. Air Force photo/Johnny Wilson)

Cadet candidates roll out for TX

Two cadet candidates hold up barbed wire to allow a third classmate to maneuver through during a breaching operation as part of the Air Force Academy Preparatory School's 2010 Transition Exercise May 13, 2010. The three-day TX, held at the Prep School and Jacks Valley, culminated training for the 199 cadet candidates who graduated May 18. (U.S. Air Force photo/Johnny Wilson)

Cadet candidates graduate from Prep School

Cadet Candidate Julianne Germain ascends the "Stairway to Heaven" during the final phase of Academy Preparatory School training May 15, 2010. Nearly 200 cadet candidates graduated from the Prep School in a ceremony May 18, and nearly 190 received appointments to the Air Force Academy Class of 2014. (U.S. Air Force photo/J. Rachel Spencer)

Prep school inducts two into Hall of Fame

Marine Lt. Col. Austin Renforth visits with cadet candidates at the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School April 27. He and Thomas Boettcher were inducted into the prep school's hall of fame. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)