Cadet honored with Spirit of the Springs award

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rachel Hammes
  • U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  When Rebecca Esselstein first entered the Air Force Academy, she had no idea in four years' time she would be standing in the staff tower of Mitchell Hall, being honored by the mayor of Colorado Springs for bringing pride to the community.

Despite her lack of psychic ability, Cadet 1st Class Esselstein received the Spirit of the Springs award in front of a sea of her peers Jan. 14.

The award honored Esselstein, a native of Dayton, Ohio, for being named a Rhodes scholar for the upcoming academic year.

"I didn't expect the award at all," said Esselstein, also offered a Marshall scholarship. "I'm honored. Lt. Gen. Michelle D. Johnson, the Academy Superintendent, already presented me at the staff tower for getting the scholarship, so I wasn't expecting anything else. To get the Spirit of the Springs award is like being accepted by Colorado."

Mayor Steven Bach said Esselstein was more than justified in being given this award, created when he took office in 2011.

"As one of only 32 students receiving Rhodes scholarships in the upcoming year, I thought Cadet Esselstein was very deserving," he said. "She's one of only 38 Academy cadets to ever receive the award. On top of that, she's leading her class academically, militarily and she's an athlete. It doesn't get much better than that. We're very proud of her, as well as her teachers and mentors."

Esselstein not only didn't dream of ever receiving the Spirit of the Springs award, she didn't begin to dream of the Rhodes scholarship until February 2014.

"They started having meetings for Marshall and Rhodes scholarships, and people asked me why I wasn't going to them," said Esselstein, who has secured a pilot slot at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, once her time at Oxford University ends. "I thought I wasn't the kind of person they were looking for because I'm an astrophysics major. When you think of Rhodes scholars, you think of people who are going to save the world. I didn't know if I should even bother, but I decided to start going to meetings. I knew it was a long shot, but I thought, why not try?"

Early in the process of preparing to apply, interested cadets were told to seek mentors to guide them through the process. Esselstein sought out the director of the Academy Scholars Program, Dr. Derek Varble.

"Dr. Varble helped people through this process many times, so he's obviously experienced," she said. "He's supported me in everything, and showed me opportunities I didn't know were there."

Esselstein said Varble helped her become involved in projects that made her stand out during the application process.

"I took Physics 490 this past semester, which was an exoplanet research class," she said. "And it ended up being key to my application. I would have never gotten into that class if Dr. Varble hadn't suggested I take it. I owe a lot to him."

While Esselstein said the application process was somewhat painstaking, she said the personal statement was her biggest challenge.

"I started that over four times," she said. "I would have something written, then we'd hear from a member of the Marshall or Rhodes board and they'd give us tips. And I'd start from scratch all over again."

Despite the frustration of beginning again and again, Esselstein said she thinks the application process is a positive one for cadets, even if they don't end up with the scholarship.

"If you don't get it, it's disappointing - especially because of how much work is involved," she said. "But when you have to cram your life into a thousand words for a personal statement, you really learn what makes you, you."

While Esselstein said she was initially hesitant to begin the application process, she never thought of stopping.

"I thought it was a long shot, but I don't like closing doors on opportunities. And I couldn't be more thrilled. Studying in the UK is such a great opportunity to learn about our greatest ally, and even though it's still a western country, you still get to explore a new culture. Oxford is a very diverse university that challenges you to think all the time. That opportunity is invaluable to an officer."

Esselstein hopes her example will encourage other cadets to apply when they might otherwise have not.

"Just keep it up and don't stop trying," she advised. "You never know what you're going to get out of it. Even a long shot is still a shot."