In the Military

Middletown native Luke Terrell graduates from the U.S. Naval Academy

[June 06, 2025] 

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Luke Terrell of Middletown, Illinois successfully completed four years of challenging academic, physical, and professional military training, graduating from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in History and a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United State Marines. Terrell is a graduate of Lincoln Community High School in Lincoln, IL. At the academy, Terrell was a member of the 19th Co., USNA Foreign Affairs Conference and “The Profession.”

Founded in 1845, the U.S. Naval Academy today is a prestigious four-year service academy that prepares midshipmen morally, mentally and physically to be professional officers in the naval service. More than 4,400 men and women representing every state in the U.S. and several foreign countries make up the student body, known as the Brigade of Midshipmen. U.S. News and World Reports has recognized the Naval Academy as the 2024 #1 public school and #3 best liberal arts college. Midshipmen learn from military and civilian instructors and participate in intercollegiate varsity sports and extracurricular activities. They also study subjects such as leadership, ethics, small arms, drill, seamanship and navigation, tactics, naval engineering and weapons, and military law. Upon graduation, midshipmen earn a Bachelor of Science degree in a choice of 26 different subject majors and go on to serve at least five years of exciting and rewarding service as commissioned officers in the U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine Corps.

The Brigade of Midshipmen is comprised of approximately 4,400 students from every state in the union. Each year, about 1,200 students are admitted to the Naval Academy’s incoming class.

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Photo provided by Michelle Terrell

The academy’s alumni include, one president, 31 members of Congress, five governors, 73 Medal of Honor recipients, two Nobel Prize winners, 55 astronauts, 55 Rhodes Scholars, and over 4,000 admirals and generals.

[Text from U.S. Naval Academy & Michelle Terrell ]

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