Caden Stine has had a lot of successes at Frankfort High School and he is hoping those successes turn into a highly successful career at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Stine is the president of the Class of 2019, president of Fellowship of Christian Athletes at FHS and a four-year member and senior captain of the football team where he earned academic all-state, academic all-conference honors in addition to being selected first-and second-team all-conference honors on the football field. He is also a member of the varsity basketball team and the chairman and founding member of the Frankfort Chapter of Indiana High School Republicans as well as a member of the mayor’s Student Advisory Council and being a private pilot.
“It (going to the Air Force) represented a great opportunity to do something I love which is flying while also serving my country at the same time,” said Stine. “The challenge of something like the Academy is going to shape and mold my career as an officer. It presents me the best opportunity for success as a pilot in the United States Air Force.”
Stine said he has been interested in flying in about the seventh grade, and in February of 2018, he earned his private pilot’s license. He says he now has somewhere around 110 hours.
Stine was asked what type of experience he is expecting at the Air Force Academy.
“I’m excited and I’m humbled to go,” he said. “It’s extremely rigorous. It’s going to be nothing like any civilian college whatsoever. It’s very strict. It’s purpose is to mold you into a leader.”
Despite the academic rigors he is expecting, Stine feels he’s gotten a good start academically at FHS.
“By the time I’ve graduated, I will taken eight AP (Advanced Placement) classes, which are all very high level college classes, as well as numerous advanced classes and physical conditioning classes that I think will prepare me decently well for the Academy,” he said.
When he learned of his acceptance to the Academy on January 15, Stine was ranked second in his class.
Stine is currently undecided what he wants to study. He is looking at political science, business management or possibly aeronautical engineering.
Stine feels his athletic career at Frankfort will prepare him well for the Academy.
“As a multi-sport athlete and a team captain in football, you’re placed into a leadership position with lots of young people looking up to you,” said Stine. “And on a very small scale that kind of makes the dynamics of what you’re going to be doing as an officer leading people through difficult situations to try and come out on top.”
What does the future hold for him?
“I want to become a pilot,” said Stine. “I might try to go higher in leadership in the Air Force. I might want to become an astronaut or I might want to tap out and run for political office. I don’t know yet.”
Despite going to the Academy, Stine’s athletic career might not be over.
“They play Division I football,” he said. “They have open tryouts. But if that doesn’t work out, you’re required to play in club or intramural sports.”
Some of the club or intramural sports Stine said he might do are mountaineering, handball, rugby or ultimate Frisbee.
Stine added he has already been in contact with Frankfort High School graduate, Lt. Gen. Jay Kelley, who was just named to the Frankfort Hot Dog Alumni Hall of Fame earlier this year. Kelley graduated in 1959 and enlisted in the Air Force following graduation.