On May 24, former Cinnaminson High School graduate C. Ethan Burns graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a bachelor’s of science degree in mechanical engineering and a commission as a U.S. Navy Ens. Burns successfully completed four years of challenging academic, physical and professional military training.
Founded in 1845, the U.S. Naval Academy today is a 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 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 a top five undergraduate engineering school and in the top 20 for best liberal arts colleges. Midshipmen learn from military and civilian instructors and participate in intercollegiate varsity sports and extracurricular activities. While at the academy, Burns was a member of the trap shooting club and the manager of the hockey club.
The midshipmen study subjects such as leadership, ethics, small arms, drill, seamanship and navigation, tactics, naval engineering, weapons and military law. Upon graduation, midshipmen can earn a bachelor’s of science degree in a choice of 25 different subject majors and go on to serve at least five years as commissioned officers in the U.S. Navy or U.S Marine Corps.
The academy’s more than 81,000 alumni include one president, 21 members of Congress, five governors, 73 Medal of Honor recipients, two Nobel Prize winners, 52 astronauts and 4,000 admirals and generals.
