The Fine Point: Opening Doors for Tomorrow’s Leaders | August 2025
A Monthly Message from President Robert J. Fine, Jr. Featuring Guest Contributor: LTC John Kiriazis – Commandant
On Saturday, September 6, St. John’s Northwestern will host Wisconsin’s Service Academy Day right here on our historic campus in Delafield. From 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., students and families from across the state will come together to learn about the nomination process, meet representatives from the United States service academies, and begin exploring one of the most impactful opportunities available to young leaders today.
For me, this day isn’t just about admissions or paperwork. It’s about giving students a vision of what’s possible. As a West Point Class of 1996 alum, I know what an academy education can mean—it is transformative. It challenges you to forge your character, grow in self-discipline, and discover your leadership style. And most importantly, it places you on a lifelong path of service to our nation.
Why SJN and the Corps of Cadets are the perfect match
I can’t think of a better place to host Service Academy Day than St. John’s Northwestern. For over 140 years, our Corps of Cadets has provided young people with the structure, accountability, and leadership experience that replicates what they might experience at a service academy. In so many ways, St. John’s Northwestern is Wisconsin!
Being a Cadet here means more than wearing a uniform. It means stepping into a structured environment where daily routines—morning formations, accountability, teamwork, leadership roles—are designed to build habits that last a lifetime. Cadets don’t just learn about leadership in a classroom; they live it every day, taking ownership of their community and their own future.
That’s why so many of our graduates have gone on to service academies and ROTC programs across the country. For seven years running, SJN has held the record for the most West Point appointments nationwide. That doesn’t happen by accident—it’s the result of a program that blends tradition with preparation, and character with opportunity. Sometimes young people have a drive to serve early on; if they do, consider sending them to our Corps of Cadets at St. John’s, where they can turn that drive into a real opportunity beyond high school.
Opening the pathway to service
Service Academy Day is a chance for families to walk our campus and see this unique environment firsthand. It’s an opportunity for students to meet academy representatives, ask questions, and picture themselves on a pathway of service. Whether or not they ultimately choose a military career, the lessons they take away will serve them for life.
As Commandant, I see every day how powerful it is to watch students step into leadership roles—sometimes sooner than they ever thought they could. That is the essence of the Cadet experience, and it’s why I believe hosting Service Academy Day here at SJN is so important.
Looking ahead
When I see the young men and women who will walk through our gates on September 6, I can’t help but imagine the leaders they will become. Some will one day raise their right hand at an academy to take the officer’s oath. Others will find their commissioning path through ROTC or civilian careers. But all of them will carry with them the values of grounded character, steadfast commitment, a sense of discipline, and a desire to selflessly serve their fellow citizens.
It is an honor for St. John’s Northwestern to be the setting where those journeys begin. I look forward to welcoming students, families, and academy representatives to our campus for this important day.
Read the full event details in our official press release: stjohnsnorthwestern.org/news/sjn-to-host-2025-service-academy-day
About SJN:
St. John’s Northwestern is a safe, structured environment that provides each student a foundation for life with specialized programs that are built with future aspirations in mind. SJN is a private co-ed college preparatory boarding and day school and is accepting applications for grades 7-12 and post-graduate. Learn more at www.stjohnsnorthwestern.org