By Lisa Carolin
Chelsea High School has the proud distinction of having three graduates in a row (Class of 2013, 2014, and 2015) appointed to the Air Force Academy.
They are 2013 graduate Thomas Golding, who is now a junior at the Academy, James Straub, a 2014 CHS graduate, who is now a sophomore at the Academy, and Daniel Lindauer, a 2015 high school graduate, who just entered the Academy as a basic cadet.
Lindauer left for the Air Force Academy in June to study engineering.
“Daniel has wanted to study Aerospace Engineering for some time and has also wanted to fly,” said his dad Chelsea’s Mayor Jason Lindauer, who says that Daniel and his siblings grew up around military bases and events as well as being influenced by their maternal grandfather, a retired Marine pilot.
“Daniel was very proud to have been accepted to the Academy and could barely contain his excitement when he received the phone call from Congressman Tim Walberg congratulating him on his appointment,” said Jason Lindauer. “Daniel felt the opportunity to serve his country and to have the educational and formative experiences that the Air Force would offer were invaluable.”
High school students interested in applying to the Air Force Academy begin the application process in spring of their junior year in high school. They have to go through a series of interviews with Congressmen as the last part of the process and then be recommended by one of them. The applicants must also meet with an officer liaison for a fitness test, drug test and more as well as getting letters of recommendation from teachers and community members and writing several essays.
Tom Golding
“I knew for as long as I can remember that I wanted to be in the military and specifically to fly,” said Tom Golding, who was also recommended by Walberg, R-7th. “High school was easy for me, but I hadn’t developed good study habits so I’ve struggled with that a lot.”
Golding says that students at the Academy can only come home briefly at Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring break and for two weeks in the summer.
“It makes that time a lot more precious,” he said. “When you go home and there’s nothing you have to do, it’s a really good feeling.”
Golding has started going through medical checkups to make sure he is eligible to fly. He says that becoming a pilot is his dream.
“I’m excited that my son is doing this,” said Kitty Conradi Golding, Tom’s mom.
“You think about war, but it’s something he always wanted to do so I was happy he got in and that he loves it there. It’s outstanding that we’ve had a cadet represented for three years in a row. It speaks to the incredible education from Chelsea High School.”
These three CHS graduates are at the Air Force Academy studying and working to become officers.
(Publisher’s note: We reached out to James Straub, but were unable to contact him and hope to follow up with he and his family in the near future.)
