HARLINGEN — She’s won numerous awards for her speech and debate skills.
She’s co-editor of the Cardinal Current newsletter, she’s an AP Scholar, and she’s been a camp counselor for the Rotary Youth Leadership Course.
But when Irene Tyler attended the U.S. Naval Academy Summer Seminar last year, she knew what she wanted to do for the next few years. She asked U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, for a nomination to the U.S. Naval Academy, and she just got accepted.
“I am super excited and a little bit nervous,” said Irene, 18. “This is one of the best things to happen to me.”
The summer camp impressed her for the strong physical routine, the challenges to remember information and the camaraderie. Irene, the daughter of Ronald and Carla Gutierrez Tyler, saw the Naval Academy as the best way to serve her country.
“The school is totally free,” she said. “Everything is paid for in exchange for five years of service.”
She said once she completes four years at the academy she could immediately begin serving on a ship, submarine or other Navy installation, or apply for additional training in a variety of fields.
“You can go to law school, medical school, you can go to Harvard,” she said enthusiastically. “You can study engineering, political science. I’m looking into pretty much everything. The Naval Academy has the most opportunities of all the service academies.”
Irene has led a stellar public school career since she and her parents moved here from Virginia a few years ago. She has a GPA of 4.6 which places her at number 5 in her class. Just last fall, she took first place for extemporaneous speaking at the Texas Forensics Association Tournament at PSJA Southwest High School.
She qualified for the National Hispanic Recognition Scholarship because her pre-SAT scores were in the top 1 percent.
Several notable universities offered her scholarships but, of course, she won’t need them now that the U.S. Naval Academy has accepted her.
She thanked several teachers for preparing her for a life of success. Michelle Everett has been a great influence on her.
“She was my sophomore psychology and junior English teacher,” she said with a smile. “She always encouraged everyone to try our best. Sometimes when we were not doing our usual work she would tell us to put in that effort.”
Her parents can’t say enough about her.
“Her mom and I are so shocked and just delighted,” said Ronald Tyler, a veterinarian.
“I can’t imagine doing something like this when I was a kid,” he added with a laugh. “I’ve just been so impressed with her.”
Irene speculated she might pursue further education in engineering while in the Navy. Not long ago she talked about being a teacher or a psychologist. A world of opportunities awaits Irene, and she’s just getting started.
