From left, Alabama State Representative Mo Brooks, Matthew Ellow, Ellow’s mother Kathi Bestor and Ellow’s father Andy Bestor celebrate Ellow’s acceptance to West Point Wed., April 1 at Brewer High School with a reception in his honor. | Joy Haynes

Brewer High School senior Matthew Ellow was recently accepted to the United States Military Academy at West Point.

BHS held a reception in his honor in the JROTC building on campus Wed., April 1 for friends and family. Alabama State Representative Mo Brooks, who nominated Ellow, was also in attendance.

Brooks congratulated Ellow and spoke of the honor bestowed upon Ellow with his admission.

“Being nominated and especially admitted to West Point is one of the highest honors for Matthew,” Brooks said. “He is one of the just over 1,000 students selected out of the over 11,000 who apply. The Tennessee Valley Region is full of patriots, and it continues to produce the most West Point students in the state.”

Ellow is the son of Andy and Kathi Bestor. Kathi served actively in the Army for eight years and was a staff sergeant.

“The military is definitely a family tradition for Matthew,” Andy said. “His mother was active duty for many years and his grandfather was in the Coast Guard.”

“The past four generations of my family have served in every branch of the military,” Ellow said. “A lot of people think I chose the Army just because my mom was in the Army, but I am most comfortable with the Army’s mission. The Army seems to be a very diverse branch where I can find what I want to do best.”

Ellow said he never would have considered entering the military three years ago.

“It’s surprising to see how far I’ve come in just three years,” Ellow said. “I never would have though I would go to West Point since I just found out what it was last year. I first decided I wanted to become an officer after I met the happiest and most passionate man. He was a military officer, and I decided I wanted to be like him. Once I found out more about being an officer, it sounded exactly like what I wanted.”

Ellow is looking forward to the challenges before him at West Point.

“I know it’s going to be a lot of hard work and yelling, but I’m very excited about overcoming those obstacles,” Ellow said. “I know West Point will utilize me for the best, and that’s what I really want. I don’t know if I’ll be a career officer, but I want to be the best I can be.”

Besides JROTC, Ellow runs cross county and track and field for Brewer. He said he has been preparing for West Point with study and exercise.

“My senior year has been a lot of constant studying to keep my grades up and working out,” Ellow said. “I know I had to work my hardest to get into West Point, but the work won’t stop there. I’ll have to continue that effort through the rest of the admission process and my schooling.”

Ellow will be leaving for West Point June 28 after his graduation from Brewer, and he intends to make the most of his time there.

“An officer in the Army is what I want to be,” Ellow said, “but who I want to be is the best possible officer that I am capable of being so I can be used to benefit our country.”