MUNFORD — He started strong in school and made sure to stay that way.

Now Tyler E. Roden of Munford is among 21 new cadets in Alabama selected to go to West Point. He will be a member of the United States Military Academy class of 2014.

“This is a great opportunity for me. God has really blessed me to be able to achieve this,” Roden said.

Roden said he will pursue a degree in civil engineering and hopes to someday join the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.

Roden will report for Reception Day at West Point on June 28. The next step will be six weeks of basic training. Roden said this is commonly referred to as “Beast Barracks.”

He will begin classes in August.

After graduation, Roden will commit to five years of active military duty followed by four years of reserve duty.

Roden expressed an interest in West Point while still in high school and even began the application process. However, he accepted a Faculty Scholar scholarship to Jacksonville State University.

“It allowed me to stay close to home, and I could get some basics out of the way,” he said.

While at JSU, he pursed his athletic interests and made the football team as a walk-on player in 2009.

Roden said he plans to try out for the Army’s football team as well.

While at JSU, Roden never gave up on his dreams of West Point and reopened his application in the fall of 2009. He was accepted in February.

To get to that point, he had to submit documentation demonstrating his academic, athletic and leadership strengths.

Among his application materials were nomination letters from U.S. Sens. Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions and U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers.

Before college, Roden graduated from Munford High School in 2008, where he excelled both academically and athletically.

He placed in the top percentile in his class and was selected for the Talladega County All-Academic Team for 2008. He was also the senior class president and led various student organizations.

In sports, Roden lettered on the Munford Lions varsity football team and was selected for Talladega County All County football team for three consecutive seasons. During this time he was also selected as an “Athlete-Scholar of the Week” by ABC 33/40 and America’s First Federal Credit Union.

He was also a member of the Lions varsity golf team for three years and varsity track and field team for two years.

His parents, Charles and Gina Roden, know their son has worked hard both academically and athletically to be one of the few accepted into the prestigious military academy.

Said his father, “We think it’s a big deal for a kid from Munford to go there.”