It was May 31, 2013. Gabriel Hake had just graduated from Prairie View High School and was
planning to attend community college in the fall when he received a call he had not been
expecting.

The United States Military Academy, commonly known as West Point, called to tell him that they
had a last-minute spot open up for the fall, and that it was his for the taking. Initially, Hake’s
application for admission was rejected which prompted him to turn his attention to attending
community college.

This was Hake’s goal all along. It was a goal that he had thought was no longer within reach.
But that changed in an instant. He accepted the open spot without hesitation and moved to
West Point, New York that summer, beginning his Army career by entering cadet basic training.

After four years of rigorous academic work and cadet basic training, Hake graduated from West
Point in 2017 with his bachelors of science in operations research (applied mathematics). His tenacity and hard work was rewarded as he graduated with honors and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army with the rank of second lieutenant.

“Graduating from West Point was one of the best days in my life. It set me on the path to where I am today and it all started with being rejected and then accepted in the weeks following graduation at PVHS.”

Hake had the opportunity to train with allied forces in Africa and Europe, leading soldiers to conduct combat engineering and construction operations. He learned to appreciate the value of our foreign allies.

Hake is passionate about supporting the work of foreign allies, which demonstrates his desire to be a leader in helping more places that needed his expertise and experience.

Hake’s leadership skills and love for his country led him to where he is today. He is a captain in
the U.S. Army and has served as a platoon leader, executive officer, and is currently training to become a company commander. He leads soldiers who are combat engineers that do construction, demolition and combat operations for the U.S. Army.

Looking back on his personal and professional journey, Hake sees that his leadership skills
were fostered long before he accepted his West Point appointment. Captain Hake attributes
these skills and dedication to 27J Schools, specifically Prairie View High School.

“I learned what leadership truly was all about while I was at Prairie View High School. My
coaches, teachers and mentors always encouraged me to be a leader. They taught me that the first step to becoming a leader was to first be a good follower,” Hake said.

“Teachers like Mrs. Fallows and Coach Watts gave me examples of what doing the ‘right’ thing looks like and instilled the value of committing to something bigger than yourself.”

Captain Hake is very introspective as he continues to learn about himself and the U.S. Army
every day through his leadership roles. This learning reinforces the value of always choosing the “harder right over the easier wrong.” His time at Prairie View High School and after has widened his viewpoint on diversity and the value everyone has as individuals, especially when they all come together to build a better place.

Captain Hake is thankful for these values instilled in him since his time at Prairie View High
School and he still proudly calls himself a Thunderhawk. He visited Prairie View High School in
October of 2019, and spoke with students about his experience serving in the military and was honored in a military assembly. Hake also stays in contact with his former teachers because they played such a vital role in encouraging him to be the leader he is today.

Hake is grateful to have attended 27J Schools for the majority of his public education.

“I believe in 27J Schools because I wouldn’t be where I am today without the teachers and
mentors I had at Prairie View High School. They helped make me into who I am today.”