Ben Hawley, a Powell High School graduate and son of Hans and Emilie Hawley, graduated Navy basic training in the top 3% of his class. 

Apart from an uncle on his mother’s side Ben does not come from a military family.

“Ben’s always been intelligent but never had a mind to do traditional college work,” Emilie said.

While looking for direction after high school, Ben was influenced by his friend Brian Walker who had joined the Navy. Ben enlisted at the end of his junior year and when the time came to enter basic training he focused on passing. 

“I’m not sure if it was just a feeling I needed to serve in the Navy or just a love for the ocean but it felt right, it still feels right,” Ben said. 

He said upon entering basic training he was not aware that the Navy recognized the top 3% of the graduating class — he just “wanted to make it through.”

Hans added Ben’s class was not the most well behaved but that his son was the one to keep focused. There were days when Ben had to take part in multiple workouts a day as punishment for the disorderly class, but if anything this just made him stronger for the training to come.

“He just made up his mind he wasn’t going to quit,” Hans said.