In the News

WILBRAHAM, Mass. (WWLP) - The son of a western Massachusetts Polish-American couple will be educated at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Darius and Izabella Karpinski Emigrated from Poland in 1993. Their son, Sebastian, will graduate from Minnechaug regional high school in Wilbraham and will then continue his education being accepted into the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

"I'm the son of immigrants, my parents were born in Poland, both of them and I see serving our country as the best way to pay back the opportunity they were given," Sebastian told 22News.

Admiring their son's name of this certificate of special congressional recognition just fills the Karpinski's with pride.

"We're very proud of him, and we feel he can make great things. I think he is fit for it, we are so proud really," Darius added.

Although Congressman Richard Neal of Springfield has successfully nominated some 200 western Massachusetts young people to attend service academies, It's still emotional for Neal as well.

"It's fairly remarkable when you consider the intense competition that these young people go through," Congressman Neal told 22News. "Securing the nomination got the military academies, and I guess you're really impressed with what America's going to look like."

Sebastian Karpinski graduates from Minnechaug Regional High School in late May, as he prepares to enter the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in the fall.