In 1973, the Naval Academy Athletic and Scholarship Programs (A&SP), a division of the United States Naval Academy Foundation, provided scholarships to 80 young men to attend a year of post graduate high school to enable them to attend the Naval Academy. The 80 attended 20 different schools including six who attended three colleges or universities. The schools with the largest numbers of scholarship students were the Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, Texas, with 14 students followed by the Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland, with 12 and Bridgton Academy in Bridgton, Maine, and Northwestern Preparatory School in San Bernardino County, California with seven each.
On Induction Day for the Class of 1978, 67 of the 80 would take the oath of office and be inducted with the Class of 1978. Of the 67, 42 would graduate and be commissioned officers in the Navy and Marine Corps and one more, Lee Sutherland (13th Co.), was on track to graduate before his life was tragically lost December 5, 1977, in an Aviation Introduction Program (AIP) flight accident .
Of the 42 who graduated, 21 would complete full military careers (50%) including one Rear Admiral and ten more would retire from the Reserves.