We were unable to determine how many enrolled at the Naval Academy Preparatory School (NAPS) at Bainbridge, Maryland, for the 1973-74 academic year, but we do know that 227 graduates of that class took the oath of office with the Class of 1978 on Induction Day 1974. The Class of 1974 was the last class to attend NAPS at the United States Naval Training Center, Bainbridge, a facility of several hundred acres located above the Susquehanna River in Port Deposit, Maryland at the former Tome School campus. In August 1974, NAPS returned to its permanent home in Newport, Rhode Island.
Of the 227 who took the oath, 134 would graduate and be commissioned officers in the Navy and Marine Corps along with Tom Harper (17th Co.), NAPS Class of 1973, who joined the Class of 78 after his successful battle with cancer.
Of the 134 who graduated:
- Four would achieve flag rank – VADM Mel Williams (26th Co.), RADM Vic Guillory (32nd Co.), RADM Dave Philman (24th Co.) and RDML Jay Bowling (24th Co.)
- Four were sports captains – Andy Cuca (17th Co.), Co-Captain 150 lb Football, Scott Eckert (22nd Co.), Co-Captain Soccer, Carl Jorden (17th Co.), Captain Heavyweight Crew, and Jim Shulson (22nd Co.), Co-Captain Lacrosse
- One is a member of the Naval Academy Athletic Association Hall of Fame – John Sturges (34th Co.)