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Teen of the Week: Frontier senior has sights set on Marine Corps

By Kristen Hainkel 3 min read

NEW MATAMORAS -- Frontier High School senior Devin Carpenter eyes a future with the military.

Carpenter recently signed up for the Delayed Enlistment program with the United States Marine Corps. He will report for basic training in Parris Island, S.C., after graduating in May 2024.

Sgt. Andrew Drozdowski visited Frontier High School in February 2023 to recruit students. Carpenter took the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test to assess his readiness and what military branch might be a good fit.

"I told (Drozdowski) I was a junior and he said that was perfect. He told me that my ASVAB scores were so high that I could go into any job I want."

Carpenter is the son of Bradley and Samantha Carpenter. He said his parents support his enlistment.

"They back me up 100%. They are nervous for me, they will worry about me, but they support it," he said.

Carpenter said he is interested in welding long term. He said he discovered an interest in it after taking Mechanical Principles with Kurt Bohlen last year.

"(Bohlen) was really good about it. If we did something wrong on a project, he would tell us to do it again. It was a good learning experience for me," he said.

Carpenter also said he enjoys Bohlen as a teacher.

"I can talk to him about stuff. He helps me make certain decisions," he said.

Being a self-described "hands on" learner, Carpenter said he's known as a helper around Frontier High School.

"If a teacher asks me to help, I'll go do that. If they need help carrying stuff from their car, I'll do that. If they need help carrying heavy stuff, I'll do it. They really seem to appreciate it," he said.

Another activity Carpenter started out due to his willingness to help is reading the school announcements over Frontier's intercom. A member of the Student Council asked him to do so and he agreed.

"I read the Pledge of Allegiance, go over any lunch menu changes, announce any activities going on. It's football and volleyball season, so I'll go over game day schedules if there's a game," he said.

Carpenter was a member of the honor roll in November 2022. He said his plan for his senior year is to get good grades. His class list includes four agriculture classes, English, weight lifting, lifetime sports, and senior seminar.

Carpenter said he enjoys keeping active.

"It's good for my mental health. It helps me get stuff done so it's not unattended," he said.

Carpenter said he learned his work ethic from his dad, Bradley.

"He taught me that if I start a project, make sure you get it done. If you need help, ask for help," he said.

Outside of school, Carpenter likes to participate in the youth group at Twin Rivers Baptist Church.

"I've got friends there I've known for a long time. Even if new people show up, I get along with them, too," he said.

Kristen Hainkel can be reached at khainkel@newsandsentinel.com

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