Katherine Marie Dahlen, 19 and a 2016 Becker High School graduate, received a special honor at her U.S. Navy graduation ceremony from boot camp in Great Lakes, Il. Nov. 23.

 

Dahlen, who graduated BHS with a 4.0 GPA and highest honors, was given the Academic Excellence Award from her commanding officer in recognition of her superlative achievements during recruit training.

 

Dahlen received the award which is given to just 5% of Navy recruits each year. The boot camp in Illinois graduates around 38,000 recruits a year and is the only basic training boot camp in the nation for the Naval Forces.

 

Dahlen’s graduation was witnessed by her parents, Jeremy and Janice Dahlen of Becker Township and several other family members who braved the 435 miles trip to the center just outside Chicago.

 

Katherine first had her eye on going into marine biology when she was a senior in Becker, but she and her family found there were so few jobs available outside government jobs in that field. In January of last year, she met with a local Naval recruiter and signed up to do some academic and physical tests where the recruiter gave her high scores. He told her she would be an ideal candidate for the nuclear electronic testing program and it peaked her interest.

 

In February she was sworn-in.

 

During her eight weeks of basic training, Dahlen was isolated from the outside world, not given the opportunity to have much contact with family and friends back home.

 

“She was apprehensive all the way through boot camp but at graduation she was all smiles,” Katherine’s mom Janice said. “Now that she is graduated, she can get in touch with any of us any time she needs to.”

 

The nuclear program Katherine is designed by MIT and she takes on tasks that are considered top secret by the military. She is now stationed in Charleston, S.C. and will train there for at least 1-1/2 to 2 years.

 

While a student at Becker, Katherine took classes at SCSU and by the time she graduated from Becker, she already had her AA degree.

 

“That degree is going to help her rank faster,” Janice says.

 

Janice says her daughter is not quite sure yet if she wants to make the Navy her full career or go into something else when her tour of duty is up. With the nuclear power plant nearby in Monticello, she just may find herself applying for a job there in a few years.

 

“We are so proud of Katie and all she has accomplished,” Janice said. “She works so hard and sets her sights pretty high — which is perfect for being in the military.”

 

Katherine is a middle child and has two sisters, Elizabeth (Ellie) and Madelyn (Maddie). 

 

Ellie is 20 years old and is in her second year at Anoka Tech. Maddie, 16 is a junior at Becker High and she also is taking courses at SCSU this year.

 

Janice and Jeremy Dahlen own Dahlen Sheet Metal and Heating out of Clear Lake and reside in Becker Twp. The company has been in business for 18 years.

 

Katherine also has music talents in that she plays the clarinet. She was part of the BHS band and is part of the division band of the Navy.