Impressive application lands Malden student an invitation to SOTU address

MALDEN, Mass. — A nomination to West Point would have been enough for one Malden High School student, but Representative Katherine Clark went one step further.

"By the way, spoiler alert she will be nominated for the United States Military Academy at West Point."

Malden High School senior Angela Tejada-Soliz has her heart set on West Point next year and with a nomination from Rep. Katherine Clark, she's one step closer.

But the second part of this voicemail she received had her floored.

"I'm actually calling for a separate reason and I was hoping you could maybe give me a callback," the voicemail said.

Angela - or Angie as she's known at Malden High - was invited to be Clark's guest at Tuesday's Presidential State of the Union address in Washington, D.C.

"I was in the middle of my physics class and I was like, can you repeat that? I was in such shock," Angie said.

The first thing she did was run and tell her teacher Mr. Hurley and his co-teacher and record them telling Malden High School Principal Chris Mastrangelo.

"I was blown away," said teacher Greg Hurley.

The child of El Salvadorian immigrants, Angie tells Boston 25 News reporter Crystal Haynes her parents instilled two important things: service and education.

"It shows that despite the troubles our country can face, it's not about what we are. It's kind of about what we're striving to become and the fact that Angie's parents came here for a better life and Angie's still striving to make this world better," Hurley said.

The captain of the soccer team, Angie co-organized Malden High School's National School Walkout after the Parkland school shootings.

"For a lot of us, it's like we can't vote, we can't really do anything, yet, so organizing the walkout was our way of making our voices heard," Angie said.

Angie tells us Clark's office says her answer about what leadership is made her stand out.

It's a lesson she's going to take to Washington D.C. where she hopes to meet Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, someone she looks up to.

"Being a leader to me means putting others before yourself. The whole team goal idea," said Angie.

Angie will also be honored at the Malden City Council meeting Monday night.

President Donald Trump will address the nation during the State of the Union address Tuesday night at 9 p.m. We will stream it live.

Cox Media Group