Schaumburg High School alumnus honored for military service

Schaumburg High School alumnus and Private First Class Leon Dixon was honored at a recent Palatine- Schaumburg Township High School District 211 school board meeting and thanked for his service in the National Guard.

Dixon is the third alumnus to be recognized for his service and started the meeting by leading the Pledge of Allegiance under a new board tradition.

Dixon completed boot camp in August 2013. He completed advanced individual training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. Currently, he is part of the Illinois National Guard and is working toward becoming active duty in the army in an officer position. He would like to become a physician's assistant in the army after further education.

As a high school student, Dixon said he wasn't interested in joining the military even though he has family that serves. With encouragement and support from his family, he decided to join the National Guard to help him reach his collegiate goals. Now, he is eager to be active duty and encourages others to take advantage of all the opportunities the military offers.

"I would tell students considering to enter the military to do it," Dixon said. "Do everything you can while you're in. It helps you pay for college and you will have so many opportunities you might not have had without it."