CADET REALIZES DREAM; LITTLEROCK MAN GRADUATES FROM WEST POINT WITH ACADEMIC HONORS.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer

When Jeff Kelley left Littlerock four years ago he took with him nothing but a dream.

The 21-year-old returned home last week with a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and a diploma certifying he had accomplished his dream and graduated from U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

``I had a lot of expectations,'' Kelley said. ``But being able to mold yourself to graduate from West Point, it really is a dream come true.''

Kelley graduated 78th out of class of 896 - finishing in the top 10 percent.

He concentrated his studies on economics, earning a bachelor's of science degree. He graduated Phi Kappa Phi for ranking in the top 10 percent of his class.

Kelley was presented with the Superintendent's Award in his junior and senior years for maintaining a grade-point average about 3.5. In his senior year he earned a 4.0 average. He also received the Daughters of 1812 Award for Excellence in International Relations.

West Point students are in class from August to May like students at any civilian university. But during the summer months and a winter break, they get military training.

``There's definitely time when it's difficult,'' Kelley said. ``But their intent is to push you.''

As part of his West Point schooling, Kelley interned at the U.S. State Trade Representative's Office in Washington, D.C., was a stand-in platoon leader in Germany and studied Spanish in Mexico City.

``I've been lucky,'' Kelley said. ``There's a lot of things that I wouldn't be able to do if I wasn't at West Point.''

Although Kelley's uncle, father, two grandfathers and brother all have military backgrounds, he was the first to attend West Point.

`We're just so proud and really honored,'' said his mother, Valerie Kelley. ``It was not only an honor for him to attend West Point, but it was an honor for us as well.''

Kelley will spend the next four months at Fort Knox in Kentucky for his officer's basic training course and then go to Fort Carson, Colo.

``I'm looking forward to getting into my career,'' Kelley said. ``It will be exciting to put into practice what I've been taught.''

Although Kelley hasn't decided what he wants to do when his mandatory five years of Army duty are completed, he has thought about opening his own business or going back to West Point to teach.

``I want to leave my options open,'' Kelley said. ``If I really like what I'm doing, there's no doubt that I'll stay. Right now I don't want to think about it. I don't want to take any of my time away from the Army.''

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Photo: (color in AV edition only) Jeff Kelley was graduated with academic honors from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.