BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

Last month, in honor of African American History Month, the cadets at West Point Academy produced and performed on stage at Robinson Auditorium. The theme of the performance was “The Influence of African American Women on Culture, Society, and the Military, told through the Arts.”

Although the cadets knew that they would have different roles to fill, Tampa native Cadet Katherine Kylila Bullard (pictured), was surprised when she was given the task of producer. As producer, Cadet Bullard learned that in addition to creating a script that would be entertaining, it also needed approval from the Pentagon, her father, Arthur Bullard said.

Her classmate, Cadet Sarah Locke, was responsible for all of the choreography.

The guest speaker for the event was Major General Marcia Anderson, the first African American female to earn the rank of major general in the Army. She was promoted in September 2011.

A Tampa native, Cadet Bullard is the only child of Arthur and Katherine Bullard. She graduated from Middleton High School in 2010 and accepted a full scholarship to West Point Academy. Her father said she plans to pursue a career in the military.

Her major at West Point is Computer Science and she her minor in Foreign Relations.

“She was recruited by all of the major military colleges, but she decided on West Point. She’s in the top 10% of her class,” Bullard stated.

He further stated that Cadet Bullard has accomplished several goals and when she comes home, she visits Middleton in an attempt to motivate other students.

Bullard further said his daughter enjoys writing, playing basketball, and outdoor sports. Cadet Bullard has also sought out and joined an African American Church in West Point.

“She has worked so hard and has always done the right thing for the right reason. She is such a good kid,” he said.