Henry Pennington, a 2025 Danville High School graduate, is attending Dartmouth College on a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship. 

He said it’s been a good experience, and he’s found the structure beneficial. He has a workout in the morning three days a week, a military science lab and a military science class. In the fall and spring, he has one or two field training weekends. For example, last fall he went to a National Guard base in Vermont for a weekend field training. He’s commissioned to the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant after he graduates. 

Though he hasn’t officially declared a major yet, he is considering majoring in government, modified with economics. He’s interested in potentially pursuing consulting once he’s finished with his military service. 

About his time in the Danville Independent Schools, he said taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses helped him learn how to study for college. He chose Dartmouth because he “fell in love with it” during his tour, and he said it has a mix of great academics and a fun, social campus life. 

“I think the Danville Schools definitely prepared me for going to college, just because Danville has such a diverse student body,” he said. 

During his time at DHS, he enjoyed his experience with teachers like Social Studies Teacher Joey Sallee. 

“I really loved having Mr. Sallee as a history teacher, and I loved his American history class, so that motivated me to take an American history class last term, which I loved,” Pennington said. “It was probably my favorite course I’ve taken so far.”