Sam Loida

Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Ste. Genevieve, Mo.
Squadron:
30 Knights of Thirty
High School:
Valle Catholic

SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2023 – FRESHMAN YEAR | 2022: Did not compete on the cross country team…spent first two seasons as a 400- and 800-meter runner for the track and field team.

HIGH SCHOOL: Valle Catholic High School…Missouri Class 1 champion in the 800-meter run as a senior…set the school record in that event…also claimed all-state honors in the 4x800-meter and 4x400-meter relays that year…member of the team that finished second at the state meet in 2022…earned all-state honors in the 400-meter dash, 4x200-meter relay and 4x400-meter relay as a junior…claimed all-conference honors in the 400-meter dash (junior year) and 800-meter run (senior year)…11-time all-district honoree…medaled in the 4x400-meter relay as a freshman…also played varsity volleyball…named first-team all-state as a senior…three-time all-district and all-conference selection…member of teams that finished second and third at the Missouri Class 2 Championships…set school record for assists as a junior…also played basketball all four years…class valedictorian.

PERSONAL: Full name is Samantha Rose Loida…goes by Sam…daughter of Michael and Cynthia Loida…both parents served in the Air Force (father: F-16 fighter pilot, mother: intelligence officer)…has three older siblings, including one who is a 2020 Academy graduate and current TACP officer in the Air Force…majoring in biology…earning minors in pre-nursing and Arabic…future plans include becoming a flight nurse and eventually join the Special Operations Surgical Team (SOST) as a critical care nurse…named to the Superintendent’s List for excellence in military, academic and athletic performance…currently serving as a PEER POC, Flight Chief, and First Sergeant…grandfather (Navy) and two uncles (one Air Force, one Navy) have served in the military…recorded 15 flight hours and accomplished a solo flight in a Cessna 172 while taking part in the Aim High Flight Academy in 2023…traveled to Muscat, Oman, with the Academy’s Cadet Summer Language Immersion Program (CSLIP) in 2024, spending nearly four weeks studying Arabic and experiencing the culture of the Oman people…also completed Operation Air Force at Aviano AFB, Italy…favorite part of Ops was shadowing jobs in the 56th Rescue Squadron, where they got to do a workout with combat rescue officers and parajumpers…also served as a “casualty” in a PJ/SERE exercise…served as Flight NCO for the Hellcats Echo during Basic Cadet Training…member of Cadet Squadron 30.