Teen Accomplishes Major Feat On Way To Realizing Her Military Dream

MOORESTOWN, N.J., (CBS) -- A local teenager has received an extraordinary honor. A 17-year-old military child from Moorestown was inspired to help other veterans, but that's only part of the accomplishments she's been recognized for.

"I'm just an ordinary 17 year old from a town in New Jersey," Madeline Morlino said.

However, if you sit down with Madeline Morlino, you instantly realize she's no ordinary 17-year-old. In fact, she's accomplished an extraordinary feat. "I applied to the Naval academy, the Coast Guard Academy, West Point and the Air Force Academy and I was honored to get into all four academies," Morlino said.

With more than a 4.0 GPA, the Moorestown High School senior has chosen to attend the Air Force academy. Her academic record is impressive enough, but it's her community involvement and her volunteerism that sets her a part from the rest.

"Being from a military family has kind of shown me the sacrifices that our military goes through," she explained.

Madeline's father Leonard, who served 23 years in the Air Force, became the inspiration behind a Veterans job expo that she held. The Morlinos adopted Madeline in China at 11 months old. They had big dreams for a daughter they now say epitomizes the American Dream.

"From that point on, it's been a ride...wonderful and where she's going to end up, in the Air Force Academy, as an officer, we just think that's wonderful," her father, Leonard Morlino said.

"She is a shining example of how if you embrace hard work and grit and determination and you start early and you find a path, you can do anything in this country," her mother Kerry said.

Madeline and her family will travel to Washington DC in April, where she'll receive the 2016 Air Force Child of the Year Award given to an outstanding military child from each branch of the military.

"Whether your dream is to go into the military academies, or something else, I hope to inspire other kids," Morlino said.