Earlier this month when President Obama traveled to West Point to sell his plan for sending additional troops to Afghanistan, former Freedom High School grad Andrew Ng had a front row seat. This week, the nation got a front row look at Ng and his fellow cadets thanks to a Time Magazine cover photo featuring Ng and a throng of West Pointers awaiting their turn to shake the president’s hand.

“It was pretty amazing to see that photo,” said Freedom High School Principal Eric Faulkner of the Dec. 14 Time cover. “I remember Andrew as a phenomenal student who not only took care of his academic life, but was very active in school as well. He played tennis and football and was a positive role model who was a popular, well-liked individual. We feel very proud that Andrew is a Freedom grad and to think that we maybe played a small part in some of his success.”

His grandmother, Mary Ng is proud too.

“Andrew and the rest of the Brigade Staff (he is now a Cadet Captain) were sitting in the front row,” wrote Mary in an e-mail to Faulkner last week. “Andrew got to shake the President’s hand … Needless to say we are so proud of him and the fact that he graduated from Freedom High School.”

It’s been a publicity-intensive month for Ng and his historic face time with the president. His West Point photo shoot also made the cover of the LA Times and was featured in an article in the Wall Street Journal.

But Ng’s not the only West Point cadet from Freedom High. Former Freedom students Tiffany Montgomery, Jared Moon and Nick Eslinger – who recently received a Silver Star for bravery – also graduated from the military academy, and a photo of the four of them hangs in the lobby of the high school.

“Every time I walk by that photo it gives me goose bumps,” said Faulkner. “It’s a great reminder of the wonderful students we have here at Freedom.”

Ng graduated from Freedom High School in 2006 and made the dean’s list at West Point last fall. He will be commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army upon graduation in May.