2025 Students of Distinction

AJ Foreman: Strength in service and a future in care

Gig Harbor Now is posting profiles featuring the Students of Distinction being honored by the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation. Peers, teachers or parents nominate students, who must be a graduating senior at a Peninsula School District school. A panel of community leaders selects students to be honored in one of seven categories: academics; athletics; career and technical excellence; community service; music, arts and drama; overcoming adversity; and science and technology.

These students will be celebrated during a banquet from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at Ocean5, 5268 Point Fosdick Dr.

School: Peninsula High School

Category: Career & Technical Excellence

AJ Foreman’s high school experience has been defined by grit, leadership, and a deep-rooted drive to serve others. At Peninsula High School, AJ found his path through hands-on learning and a commitment to excellence both inside and outside the classroom. That path will soon take him to college on an ROTC scholarship, where he plans to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and pursue a career that blends physical strength with compassionate service.

Through NJROTC, AJ has not only built technical and leadership skills but has also discovered the power of teamwork and endurance. As a company leader, he helped guide his unit to the prestigious Navy Nationals – an elite competition where only the top 24 teams in the nation are invited to compete out of more than 500. His personal athleticism has been equally extraordinary: AJ is a two-time regional Ironman champion, winning grueling competitions that test endurance, strength, and mental toughness. From cadence push-ups to 10-minute planks and mile runs, his dedication to fitness and perseverance stands out.

AJ Foreman

But beyond physical strength, AJ is most proud of the purpose behind his goals. A lifetime of helping others has shaped his desire to pursue nursing, where he hopes to bring the same discipline and empathy he’s gained through ROTC into the health care field. Hands-on experiences, he says, have not only prepared him for the practical demands of nursing but also helped him uncover his passion for making a difference.

At the heart of AJ’s journey is Command Master Chief Robert Stockton, his NJROTC instructor and a mentor whose guidance has been life changing. From sharing opportunities to offering life lessons, CMC Stockton has helped shape AJ into the leader he is today.

With strength, humility, and a clear sense of direction, AJ is stepping confidently into a future of service – where he will continue to lead, support, and protect others with the same fierce determination that has carried him this far.