The Air Force Academy proved to be good for Abbey Rogers — and vice versa.

The 2004 Seneca Valley graduate learned about discipline and budgeting time while providing the academy with one of its most decorated student athletes.

Rogers recently graduated among the top 50 in a class of more than 1,000 with a degree in behavioral sciences and a 3.78 grade-point average.

She also became a three-time all-conference gymnast and received the academy's Female Athlete of the Year award this year.

A Level 10 gymnast by age 14 at X-Cel Gymnastics in Cranberry Township, Rogers always knew she wanted to compete in college.

"I started the sport when I was 8 and fell in love with it," she said. "My goals were always high and they moved me quickly through all the levels.

"I applied at the University of Pittsburgh and some California schools, but once I visited the Air Force Academy, that was it. I knew where I wanted to go."

In opting to pursue gymnastics with the Air Force, Rogers said the academy changed her life.

"Being part of something bigger than myself, serving the nation, learning discipline and that the people you meet there become lifelong friends — it definitely changed me for the better," she said.

Rogers became a stronger person, too. That trait came in handy almost immediately when she was diagnosed with Grave's Disease, a thyroid disorder causing an increased heartbeat and muscle weakness, in her freshman year.

She had to stop gymnastics and most of her physical activity.

"I had to take 15 to 20 pills a day for medication," Rogers recalled. "It was pretty devastating to me at the time. Missing a full year of gymnastics, I wasn't sure I wanted to get back into it. I almost didn't."

Enter Doug Day, who took over as women's gymnastics coach at the academy after nine years as an assistant at Minnesota.

"Abbey wasn't sure whether doing all the work to come back to gymnastics would be worth it," Day said. "Really, she had no idea just how talented she was and the kind of potential she had."

Day's arrival was well-timed for Rogers in that regard.

"I had the perfect support system," she said. "Coach Day believed in me the entire time and I needed that. He convinced me that with hard work and discipline, I could do great things."

And she did.

"She made history at this place," Day said.

Rogers became the first academy gymnast to become Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Gymnast of the Year and she attained that honor twice.

She went on to achieve three conference titles, four all-conference selections, 16 first-place finishes and reached the NCAA Regional Championships.

She also made the USA Gymnastics all-academic team, received three consecutive Mountain West scholar athlete awards and made the dean's list in all eight of her semesters at the academy.

"Sheer determination and dedication brought Abbey all of that," Day said. "The balance beam was one of her worst events as a sophomore. This year, it was one of her best. She improved her all-around score from 36.45 to 38.95 this year. That's how hard she's worked."

Of all her honors and awards, Rogers said her proudest moment was winning conference titles in all-around, on the floor and the beam.

"It was an awesome experience, almost too good to be true," she said. "I left the floor feeling like I'd accomplished all I set out to do in the sport."

Rogers is headed to Wake Forest University to work on an 18-month program for her master's degree in psychology. She then has five years of duty to serve in the Air Force.

"After two years of active duty, I have an option to apply to teach and help coach at the academy," Rogers said. "I would love to give back, to provide the same type of quality coaching I've received in my life.

"When I look back on my disease that freshman year, I didn't know it at the time, of course, but it was a good thing. It made me appreciate gymnastics more and made me concentrate on the academy lifestyle at a time I needed to."

Here is a list of 2004 Seneca Valley graduate Abbey Rogers' accomplishments at the Air Force Academy:• She graduated 43rd in a class of more than 1,000 and was No. 1 in her major, behavioral sciences, with a grade-point average of 3.76.• Served as captain of the women's gymnastics team for two years.• Was a two-time Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Co-Gymnast of the Year.• Became first Air Force Academy gymnast to win three conference championships.• Was named Top Female Scholar Athlete for 2008-09.• Became first Air Force Academy athlete to be named Mountain West Conference Female Scholar Athlete of Year.• Named to USA Gymnastics all-academic team for three straight seasons.