Page 9 - Florida Sentinel 12-17-19

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U. S. Rep. Castor Announces Her 2019 Nominations To U. S. Military Academies
Last week, U. S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) an- nounced 20 high school stu- dents received nominations for admission into our nation’s military acad emies: Air Force (USAFA), Navy (USNA), Army (USMA) and Merchant Marine (USMMA).
“Every year I am proud to nominate high school sen- iors to attend our nation’s prestigious service acade- mies,” Castor said. “I am im- pressed by their high caliber and keen interest in serving America. These inspir- ing students are tomorrow’s leaders.”
Receiving a nomination to one of our nation’s mili- tary academies is an essen- tial step towards receiving an appointment to the acade- mies. Nominations are earned based upon each student’s in- terview with Castor’s Nomi- nation Committee, their academic record, participation in extracurricular activities and demonstrated leadership qualities. Because of the strin-
U. S. REP. KATHY CASTOR
gent application require- ments, many students begin working on what it takes to apply as early as their first year of high school.
Based upon the process es- tablished by federal law, all U. S. military academies, except the Coast Guard Academy, re- quire a nomination from their member of Congress , U. S. Senator or the Vice Presi- dent of the United States. Par- ents and students interested in the nomination process can work with their school guid-
CHRISTOPHER SULLIVAN ...Plant High School, USMA
ance counselors and find more information.
“I am always very thankful of the time and effort my Nomination Committee puts in every year to thoroughly re- view each application and meet with each student indi- vidually,” Castor contin- ued. “Tampa Bay is a patriotic community and my neighbors and I are proud of our role to develop strong and impres- sive young leaders that will shape the future of our armed
forces and our nation.” Castor will announce offi-
cial appointments at a later date after being notified of ap- pointments by the academies. The an- nouncement is the conclusion of Castor’s 2019 competitive nomination process. The nominees who receive an ap- pointment from a U. S. mili- tary academy will attend their respective academies in the 2020-2021 school year.
U. S. Rep. Castor
granted her nomination to the following students for one or more of the U.S. military acad- emies:
Alexis Betances, Sickles High School – USNA
Anna Grace Brackin,
Blake High School – USNA, USAFA
Chi Vu, Chamberlain High School – USNA
Christopher Sullivan,
Plant High School – USMA Cooper Palasti, Gaither
High School – USNA, USMA Estevan Fonseca, Hills- borough High School –
USAFA
Everett Smalley, Plant High School – USAFA
Hope Marie Hotchkiss,
Plant High School – USNA Ian McGary, Plant High
School – USNA, USMA
Jona Christensen,
Tampa Catholic – USAFA
Jonathan Joyner,
Robinson High School – USNA, USAFA
Josef Stooks, Steinbren- ner High School – USNA
Justin Hileman, Stein- brenner High School – USNA, USAFA
Lucien Parker, Broad- neck High School – USMMA
Marshall Hess, Oasis High School – USNA
Nicklaus King, Jesuit High School – USMA
Olivia Perez, Academy of the Holy Names – USMMA
Reagan Overton, King High School – USMA, USNA
Reyna Hernandez,
Hillsborough High School – USMA
Robert A. Morris III,
Berkeley Preparatory School – USMA.
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