Home-Schooled Student & Two Air Force Academy Nominees Among Six to be Presented at Event Tonight

Home-schooled Student and First Two Air Force Academy Nominees Among Six to be Presented at Norton Event Tonight

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will host a Congratulatory Event for her 2010 U.S. Service Academy Appointees combined with an information session for prospective service academy applicants on Monday, June 21, 2010 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. in 2203 Rayburn House Office Building. Several of the students who have won coveted places at the academies will say a few words. The immediate past chair of the Service Academy Selection Board, George Keys, U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 1970, will preside.

Six D.C. high school seniors, up from five students last year, including the first home-schooled candidate and the first two Air Force Academy nominees in many years, were selected for this year's service academy appointments. This year the appointees from the District are: Anthony Bertram Clay, McKinley Tech High School and Naval Academy Preparatory School, appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy; Mark Gerald Hunks, Seaton Home Study School, appointed to the U.S. Air Force Academy; Giuseppe Urberto Niosi, St. Anselm's Abbey School, appointed to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; Benjamin Robert Zeiss, Gonzaga College High School, appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy; Nicholas Musashi Liu, Sidewell Friends School, appointed to the U.S. Military Academy; and Sebastian Fares Zaki, St. Anselm's Abbey School, appointed to the U.S. Air Force Academy.

The students were interviewed by the Congresswoman's Service Academy Selection Board, most of whom are themselves graduates of the academies. All live in the District. The Board is a team of accomplished military members who recommended applicants to Congresswoman Norton for the academies. The members include: Commander & Chairman Kerwin E. Miller, USN (Ret.); Lt. Commander Wesley A. Brown, U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1949, First African American Graduate of the Naval Academy; Chairman Emeritus Steven R. Blust, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Class of 1971; Dorenda Canty, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Class of 1979; Capt. Karen Courington, U.S. Air Force Reserve; David P. Gragan, U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 1977; Carol Holland, U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1989; Anthony Hollinger, U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1987; O.V. Johnson; Ernest L. Jolly, U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1974; Daniel Keenaghan, Jr., U.S. Military Academy Class of 2000; George R. Keys, Jr., U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 1970, Rhodes Scholar; Charles B. King, U.S. Military Academy Class of 1944; Riaz Latifullah, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Class of 1978; Antonio Montes; Professor Barbara J. Smith; Joel Spangenberg, U.S. Naval Academy Class of 2000; and James "Bernie" Walker.

Each year, Congresswoman Norton nominates high school students attending D.C.'s public and private schools to four service academies. Each appointee, ages 17-23, receives a free college education and must remain in the military five years after graduation. An appointment to one of the service academies is very competitive, and can only be approved by a member of Congress or the Vice President. In September, Congresswoman Norton will host an education fair where all five service academies will be represented in an attempt to raise the number of graduates from the academies. For further inquires about service academy nominations, contact Congresswoman Norton's district office at (202) 783-5065 or visit: https://www.norton.house.gov/.