Norton Encourages D.C. Students to Attend D.C.'s Service Academy College Fair

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today encouraged all D.C. public, charter and private school students in grades 7-12 and parents to attend the Service Academy College Fair, sponsored by District of Columbia Public Schools, tomorrow October 22, 2013, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Eastern Senior High School (1700 East Capitol Street NE). Students will learn how to apply for an appointment to any or all of the U.S. Service Academies, and will have the opportunity for one-on-one meetings with admission officers and D.C. alumni from the U.S. Military Academy (USMA), U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), and U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA).

"I am grateful to District of Columbia Public Schools that the fair comes in time for students to submit applications to our Service Academy Selection Board, due no later than December 2, to be considered for the service academy nominations I will announce in the Spring," said Norton. "The D.C. Service Academy College Fair will provide an opportunity for D.C. students and their parents to meet admissions officers, and get a jumpstart on the application process. We are also pleased that several alumni from D.C. schools who then attended the Service Academies will be on hand to speak to our public, private and charter school students and parents. We are fortunate to have a very active and expert Service Academy Selection Board of 18 D.C. residents, most of whom are alumni of a Service Academy. Our board, chaired by Commander Kerwin Miller, USNR (Ret) (USNA '75), will begin interviews in January."

The application is available online at https://www.norton.house.gov/images/service%20academy%202014%20application.pdf.

In June, Norton held her annual Service Academy College Fair for current students, combined with a ceremonial sendoff of the District students she nominated to the Service Academies. Every year the Congresswoman makes nominations for the U.S. Military, U.S. Naval, U.S. Merchant Marine, and U.S. Air Force Academies, who compete for appointments to which they have been nominated. The U.S. Coast Guard Academy uses a direct appointment system.

In January, President Obama signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, which contains a provision Norton sought requiring the armed services to display the District of Columbia flag and the flags of the territories whenever the flags of the 50 states are displayed. These graduates are now assured that their service will always be honored by the appropriate display of the D.C. flag.

Published: October 21, 2013