Norton to Host Service Academy College Fair and Sendoff of D.C. High School Graduates to the Academies, Wednesday

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will host her annual Service Academy College Fair and Sendoff to help District of Columbia students get a free, all-expense paid college education and to present her eleven 2018 appointees to the U.S. Service Academies and Service Academy Preparatory Schools on Wednesday, June 6, 2018, from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., at Woodrow Wilson High School (3950 Chesapeake St NW). Norton got nine D.C. students into the academies and two into the prep schools. Her appointees will attend the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), the U.S. Naval Academy Prep School, the U.S. Military Academy, and the U.S. Air Force Academy. Norton will present Rear Admiral Lawrence Cleveland "Larry" Chambers, USNA ‘52, U.S. Navy (Ret.), with a congressional resolution honoring his outstanding service to the nation. Rear Admiral Chambers, a graduate of Dunbar High School, is the second African American to graduate from the USNA, the first African American USNA graduate to achieve flag rank, and the first African American to command a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier. Rear Admiral Chambers will offer remarks at the ceremony.

"I am so proud of our eleven outstanding appointees, who are representative of the best the District has to offer to the nation," Norton said. "Their example will inspire D.C. high school students who attend our Service Academy Fair to understand that they too can qualify for a first-class college education at one of the nation's service academies."

Baylon Baffer (McKinley Technology High School), Quienten Bennett (St. John's College High School), Sebastian Keefer (St. John's College High School) and Richard Njoku (St. John's College High School) received appointments to the USNA. Madison King (Elizabeth Seton High School) and Drew Koike (School Without Walls) will attend the U.S. Naval Academy Prep School. Brooks Biddle (St. Albans High School), Timothy Bitsberger (St. Albans High School) and Octavia Starkey (Woodrow Wilson High School) received appointments to the U.S. Military Academy. Aaron Figueroa Mego (Washington Latin High School) and Nkozia Knight (School Without Walls) received appointments to the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Norton encourages D.C. high school and middle school students to consider the advantages of the tuition-free, world-class education the five Service Academies offer. The Fair is an opportunity for prospective students in grades 6-12 and their parents to speak directly with service academy admissions officers and alumni and this year's D.C. appointees, who are on their way to the Academies. Every year, Norton nominates for appointment D.C. high school seniors to the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The Academies select the best of her nominees for appointments. The U.S. Coast Guard Academy uses a direct appointment system.