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Norton to Present Her Ten Nominees to Service Academies and Prep Schools and Host Service Academy Fair to Recruit D.C. High School Students, Tonight

June 8, 2017

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will host her annual Service Academy College Fair and Sendoff to present her ten 2017 nominees to the U.S. Service Academies and Service Academy Preparatory Schools today, Thursday, June 8, 2017, from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., in the Old Council Chamber at One Judiciary Square (441 4th St. NW). Every year, Norton nominates 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 Service Academies select the best of her nominees for appointments. The U.S. Coast Guard Academy uses a direct appointment system.

"Our congratulations to our ten D.C. students who I have nominated to our nation's Service Academies and Prep Schools," Norton said. "It is also encouraging that each year we are seeing more D.C. students applying to serve their country by attending one of our nation's elite Service Academies. I am proud of the success of D.C. students, which enabled me to nominate a diverse crop of D.C. nominees."

This year's nominees include six young men and four young women. Brian Anthony Draper (USMA Prep School ‘17, Ward 8) and Matthew Bryce James-Thrower (USA Prep School ‘17, Ward 5) received appointments to the U.S. Military Academy. William Winthrop Sheldon (Wilson Senior High School ‘17, Ward 7) received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. Yamiya Althea (USAFA Prep School ‘17, Ward 7) received an appointment to the U.S. Airforce Academy. Octavia Jashay Starkley (H.D. Woodson ‘17, Ward 7) will attend the U.S. Military Academy Prep School. Quienten Vernon Benton (St. John's College High School ‘17, Ward 8), Kimberly Maria Harp (Active Duty, U.S. Navy, stationed at Joint Base Anacostia Bollings), and Robert Vaughn Taylor will attend the U.S. Naval Academy Prep School. Aaron Figueroa Mego (Washington Latino School ‘17, Ward 4) and Isabella Klara Sayle (St. John's College High School ‘17, Ward 6) will attend the U.S. Air Force Academy Prep School. Upon the successful completion of their year of preparatory work, they will receive appointments to their respective service academy's class of 2022.