Norton to Speak at D.C. Area High Schools’ Service Academy Nights, Tonight and Tomorrow
WASHINGTON D.C. – The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced that Norton will continue aggressive outreach to recruit students for Service Academy nominations from her office at Eastern Senior High School (1700 East Capitol Street NE) tonight, November 18, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and at Bell Multicultural High School (3101 16th Street NW) tomorrow, Wednesday, November 19, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Each year, Norton's office reviews applications from District of Columbia students and makes selections recommended by her Service Academy Selection Board for the four academies: the U.S. Military, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Naval Academies. The application process for the 2015 nominations began in the summer and was due to end on November 3, but was extended to November 17 to allow applicants two extra weeks to submit. During her visits, Norton will offer students advice and information about their submissions, and remind students that even if they are not selected this year, they have an opportunity to apply each year until they are 23 years old. The event is geared to grades 8-11 to interest the students in the Academies and to encourage them to get the background they need to apply. Students are encouraged to start prepping for the Academies in grades 9 and 10. The application process begins the summer of their senior year, with nominations from the Congresswoman in the fall and Academy appointments in the winter and spring. The Service Academies are tuition-free. Appointees receive room, board, medical, dental, a monthly stipend, and they graduate as commissioned officers.
"The advantages these academies offer to young people are immeasurable," Norton said. "The nomination process is competitive, but that shouldn't discourage students from submitting their application or working with my office in the future. Nominees from D.C. who were selected to attend a Service Academy have received a top-tier education and gone on to serve and do great things."
Norton's Service Academy Selection Board will review submissions over the next few weeks.
Norton, who oversees of the nomination process, holds a Service Academy College Fair in the District each year during the summer to provide information about the academies, and hosts a celebration for those selected for admission into the Service Academies after nominations end in the spring. This year, Norton held her annual Service Academy College Fair at her alma mater, Dunbar High School, to recruit future applicants to the service academies and to present her 2014 nominees to the service academies. Anthony Bertram Clay, Jr., McKinley Tech High School alumnus, who graduated that spring from the U.S. Naval Academy, was the featured speaker. He spoke about his experience transitioning from a D.C. high school to a physically and academically rigorous service academy.
Some of Norton's previous appointees have been Esmeraldy Arce, a 2009 Norton appointee, Wilson Senior High School, U.S Merchant Marine Academy; U.S. Navy Lieutenant James Billings, a 2005 Norton appointee, Wilson High School, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy graduate; and D.C. Metropolitan Police Department officer James Rimensnyder, a 2000 Norton appointee, Wilson High School and the U.S. Naval Academy graduate. D.C. is home to two 4-star Admirals and the first African American graduate of the Naval Academy.
Visit Norton's website for more information about Service Academy nominations.