2 county natives graduate with commissions

Jun. 17—West Point

Cadet Andrew John Johnson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Johnson, of Orwigsburg, graduated May 27 from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York.

Johnson graduated from Blue Mountain High School in 2019. While at West Point, he concentrated his studies in civil engineering. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army within the engineers branch.

The mission of the U.S. Military Academy is to educate, train and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of duty, honor, country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the nation as an officer in the Army. The academy at West Point is a four-year, co-educational, federal, liberal arts college located 50 miles north of New York City. It was founded in 1802 as America's first college of engineering and continues today as the world's premier leader-development institution, consistently ranked among top colleges in the country.

Scranton

Zachary J. Turnitza, of Cumbola, was among the 11 members of The University of Scranton's Class of 2023 who were commissioned as second lieutenants in the Army during a ceremony held May 20 in the Kane Forum of Leahy Hall on campus. Six of the graduates earned distinguished military graduate status by the Army, which designates placement in the top 20% of Army ROTC graduates in the nation for this academic year.

Turnitza, who earned the distinguished military graduate status, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. He was among the members of The University of Scranton's ROTC Class of 2023 who presented colors to begin the undergraduate commencement ceremony.

The University of Scranton is a Jesuit university in Northeast Pennsylvania.