Vern Buchanan nominates 17 Sarasota-Manatee students for service academy appointments
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Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-Longboat) has announced his nominations from the 16th District of Florida for the four U.S. Service Academies, including nine high school seniors from Manatee County and eight from Sarasota County.
Members of the House and Senate each year nominate high school seniors for admission to the U.S. Air Force, Merchant Marine, Military and Naval academies.
“Here in Florida’s 16th District, we are fortunate to have so many driven and courageous students willing to serve in our armed forces,” Buchanan said. “Each of the nominees is deserving of the privilege of attending one of our nation’s service academies. But only a handful of students from across the country will be admitted. I wish each of my nominees the best of luck throughout the remainder of the selection process.”
Applicants who meet strict qualifications are interviewed and recommended by a nonpartisan Service Academy Board appointed by Buchanan. The following nominees were chosen by the board:
Manatee County residents
• Pearson Online Academy graduate Chase Merriam was nominated to the United States Military Academy.
• Sarasota Military Academy cadet James Claybrooke was nominated to the Military Academy.
• Palmetto High student Jean Paul Bravo Marchese was nominated to the Military Academy.
• Parrish Community High student Cohen Buice was nominated to the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
• Florida Virtual student Phillip Dell was nominated to the United States Air Force Academy.
• Palmetto High student Landon Shepard was nominated to the United States Naval Academy, Military Academy, Air Force Academy, and Merchant Marine Academy.
• Braden River High student Terrence Tysall Jr. was nominated to the Naval Academy and Air Force Academy.
• Braden River High student Christian Bell was nominated to the Naval Academy.
• Bradenton Christian student Aspen Benigni was nominated to the Naval Academy.
Sarasota County residents
• Pine View student Aravind Rajeev was nominated to Military Academy.
• Sarasota Military cadet Raphael Fabyanic was nominated to the Military Academy and the Naval Academy.
• Sarasota High student David Huber was nominated to the Air Force Academy.
• Sarasota Military Academy cade Michael Rossi was nominated to the Military Academy, Naval Academy, and Air Force Academy.
• Cardinal Mooney High student Noah Gregory was nominated to the Air Force Academy.
• Sarasota Military Academy cadet Eva Nazario was nominated to the Naval Academy.
• Sarasota Military cadet Ta Ngueyn was nominated to the Military Academy and Naval Academy.
• Dwight Global student Leonardo dal Boni was nominated to the Naval Academy.
The nominations are forwarded to the service academies where they will be evaluated based on their academic and extracurricular record, leadership skills, physical stamina, and other requirements. Candidates from Hillsborough County included Tampa Catholic High student Maria Teresa Castillo Salom (Naval, Military); Riverview High student Isaac Rivard (Air Force); and Newsome High students Mason Fischer (Air Force) and Luke Plesko (Air Force).
The service academies are four-year post-secondary institutions that combine educational excellence with military officer training. Students accepted to the academies receive a free four-year education in return for a commitment to serve five years in the military after graduation.
Submitted by Savannah Glasgow
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: 17 Sarasota-Manatee students vying for service academy appointments
