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Gottheimer holds ceremony honoring 34 Fifth District students nominated to U.S. Service Academies

NORTH JERSEY — U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) recently honored local Fifth District students he nominated to U.S. Service Academies, including the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, at a ceremony at Ramapo College in Mahwah.

Gottheimer selected the students through the counsel of his Service Academy Selection Committee, comprised of local leaders and veterans who have served in different branches of the armed forces. Selection committee members include Midland Park Mayor and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Harry Shortway, State Senator and U.S. Army veteran Gordon Johnson, Vernon Mayor and U.S. Air Force veteran Howard Burrell, retired U.S. Army Brigadier General and West Point graduate Dr. Cindy Jebb, U.S. Army veteran and West Point graduate Stephen Kalish, Merchant Marine Academy graduate Susan Wagner-Mckenna, U.S. Marine Corps veteran Joyce Gonzalez, U.S. Army veteran and West Point graduate Ken Mack, U.S. Army veteran and West Point graduate Kristin Dicksen, U.S. Army veteran and West Point graduate Terry Yun, U.S. Naval Academy graduate Hank Warnke, and Naval Academy graduate Luke Walsh.

“I am amazed every year — these students blow me away with everything they do — from athletics to academics to community service,” Gottheimer said. “We are here today, though, because of the nominees themselves who, at such a young age, already show a tremendous commitment to serving our country. Their nomination to one of our four prestigious military academies: The U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy is a recognition of their excellence in the classroom, in our community, and their sense of duty to our country.”

Gottheimer was joined at Ramapo College by NJ State Senator Gordon Johnson, Stephen Kalish, Terry Yun, Kristen Dicksen, Joyce Gonzalez, and retired United States Army Brigadier General, the fourteenth Dean of the United States Military Academy and first woman to serve as dean at West Point, and President of Ramapo College Dr. Cindy Jebb.

The full list of students nominated by Gottheimer this year to attend one of the renowned U.S. Service Academies is below: 

U.S. Military Academy Nominations:

  • Aaron D’Alessandro, Montvale
  • Matthew Alasio, New Milford
  • Lynne Kim, Northvale
  • Elaine Kim, Closter
  • Charles Perruzzi, Allendale
  • Rebecca Storch, Haworth
  • Emily Yoo, Closter
  • Jason Singh, Paramus
  • Leo Park, Closter
  • Jacob Bae, Glen Rock

U.S. Naval Academy Nominations:

  • Thomas Cowan, Norwood
  • George Kalkanis, Mahwah
  • Michael Bukosky, Allendale
  • Paul Maguire, Ringwood
  • Byeongjun Lee, Norwood
  • Daniel Wask, Wantage
  • Elise Cantu, Lafayette
  • Cooper Kurtz, Alpine
  • Jorge Pogue, Hillsdale
  • Macri Leanza, Demarest

U.S. Air Force Academy Nominations:

  • Jacquelyn Galella, Hewitt
  • Christina Watrall, Mahwah
  • Colin Nicolaou, Blairstown
  • Markus Espinal, Dumont
  • Jessica Strickland, Franklin Lakes
  • Anthony Coronel, Fair Lawn
  • Sean Kim, River Edge
  • Eric Lynch, Wyckoff
  • Kaylin Chan, River Edge

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Nominations:

  • Andrew Zimmerman, Glen Rock
  • Harry Liu, Bound Brook
  • Ian Sheeron, Mount Laurel
  • Katelin Hanifan, Lafayette
  • Aaron Yarnell, Lebanon

Jay Edwards

Born and raised in Northwest NJ, Jay has a degree in Communications and has had a life-long interest in local radio and various styles of music. Jay has held numerous jobs over the years such as stunt car driver, bartender, voice-over artist, traffic reporter (award winning), NY Yankee maintenance crewmember and peanut farm worker. His hobbies include mountain climbing, snowmobiling, cooking, performing stand-up comedy and he is an avid squirrel watcher. Jay has been a guest on America’s Morning Headquarters,program on The Weather Channel, and was interviewed by Sam Champion.

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