The Catskill Chronicle

Among those nominated is Christopher Whipple of Neversink. He attends Tri-Valley Central School. He is seen here at the Tri-Valley ceremony to honor veterans. – Carol Montana photo

Washington, DC (December 18, 2010) – Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) has announced his nominees to the U.S. service academies for the Class of 2015.  After a thorough examination process in which his office reviewed numerous applications, Hinchey selected 16 local high school students whom he believes would excel at the U.S. Air Force, Military, Naval and Merchant Marine Academies.  West Point Military Academy has already offered an appointment to Joseph "Bobby" Kulp III of Vestal, New York, and Hinchey expects that more nominees will also receive appointments.

"It is a great honor to nominate 16 young men and women from our area to our nation’s service academies," Hinchey said.  "These young leaders have demonstrated their dedication to community and country. They have excelled in scholastics, physical fitness and extracurricular activities. They represent the best and brightest, and I know that each would serve with honor and distinction.  I wish them all the very best with the rest of the application process."

The selection process for the nominees was based on each student’s scholastic record, physical fitness, extracurricular activities, professional recommendations and a personal interview.  The process is highly competitive and the admissions departments of the service academies make the final decision on acceptance.

The names of Hinchey’s nominees, by academy, are as follows:

United States Air Force Academy

Matthew Presutti of Newburgh – Valley Central High School

US Air Force Academy Preparatory School

United States Military Academy

Anneliese Antonucci of Poughkeepsie – Poughkeepsie High School

Daniel Crisci of Newburgh – Valley Central High School

Joseph Gaynor of Bloomingburg – Pine Bush High School

Timothy Goldstone of Accord – Rondout Valley High School

Jared Jenson of Kingston – Kingston High School

Joseph "Bobby" Kulp III of Vestal – Vestal Senior High School

Valley Forge Military College

Lukas Saul of Ithaca – Ithaca High School

Tompkins Cortland Community College

Kateri Sibley of Windsor – Windsor Central High School

Matthew Webster of Apalachin – Owego Free Academy

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Christopher Whipple of Neversink – Tri-Valley Central School

United States Merchant Marine Academy

Padraig Loughlin of Esopus – Nile C. Kinnick High School

United States Naval Academy

Christopher Chase of Middletown – Pine Bush High School

Luke Miller of Ithaca – Ithaca High School

Joshua Nysenbaum of Binghamton – Binghamton High School

Megan Rausch of Glen Spey – Home School

Members of the House and Senate may nominate eligible candidates for appointments to the nation’s service academies. Senators nominate applicants statewide, while representatives, such as Hinchey, nominate applicants only from the congressional district they represent.

Students who are interested in being nominated by Hinchey in the future should first contact the service academy of their choice during their junior year in high school and then request a nomination from the congressman’s office shortly thereafter.  The deadline for the Class of 2016 nominations is October 21, 2011.  For more information on the application process, students and parents are encouraged to visit Hinchey’s website page on academy nominations at http://hinchey.house.gov .