Rep. Schneider Celebrates Local Military Academy Appointees with Virtual Sendoff

Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) hosted members of the military service academy class of 2024, their families, and selection committee members for a virtual sendoff celebration through Zoom last Thursday, June 11. Rear Admiral Milton J. Sands, Commander of Naval Service Training Command, offered remarks as the guest speaker.

To be admitted to the United States Military Academy (USMA) in West Point, New York, the United States Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, Maryland, the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado, or the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) in Kings Point, New York, a prospective officer must apply to his or her member of Congress for an appointment. The United States Coast Guard Academy does not require Congressional appointments for admittance.

With help from a selection committee of local military academy graduates and current and former servicemembers, this year, Rep. Schneider nominated 30 students from the Tenth District. Of those, 13 were offered appointments by a military academy and 11 accepted their appointments. The military academy class of 2024 is one of the largest in Schneider's time representing the Tenth District.

"I offer my sincere congratulations to the fantastic Tenth District students who will be attending a military service academy this Fall," said Schneider. "Nominating area students each year is one of the highest honors of my job. This year's applicants were exceptional, and I am thrilled we have a record-breaking class of 11 applicants accept their offers of admission. As I said over our virtual celebration ceremony, I wish them great success in their studies at the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy, and U.S. Naval Academy, and their subsequent service to our nation"

Of the 11 appointees, three will attend the United States Naval Academy, four will attend the United States Military Academy, and four will attend the United States Air Force Academy.

More information on military academy nominations process can be found on Rep. Schneider's website.

The following students accepted military academy appointments:

U.S. Naval Academy

Andrew Bacilek

• Libertyville High School
• 2018-present/ Link Crew Leader Libertyville
• 2019-present/ Varsity water Polo Team Captain
• 2019/ NSC Athletic Leadership Conference

Nathan Schmitt

• Lake Forest High School
• 2019 Cross Country NSC Sportsmanship Award
• 2019 Team Captain for Cross Country and Track and Field
• 2 Great Grandparents fought in WWII, Grandfather served in Air Force, Father was a Captain in the Army, and Sister is currently attending USNA.

Kayla Gibbons – USNA Foundation Scholarship

• Zion- Benton High School
• 2019/Senior/National Naval Reserves Officer Training Corps Scholarship
• 2019/Senior/Falcon Scholarship of United States Air Force Academy

U.S. Military Academy

Donovan Cuellar

• US Military Academy Prep School and New Mexico Military Institute
• Institute's Cadet Honor Board
• Vice Honor Board Chairman
• Ranked Top 10% in JROTC

Kevin Trajgiel

• Deerfield High School
• 2019/ Junior-Senior/Ranked 97^th Percentile Nationally for SAT Proficiency
• 2016 -2020/ Four Years/ GPA 4.16 Achieved High Honors every Semester
• Deerfield High School Spanish Honor Society

Daphne Karahalios

• Culver Academies
• Three Varsity Letters
• Gold A — 9, 10, 11 • This award is given to students who maintain a 3.7 GPA or higher with no grades below a "B " throughout the semester.
• Army West Point Women's Lacrosse Camp- 9, 10, 11 (All-star)

Jacob Woodruff

• James O'Neill High School
• National Honor Society
• George C Marshall Foundation Medal for Leadership and Academic Excellence
• Father served in Army Reserves, Grandfather served in WWII, Great Grandfather served in U.S. Air Force

U.S. Air Force Academy

Kendra Joachim

• Lake Forest H.S.
• 2016 -2019 High Honor Roll
• 2017/2018 Most Valuable Player on Varsity Swimming
• 2017 - 2019 Represented Girls Swimming at North Suburban Leadership Summit
• 2018 Represented Illinois in Swimming at Inaugural USA Swimming Leadership Summit

Emilia Puszynski

• Carmel Catholic High School
• National Honor Society 2015 – 2019
• 2019/12/ Falcon Foundation – Falcon Scholarship
• Most Valuable Corsair to receive the MVC from Carmel H.S.
• Grandfather retired Brigadier General U.S. Army

Blaze Williams

• Zion- Benton High School
• 2019/Senior/National Naval Reserves Officer Training Corps Scholarship
• 2019/Senior/Falcon Scholarship of United States Air Force Academy
• President of National Honor Society

Dylan West

• Zion-Benton Township H.S.
• 2019/2018 Academic All American
• Relay for Life raised $200.000 over the past 14 years to support cure for Cancer.
• Maternal Grandfather served in Vietnam War, Paternal Grandfather served in Korean War, Father served in Navy