[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 12 (Friday, January 19, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E71-E72]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE 2018 ACADEMY NOMINEES OF THE 11TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 
                             OF NEW JERSEY

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 19, 2018

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, every year, more high school seniors 
from the 11th Congressional District trade in varsity jackets for Navy 
pea coats, Air Force flight suits, and Army brass buckles than most 
other districts in the country. In fact, this is nothing new--our area 
has repeatedly sent an above average portion of its sons and daughters 
to the nation's military academies for decades.
  This fact should not come as a surprise. The educational excellence 
of area schools is well known and has long been a magnet for families 
looking for the best environment in which to raise their children. Our 
graduates are skilled not only in mathematics, science, and social 
studies, but also have solid backgrounds in sports, debate, and other 
extracurricular activities. This diverse upbringing makes military 
academy recruiters sit up and take note--indeed, many recruiters know 
our towns and schools by name.
  Since the 1830s, Members of Congress have enjoyed meeting, talking 
with, and nominating superb young people to our military academies. But 
how did this process evolve? In 1843, when West Point was the sole 
academy, Congress ratified the nominating process and became directly 
involved in the composition of our military's leadership. This was not

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an act of an imperial Congress bent on controlling every aspect of 
government. Rather, the procedure still used today was, and is, a 
further check and balance in our democracy. It was originally designed 
to weaken and divide political coloration in the officer corps, provide 
geographical balance to our armed services, and to make the officer 
corps more resilient to unfettered nepotism and handicapped European 
armies.
  In 1854, Representative Gerritt Smith of New York added a new 
component to the academy nomination process, the academy review board. 
This was the first time a Member of Congress appointed prominent 
citizens from his district to screen applicants and assist with the 
serious duty of nominating candidates for academy admission. Today, I 
am honored to continue this wise tradition in my service to the 11th 
Congressional District.
  My Academy Review Board is composed of local citizens who have shown 
exemplary service to New Jersey, to their communities, and to the 
continued excellence of education in our area; many are veterans. 
Although from diverse backgrounds and professions, they all share a 
common vision, that the best qualified and motivated graduates attend 
our academies. And, as true for most volunteer panels, their service 
goes largely unnoticed.
  I would like to take a moment to recognize and thank them publicly 
for participating in this important panel. Being on the board requires 
hard work and an objective mind. Members have the responsibility of 
interviewing upwards of 50 outstanding young men and women every year 
in the academy review process.
  The nomination process follows a general timetable. High school 
seniors mail personal information directly to the Military Academy, the 
Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, and the Merchant Marine Academy 
once they become interested in attending. Information includes academic 
achievement, college entry test scores, and other activities. At this 
time, they also inform my office of their desire to be nominated.
  The academies then assess the applicants, rank them based on the data 
supplied, and return the files to my office with their notations. In 
late November, our Academy Review Board interviews all of the 
applicants over the course of two days. They assess a student's 
qualifications and analyze character, desire to serve, and other 
talents that may not appear on paper.
  This year the board interviewed over 40 applicants. The Board's 
recommendations were then forwarded to the academies, where recruiters 
reviewed files and notified applicants and my office of their final 
decision on admission.
  As these highly motivated and talented young men and women go through 
the academy nominating process, never let us forget the sacrifice they 
are preparing to make: to defend our country and protect our citizens. 
This holds especially true at a time when our nation is fighting the 
war against terrorism. Whether it is in the Middle East, Africa or 
other troubled spots around the world, we are constantly reminded that 
wars are fought by the young. And, while our military missions are both 
important and dangerous, it is reassuring to know that we continue to 
put America's best and brightest in command.


         Academy Nominees for 2018, 11th Congressional District

                           Air Force Academy

  Annie Guo, Livingston, Livingston High School; Hayley Zwickel, Pine 
Brook, Montville Township High School; Griffin Heyrich, Madison, 
Madison High School; Sarah Houser, Morristown, Morristown High School; 
Apurva Memani, Livingston, Pingry School; Rushi Desai, Parsippany, 
Morris Hills High School; Tyler Kim, Montville, Montville Township High 
School.


                        Merchant Marine Academy

  Anthony Corso, Fairfield, Maritime College, State University of New 
York; Alexander Schlegel, Mendham, West Morris Mendham High School; 
Thomas Rodgers, Caldwell, James Caldwell High School.


                             Naval Academy

  Juliana Valencia, Pompton Lakes, Pompton Lakes High School; Andre 
Papasavas, Woodland Park, Passaic Valley High School; Grace Perrotta, 
Bloomfield, Bloomfield High School; Peter Yamasaki, Pequannock, Trinity 
Christian School; Morgan La Sala, Wayne, Wayne Valley High School; 
Brendan Flood, Denville, Seton Hall Preparatory School; Calvin Poche, 
Morristown, Morristown-Beard School; Joseph Rosowicz, Chatham, Regis 
High School; Daniel DuBois, Wayne, Don Bosco Preparatory School; Andrew 
Lee, East Hanover, Oratory Preparatory.


                            Military Academy

  Ajay Hariharan, Randolph, Randolph High School; Charles Marashlian, 
North Caldwell, Seton Hall Preparatory School; Timothy Cieslak, Wayne, 
Rensselaer PolyTechnic Institute; Alyssa Chellaraj, Morris Plains, 
Parsippany Christian School; Jeffrey Sun, Mendham, Morris Hills High 
School; Timothy Higgins, Morris Plains, Chatham High School; Spencer 
Cowen, North Caldwell, West Essex Regional High School; Patrick 
MacLean, Mendham, West Morris Mendham High School; Matthew Rothman, 
Pequannock, Pequannock High School; Aaron Tam, Pompton Lakes, Rutgers 
University.

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