[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 7, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2796-S2797]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
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RECOGNIZING UTAH'S APPOINTEES TO SERVICE ACADEMIES
Mr. LEE. Mr. President, it is my distinct pleasure to
recognize 21 exemplary men and women who are among the best and
brightest that Utah has to offer. These individuals have answered the
call to service by applying and receiving appointments to the U.S. Air
Force Academy, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, the U.S. Military
Academy, and the U.S. Naval Academy.
As a Member of Congress, it is my privilege under title 10 of the
U.S. Code to nominate young men and women to these iconic service
academies. However, receiving a congressional nomination does not
guarantee acceptance. To be admitted, each applicant must meet--on his
or her own merits--the academies' rigorous standards.
I am happy to report that each individual has done this and more.
They have demonstrated their impressive mental and physical aptitude,
which are essential in meeting the standard of excellence upon which
our service academies are built. Perhaps more importantly, they have
shown their high moral character and capacity for leadership, courage,
honesty, prudence, and self-discipline. They maintain a steadfast
commitment to stand up for our country.
I can say without hesitation or exaggeration that you would be hard-
pressed to find a more accomplished, talented, patriotic group of
citizens than these young Americans. They will be a credit to our
Nation as they begin their training in Colorado Springs, Kings Point,
West Point, and Annapolis. I look forward to seeing what they do in
their academic years and beyond.
It is one of my greatest honors to recognize and congratulate these
fine Utahns in the U.S. Senate:
Wilford William Beck, from Highland, Utah, will join his
brother at the U.S. Naval Academy as a midshipman. He
maintained a 4.0 GPA at Lone Peak High School while taking
challenging classes. Wil lettered in cross country and
tennis, where he also served as captain and helped lead his
team to a state championship. He participated in the Chinese
Club and provided community service with his church youth
group and at the VA hospital. He participated in multiple
medical mission trips to Honduras to provide assistance to
those in need.
Kohler C. Beckstrand has accepted an appointment to the
U.S. Military Academy at West Point. A student of Davis High
School, Kohler challenged himself in both academics, where he
took a high number of AP classes, and athletics, where he ran
cross country and track. He was a member of the National
Honor Society and the Health Organization Students of America
(HOSA). He plays trumpet and earned superior ratings in the
Solo and Ensemble festival. Kohler is active in his community
serving neighbors and leading food drives.
Asher Randall Bowcutt after graduating from Copper Hills
High School will enter the U.S. Military Academy at West
Point. He served as captain of both the football team, where
he earned Academic All-State Honors, and the track and field
team, where he holds school records in the shot put and
discus, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Asher enjoys
snowboarding, chess, drawing, and working as a welder with
Hardwick Machinery. He will follow his grandfather, aunts,
and uncles into Army service.
Dawson Lee Douglas accepted an appointment to the U.S.
Naval Academy. From Sandy, Utah, he will graduate from Alta
High School where he took a high number of AP classes and was
awarded AP Scholar with Distinction. He stays active in
sports and volunteers in his neighborhood and community,
where his church youth group annually puts flags on the
graves of our veterans. He routinely challenges himself
academically and physically and is looking forward to the
challenges of the academy.
Lucas McCoy Fassio will be attending the U.S. Air Force
Academy after graduating from Park City High School. He
stayed busy in school taking a high number of AP classes
while at the same time competing for the cross-country ski
team, where he has qualified for both the U.S. Junior and
Senior National Cross-Country Championships. He served as
captain of the Park City Ski and Snowboard Club, a member of
the Park City Ski and Snowboard Leadership Athlete Council,
and as an officer in the Aviation Club.
Bradley Joseph Floyd, will be joining the cadets of the
U.S. Military Academy at West Point following his graduation
from Syracuse High School. Bradley has proven himself a
leader and someone who can inspire others as the president of
the band, captain of the track team, and president of his
church youth group. He plays the trombone and has received
superior ratings in Solo and Ensemble and Jazz and Wind
festivals. Bradley said his father is his inspiration and he
will be following his father into the Army.
Aadi Garg graduated from Providence Hall Charter School and
has been attending the University of Utah. He has now
accepted an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. He
prepared himself by participating in Navy JROTC where he
served as the platoon leader and was on the academic,
orienteering, and PT teams. He played tennis and ran on the
cross-country and track and field teams. He earned Academic
All-State awards and was named student of the year. He served
his community with the National Honor Society and the Red
Cross.
Zoe Lee Hein, from West Jordan, has accepted an appointment
to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. She is serving as
Senior Class President of Copper Hills High School and is
captain of the track and field team where she holds several
school records in the long jump, 100M, 200m, and relays. She
is an AAU All American. She maintains a 4.0 with a rigorous
academic schedule and is a member of the National Honor
Society. She descends from a long line of military service
members and will be the first female in her family to serve.
Malcolm Johnson accepted an appointment to the U.S. Naval
Academy. A graduate last year of Herriman High School,
Malcolm has spent this year at the Naval Academy Preparatory
School. In high school, Malcolm was captain of the basketball
team, was awarded the school's Male Athlete of the Year, and
earned Academic All-State Honors. He worked in his
community serving in food kitchens and gathering supplies
for those in need. He is known for his natural leadership
abilities and unwavering work ethic.
[[Page S2797]]
Aedan Frederick Marr will be attending the U.S. Military
Academy at West Point after his graduation from Corner Canyon
High School. He served as captain of the track and field team
and lettered on the state champion football team. The Eagle
Scout earned two Gold Eagle Palms, a Silver Eagle Palm, and
two Bronze Eagle Palms. He was a leader in JROTC, serving as
a squad leader, platoon sergeant, and acting company
commander. He lived in Germany where both his mother and
father served in the Army.
Keon Matinkhah, from Salt Lake City, has accepted an
appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. He attended the
Northwestern Preparatory Academy after graduating from the
American Preparatory Academy, where he served two years as
student body president. As captain of the Speech and Debate
team, he took first in the state for Oratory. He is an
accomplished road cyclist and was a member of the Ascent
Cycling Club. He participates in Ironman and Spartan races
and has raised money for cancer research through his racing.
Kaitlyn Olivia Meyer was proud to accept her appointment to
the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. She will soon graduate from
Skyridge High School in Lehi. Kait attended Girls State, is a
member of the National Honor Society, and is active in her
church youth group. She joined the Air Force JROTC and
participated on the Raiders team. Kait is captain of the
track and field team and was a leader on both her high school
and club soccer teams, where she was the game MVP five times
and the defensive MVP eight times.
Ian McKay Nielsen will join the midshipmen at the U.S.
Naval Academy after graduating from West High School. A 4.0
student with a heavy load of AP classes, Ian still found time
for the Arabic Club and the Boy Scouts. He led the wrestling
team in high school and is a champion Sport Bike and
SuperMoto racer. He joins a long family legacy of military
service that includes his brother, who graduated from the
Naval Academy in 2025, his sister in Air Force ROTC, and
grandfathers, who each have their own noble records of
service.
Samantha Pope will follow in her father's footsteps and
attend the U.S. Air Force Academy. The volleyball captain
helped her Lone Peak High School volleyball team earn two
state championships. Not to be outdone, her basketball team
also earned two state championships. Sam has been preparing
academically and physically for the academy since she was
young. The natural leader remembered those who helped her
with her community service as she prepared bags for 2,500
teachers through Show Up For Teachers.
Theodore Sun Seigrist will be joining his sister at the
U.S. Naval Academy. He has been living in Hong Kong with his
family and attending the Chinese International School. Teo
has made a name for himself as a champion rugby athlete.
While challenging himself with an International Baccalaureate
class load, he has also tutored refugees in Hong Kong, and
helped develop a video game, through Games for Change, to
educate young people about ocean pollution. He plays piano
and enjoys studying military history and taking time out to
ski and scuba dive.
Joseph M. Smith, from Santa Clara, has accepted an
appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. A 4.0
student from Snow Canyon High School, Joseph excelled in his
AP and concurrent enrollment classes. The senior class
president attended Boys State and served as a youth city
councilman, and as captain of his football team. His skill in
javelin helped his track and field team win two state
championships. He participated in Air Force JROTC where he
served as staff sergeant. Joseph hosts a religious podcast
and enjoys hunting and pickleball.
William Nakanelua Stant will be attending the U.S. Air
Force Academy after graduating from Pine View High School in
St. George. Active in Air Force ROTC, William served in many
leadership positions--including drill commander and the unit
executive officer--and participated in the JROTC drill team,
color guard, and Raiders team. He earned the Air & Space
Forces Association. He was captain of the high school
swimming team and vice-president of the Ping Pong club. He
joins several members of his family in military service,
including his great-uncle who was a Navajo Code Talker.
Abigail Thornton, a student of West High School, will join
her brother and other cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at
West Point. She was very active in high school, taking a
number of AP and International Baccalaureate courses and
joining the soccer, basketball, and track and field teams. In
addition to serving as the captain of her high school soccer
team and twice earning the team MVP, she also plays for a
number of club soccer teams. She was a member of the National
Honor Society, Key Club, Hope Squad, and Environmental club.
Bradley Rex Thornton will be returning to the U.S. Military
Academy at West Point with his sister after serving a church
mission in Texas Fort Worth. He graduated from West High
School where he served as captain of the basketball team and
as a student body officer. He coordinated school assemblies
and joined both the German Club and Health Occupation
Students of America (HOSA). Bradley was active in the Boy
Scouts and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.
Caleb Bradley Watson will be returning to the U.S. Military
Academy at West Point after serving a church mission in
Mision Chile Concepcion. Caleb originally entered the academy
in 2022 after graduating from Hillcrest High School. During
high school, he was captain of the baseball team and was a
member of the National Honor Society. He attended Boys State
and served on the Draper Mayor's Youth City Council. He was
active in the Boy Scouts where he earned the rank of Eagle
Scout.
Preston Lee Whatcott accepted an appointment to the U.S.
Military Academy at West Point. The Corner Canyon High School
student continues the academy and military tradition in his
family but wanted West Point over following his brother and
father to the Air Force Academy. He is an excellent student,
who has been studying Chinese for over twelve years. Preston
is an Eagle Scout and has been a leader in his church youth
group and on the Draper Mayor's Youth City Council. In
addition to playing football, he also enjoys golf, track, and
filming and editing videos.
It has been inspiring to meet with and nominate each of these
exceptional young men and women. They give me great hope for the future
of our armed services and confidence in the future of our Nation.
To these 21 appointees and to all their future classmates from around
the country, I thank you for your commitment to service and commend
your achievements. While this is but the beginning of your journey, I
urge you to remember the foundation of your success thus far.
You would not have arrived at this point without the dedication and
example of your parents, family, teachers, coaches, and mentors.
Moreover, you would not have arrived at this point without your own
sacrifice and hard work.
Strive to continue on the path of strong moral character, and to keep
love of country as a guiding principle. Look to the past with gratitude
and to the future with conviction. If you stay this course, I have no
doubt that your future holds great things in store. I look forward to
your continued service to our country.
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