[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Pages 5738-5739]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     MILITARY ACADEMY APPOINTMENTS

 Mr. LEE. Mr. President, each year members of Congress are 
authorized, under title 10 of the U.S. Code, to nominate a number of 
young men and women from their district or State to attend the U.S. Air 
Force Academy, the U.S. Military Academy, and the U.S. Naval Academy. 
But receiving a congressional nomination is no guarantee of acceptance. 
To be admitted, each applicant must meet--on his or her own merits--the 
academies' rigorous standards.
  I am proud to announce the names of 20 outstanding Utahns who have 
met these standards and who will attend one of the academies in the 
summer of 2015. This is more than twice as many accepted applicants 
than I have ever seen in my 5 years in the Senate.
  Each of these 20 students is of sound mind and body. This will serve 
them well in Colorado Springs, West Point, and Annapolis. But to 
succeed, they will need more than this.
  The journey these young men and women are about to begin requires 
more than intellectual and physical fitness. It also demands strong 
moral character--leadership, courage, honesty, prudence, and self-
discipline. And it calls for a commitment to service and a love of 
country.
  Today, I would like to recognize and congratulate each of these 
impressive students, all of whom embody, in their own unique way, the 
standards of excellence on which America's service academies are built.
  Cole Bennett Biedermann will be attending the U.S. Air Force Academy. 
Cole will be graduating from Skyline High School, where he was a member 
of the National Honor Society, captain of the track team, and president 
of the physics club. Dedicated to helping those around him and serving 
his community, Cole tutored his high school classmates and volunteered 
at the Huntsman Cancer Institute.
  Jonsen Koy Crandall will be returning to the U.S. Air Force Academy 
after serving for two years in Taichung, Taiwan on a mission for the 
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A graduate of South Summit 
High School, where he was a two-time State champion wrestler, Jonsen is 
currently attending Dixie State University, where he served as an 
outstanding intern in my St. George office.
  Thomas Abram Davenport will be attending the U.S. Military Academy at 
West Point. Thomas will be coming to West Point from Brigham Young 
University-Hawaii, where he participated in the ROTC. Originally from 
Draper, UT, Thomas earned his Eagle Scout, attended Boys State, was a 
member of the National Honor Society, and toured with the service, 
singing, and performing group Clayton Productions.
  McKenna Elise Fox will be returning to the U.S. Air Force Academy, 
where she played on the women's soccer team, after serving in the 
Guayaquil North Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day 
Saints. McKenna graduated from Lone Peak High School, where she was 
recognized as an outstanding student and served as captain of the 
soccer team.
  Stephen William Kelly, from Juan Diego Catholic High School, will be 
attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Excelling in music, 
athletics, and academics, Stephen played in the drum line and steel 
band, was an award-winning pitcher for the baseball team, and never 
missed an honor role while in high school. Stephen also participated in 
the FIRST Robotics Competition and served as a volunteer for the 
Knights of Columbus.
  Paul Michael Lee will be attending the U.S. Air Force Academy. A 
graduate of Northridge High School, and currently enrolled in 
Northwestern Preparatory School, Paul participated in the Air Force 
JROTC and was a member of the National Honor Society. Having spent a 
portion of his childhood with his family on the Yongsan Garrison Army 
Base in South Korea, Paul would later become involved in Model United 
Nations. He is also an accomplished table tennis player.
  Brandon Arthur Lloyd will be returning to the U.S. Air Force Academy 
after serving for 2 years in Berlin, Germany on a mission for the 
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A graduate from Highland 
High School and the Air Force Academy Prep School, Brandon earned his 
Eagle Scout, attended Boys State, and was named Wrestler of the Year 
while serving as team captain.
  Jace Aukela Miller, from American Fork High School, will be attending 
the U.S. Air Force Academy. A model student athlete, Jace was a member 
of the National Honor Society and captain, as well as most valuable 
player of the lacrosse team. In addition to working as a lifeguard at 
the American Fork Recreation Center, Jace volunteered his time teaching 
outdoor adventure skills to at-risk youth.
  Tanner Scott Munson will be attending the U.S. Naval Academy. Tanner 
will be graduating from Lehi High School, where he was a member of the 
National Honor Society and captain of the soccer team. An exemplar of 
community service and civic participation, Tanner served as a member of 
the Lehi City Youth Council, an intern with Lehi Fire and Rescue, and a 
volunteer with special-needs children.
  Julia ``Genna'' Genevieve Murray will be attending the U.S. Military 
Academy at West Point. A Utah State champion sprinter and captain of 
the track and field team, Genna will be graduating from Springville 
High School. In addition to serving as a volunteer with at-risk youth, 
Genna is an outstanding student and a member of the National Honor 
Society.
  Taylor Mize Porges, from Park City High School, will be attending the 
U.S. Naval Academy. Excelling in academics and athletics, Taylor was a 
member of the National Honor Society, captain of the soccer team, and 
president of Park City Climbing Club. In addition to serving as a 
volunteer with Youthlinc in South America, he participated in the Park 
City Center for Advanced Professional Studies, where he helped create a 
3-D model of the Heber Airport for flight simulation programs.
  Joshua Dalton Proulx will be attending the U.S. Air Force Academy. A 
graduate of Bonneville High School, Joshua is currently attending 
Greystone Preparatory School at Schreiner University. In addition to 
being an Eagle Scout, Joshua was a member of the National Honor Society 
and captain of the cross country and track and field teams. He also 
served as president of the Parent Teacher Student Association and 
participated in the Civil Air Patrol.
  Mormon Joseph Ephraim Redd will be returning to the U.S. Air Force 
Academy after spending the past 2 years serving in the Japan Fukuoka 
mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Originally 
from Farmington, UT, Mormon is the seventh brother in his family to 
serve in the Armed Forces. He graduated from Viewmont High School, 
where he was captain of the wrestling team and an honor student. He has 
also volunteered with the Youthlinc humanitarian programs.
  Corben David Ruf, from North Summit High School, will be attending 
the U.S. Air Force Academy. At North Summit, Corben distinguished 
himself in student government, as student body president; in academics, 
as a General Sterling Scholar and member of the National Honor Society; 
and in athletics, as captain of the football and wrestling teams. He 
also attended the Utah National Guard Freedom and Leadership Academy 
and won best supporting actor in the Utah Festival Opera.
  Matthew Walker Schvaneveldt will be attending the U.S. Military 
Academy at West Point. Currently attending the Northern Utah Academy 
for Math, Engineering and Science, as well as Weber State University, 
Matthew is an Eagle Scout, attended Boys State, and was captain of the 
wrestling team.

[[Page 5739]]

He also received the volunteer of the year award from McKay-Dee 
Hospital, and served as president of his school's National Honor 
Society.
  Parker Dawson Sharp, a graduate of both Wasatch High School and 
Northwestern Preparatory School, will be attending the U.S. Naval 
Academy. In addition to earning his Eagle Scout, Parker has excelled in 
music, as an accomplished cellist, pianist, and vocalist. He also 
participated in Model United Nations, and is a Krav Maga enthusiast. 
Parker is currently attending the University of Utah.
  Dean Quentin Smith, from Timpanogos High School, will be attending 
the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. As an Eagle Scout, captain of 
the wrestling and baseball teams, and president of the Chinese Club, 
Dean has been a leader in all of his pursuits. He was also a member of 
the National Honor Society, and he volunteered with special-needs 
children.
  Dietrich Gregory Streuber will be attending the U.S. Military Academy 
at West Point. Dietrich will be graduating from Morgan High School, 
where he was a member of the debate team and the National Honor 
Society, as well as captain of the football team. Dietrich also earned 
his Eagle Scout, attended Boys State, and participated in the Weber-
Morgan Governing Youth Council.
  Christopher Mark Vincent, from Skyline High School, will be attending 
the U.S. Naval Academy. A recipient of the Kiwanis Hope of America 
Leadership Award, Christopher is an Eagle Scout and captain of the 
Skyline High School debate team. He also attended Boys State and the 
Utah National Guard Freedom and Leadership Academy.
  Jacob Henry Witt, currently a lance corporal in the U.S. Marine 
Corps, will be attending the U.S. Naval Academy. A graduate of Wasatch 
High School, Jacob was the captain of the tennis team and a member of 
the National Honor Society. He was a member of the Future Business 
Leaders of America, FBLA, State championship team, and he received 
first place in the Marine Corps essay contest for his writing on the 
U.S. Constitution and The Federalist Papers.
  It has been an honor and an inspiration to meet and to nominate each 
of these young men and women. Doing so has given me an unshakeable 
confidence in the future of this great Nation and the future of our 
armed services.
  But to these 20 students, and to all their future classmates from 
around the country, do not forget: this is but the beginning of your 
journey.
  You would not have arrived at this point were it not for your hard 
work and sacrifice. But what matters most now is not your 
accomplishments of the past, but what you have yet to achieve in the 
future.

                          ____________________