[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 8661-8663]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               2016 MILITARY ACADEMY APPOINTEES FROM UTAH

 Mr. LEE. Mr. President, one of the great privileges of 
representing my fellow Utahns in the U.S. Senate is the annual 
opportunity to meet the exceptional young men and women from the great 
State of Utah who have answered the call of service by applying to the 
U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval 
Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
  Under title 10 of the U.S. Code, each year Members of Congress are 
authorized to nominate a number of young men and women from their 
district or State to attend the country's service academies. It is my 
distinct honor to nominate 14 exemplary Utahns this year.
  But 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.
  Well, I have studied the applications of these 14 men and women, and 
I can say, without hesitation or exaggeration, that you would be hard 
pressed to find a more accomplished, talented, patriotic group of 
American citizens anywhere. And so I was not surprised to learn that 
all 14 applicants have been accepted and will soon be joining the ranks 
of our Nation's military academies in the summer of 2016.
  Each of these 14 students is of sound mind and body. This will serve 
them well in Colorado Springs, West Point, Annapolis, and Kings Point. 
But to succeed, they will need more than this.
  The journey on which these young men and women will soon embark 
requires more than mental and physical aptitude. It demands strong 
moral

[[Page 8662]]

character--leadership, courage, honesty, prudence, and self-
discipline--and above all, it calls for a steadfast 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.
  Joseph Stryker Cooke will be attending the U.S. Naval Academy. Joseph 
attended Highland High School and graduated from Quince Orchard High 
School in Maryland, where he was captain of the tennis team, earning a 
bid to the State tournament, and a member of the National Honor 
Society. In addition to serving as a leader in his church's youth 
organization and as a tutor at a local elementary school, Joseph worked 
as a volunteer and prosthetics intern at the Walter Reed National 
Military Medical Center.
  Zachary Kirk Daines will be attending the U.S. Military Academy at 
West Point. He graduated from Syracuse High School and has been 
attending the Marion Military Institute to prepare for West Point. Zach 
is a standout athlete, in football and track and field, as well as an 
Eagle Scout, a leader in his church's youth organization, secretary of 
his senior class, and a member of both the Future Business Leaders of 
America and Health Occupations Students of America.
  Wyatt Ethan Espell, a North Summit High School graduate, accepted his 
appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He served as a 
mayor at Boys State, president of the Future Business Leaders of 
America, and vice president of Health Occupations Students of America, 
and he is a member of the National Honor Society. Wyatt played on the 
football team, wrestled, and ran track and cross country, and he 
volunteered at the Park City Medical Center. Wyatt spent his summers 
working with Glaser Land and Livestock.
  Ian Alexander Hardy will be attending the U.S. Naval Academy after 
serving for 2 years in Tokyo, Japan, on a mission for the Church of 
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He graduated from the Northern Utah 
Academy for Math, Engineering, and Science where he was captain of the 
CyberPatriot team. While studying at Weber State University, Ian served 
as the Ozone Telemetry Specialist for the High Altitude Reconnaissance 
Balloon for Outreach and Research team. Ian is an Eagle Scout, Boys 
State attendee, and played on the varsity rugby team.
  Stephen Hunter Lee, a graduate from the Intermountain Christian 
School, will be attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. An 
Eagle Scout, with three Eagle Palms, he served as president of his 
junior class, editor of the yearbook, and captain of the soccer team. 
Stephen is a member of the National Honor Society and a scholarship 
recipient from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge. An avid rock 
climber, Stephen is active in a local climbing club.
  Michelle Chanmi Lee will be joining her brother at the Air Force 
Academy. She attended Northridge High School where she was vice 
president of the National Honor Society. Michelle challenged herself 
academically by graduating from the Medicine, Science, and Health 
Professions Academy, and she was a member of Health Occupations 
Students of America. Michelle served others in her role as a group 
leader in her vacation bible study and as a tutor in the Davis School 
District. She spent several years with her family on the Yongsan 
Garrison Army Base in South Korea.
  Angela Ayame Marsh will be attending the U.S. Military Academy at 
West Point after graduating from the American School in Japan, where 
she served as the student body vice president. She was a member of the 
varsity debate team and was president of the Shine On Cancer Victims 
Support Group. A member of the National Honor Society, Angela cofounded 
and served as president of the Premedical Society and was the grand 
prizewinner in the poetry slam competition. She participates in 
CrossFit competitions and runs with the cross-country team.
  Izaac Adam Polukoff will be attending the Merchant Marine Academy. He 
graduated from Park City High School and sharpened his academic and 
military skills at the Milton Academy. He was an Academic All-Star for 
the Utah High School Hockey League and was captain of his Ultimate 
Frisbee team. He found many ways to serve others by organizing the Park 
City Memorial 5K, volunteering with the Kimball Arts Center and with 
Boston Area Youth At Risk, and participating in the Environmental Club. 
Izaac is a member of the National Honor Society.
  Xavier Ray Price will be attending the Air Force Academy. He is a 
graduate of Judge Memorial Catholic High School where he was captain of 
both the track and field and the football teams. Xavier's outstanding 
play on the football field helped his team win two State championships 
and earned him a spot on the First Team All-State selected by the Salt 
Lake Tribune. An honor roll student, he also volunteered with the 
Carmelite Monastery of Salt Lake at their annual Carmelite Fair 
fundraiser and with the Lady of Lourdes School.
  Jacob Abraham Rice, from Morgan High School, will be attending the 
Air Force Academy. An attendee of both Boys State and Boys Nation, he 
also served as president of the National Honor Society, president of 
Empowering Youth to Prevent Suicide, and captain of the track and field 
team. Jacob was cocaptain of his speech and debate team, and in 2015, 
he was named the Forensics School Sterling Scholar. He used his music 
skills to play violin for patients at Primary Children's Hospital and 
the Pine View Transition Rehab Facility. Jacob serves as a board member 
of the Young Democrats of Utah.
  Mitchell Charles Weller, a graduate of Layton High School, will be 
attending the Merchant Marine Academy. He was captain of his soccer 
team, and he served fellow students as a Layton High School student 
ambassador. A member of the National Honor Society, Mitchell was 
involved with the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement 
organization and served as a group leader for the Technology Student 
Association, where he excelled in engineering contests at the State 
level. He also worked diligently to obtain his pilot's license.
  David Sperry White will be attending the U.S. Military Academy at 
West Point. A graduate of Uintah High School, where he served as 
student body president, David also was vice president of the National 
Honor Society and captain of the basketball and cross-country teams. He 
earned his Eagle Scout award and received a scholarship from the 
Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge. David was honored to attend Boys 
State and sit on the Vernal Youth City Council, where he served as 
president of the Vernal Youth in Action and organized the collection 
and distribution of 500 blankets for the Women's Shelter and Turning 
Point Shelter.
  Autumn Eliza-Anne Wolfgramm, a West High School graduate, accepted an 
appointment to the Air Force Academy. She served as the student body 
secretary and captain of the swim team. She was a mentor for the 
Freshman Mentoring Society and volunteered with the Panther Pals, a 
service organization working with children with disabilities. She was 
also a leader in her church's youth program and a member of Health 
Occupations Students of America. Autumn is fulfilling her grandparents' 
dream when they emigrated from the Kingdom of Tonga to seek out better 
educational opportunities for their children.
  Tyler James Wright will be attending the Air Force Academy. A 
graduate of Springville High School, Tyler was president of the debate 
team and Health Occupations Students of America. He was an active 
member of the track and field team, Model United Nations, Boy Scouts, 
and the Springville Youth City Council. An avid outdoorsman and reader, 
Tyler volunteers with Rocky Mountain Rescue Dogs and the Brookside 
Elementary reading program, as well as local art and air shows. Tyler 
serves as a cadet in the Civil Air Patrol.
  It has been an honor and an inspiration to meet and to nominate each 
of

[[Page 8663]]

these exemplary 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 14 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 now what matters most is not your 
accomplishments of the past, but what you have yet to achieve in the 
future.
  Thank you.

                          ____________________