Congressman Platts Announces Academy Nominees from 19th District

22 Area Students Receive Nominations for Service Academy Appointments

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Todd Platts has awarded service academy nominations to 22 outstanding students from Adams, York and Cumberland Counties. Students are selected for nomination based on the combination of excellence in academic accomplishments, extra-curricular involvement, recommendations from their school and community, and interviews. Applicants should also demonstrate a desire to fulfill a long-term commitment to serving the United States in the Armed Forces.

"I am pleased to have the privilege of nominating outstanding young residents to the United States Service Academies," says Congressman Todd Platts. "The young men and women I nominated this year have proven themselves to be excellent students and leaders in their schools and communities."

Two high school seniors received nominations to both the U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis, MD) and the U.S. Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, CO): James F. Markel, III, of New Freedom is the son of James and Janice Markel and a senior at Susquehannock High School. Benjamin J. Steinour of Gettysburg is the son of David and Lois Steinhour and a senior at Gettysburg High School.

Five students received nominations to both the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Military Academy (West Point, NY): Matthew Russell Halstead of Carlisle is the son of Michael and Diane Halstead and a senior at Boiling Springs High School. Kenneth Scott Hardy, Jr. of Etters is the son of Ken and Deborah Hardy, is a 2001 graduate of Red Land High School and a freshman at Penn State, York. Bryan C. Herzog of New Freedom is the son of Robert and Karen Herzog and a senior at Susquehannock High School. Charles J. Martin of Carlisle is the son of Joe and Sue Martin and a senior at Big Spring High School. Zachary W. Seidel of Camp Hill is the son of Marquis Seidel and Diane Warriner and a senior at Trinity High School.

Two students received nominations to the U.S. Air Force Academy: Stephen Bruce Keefer, Jr. of Mechanicsburg is the son of Stephen and Denise Keefer and a senior at Mechanicsburg High School. Emily Seitz of Dallastown is the daughter of Scott Seitz and Joan Klinke and a senior at Dallastown High School.

One student was nominated to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point, NY): Lauryn E. Miller of Newville, daughter of Denise and Dr. Jay Miller, II, and a senior at Big Spring High School.

Five students were nominated for the U.S. Military Academy: Joseph C. Fennell of Hanover, son of Charles and Joleen Fennell and a senior at New Oxford High School. William Samuel Graham, III, of Boiling Springs, ward of guardian Sharon Graham and a senior at Boiling Springs High School. John P. Rodriguez of Gettysburg, son of Emelio and Amelia Rodriguez and a senior at Gettysburg High School. Nicholas S. Sites of Camp Hill, son of Mark and Susan Sites and a senior at Cedar Cliff High School. Matthew A. Spaulding of Mechanicsburg, son of Frank and Karen Shaner, and a senior at Cumberland Valley High School.

And seven students received nominations to the U.S. Naval Academy: Colin S. Myers of Manchester, son of Stephen and Kathleen Myers and a senior at Northeastern High School. James P. Papa of York, son of Ralph and Sally Papa and a senior at Central York High School. John J. Prosser of York, son of Joseph Prosser and Susan Prosser and a senior at York Catholic High School. Michael E. Creavey of Dillsburg, son of John and Suzanne Creavey and a senior at Northern York High School. Patrick Woods Ferrara of Camp Hill, son of Louis and Ellen Ferrara and a senior at Camp Hill High School. Scott Anthony Hebert of Delta, son of Thomas and Joanne Hebert and a senior at Kennard-Dale High School. Kenneth Andrew Tarr of York, son of Richard and Andrea Tarr and a senior at Dallastown High School.

The nomination process begins in the Fall of each year. Each member of Congress is allowed five appointees in each service academy at any one time. Congressman Platts is permitted to nominate no more than ten young men or women for any available vacancies in the appointment slots allotted to him. Nominations do not guarantee admittance to the service academies, but all of the U.S. Service Academies, except for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, require a Congressional or Vice Presidential nomination for admission. Each service academy selects their incoming freshman class from the outstanding students who have received nominations from Members of Congress and/or the Vice President of the United States and who have met other rigorous criteria in academics and physical endurance.

Students interested in applying for an Academy Nomination from Congressman Platts for the Class of 2003 must submit a complete application to Congressman Platts by October 1, 2002. Detailed information on the application process can be found on Congressman Platts' web site at www.house.gov/platts or by calling his office at 717-600-1919.

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