V.I. Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen congratulates six Virgin Islands students on being offered full appointments to United States Service Academies and one student offered acceptance to an academy prep school.
“This has been yet another banner year for our territory with Virgin Islands students being accepted to four service academies,” said Congresswoman Christensen. “We should all be proud of our students who will have the honor of serving in one of our nation’s service academies. I am especially pleased to have two young women who have accepted offers of appointment.”
At noon on Tuesday, June 3, in the school library, the St. Croix Educational Complex will recognize two of its seniors – Chasen Richards and Orchadia Sackey – for earning full appointments to the Class of 2018 at West Point and the Air Force Academy, respectively. Both students were nominated by Congresswoman Christensen, who will be in attendance.
Earning a full appointment to a U.S. Service Academy is an outstanding accomplishment and a rare honor. Students first compete with each other for congressional nominations in their respective congressional districts and then compete with thousands of academy applicants across the country for limited openings at the academies. Christensen said her office has made it a priority over the years to increase awareness of the U.S. Service Academies among Virgin Islands students through outreach efforts, such as Academy Fairs, in which service academy recruiters were invited to the territory.
“I am pleased that our efforts have more than paid off, and we actually are almost full or have filled all vacancies allotted to the Virgin Islands,” said Congresswoman Christensen.
2014 Service Academy Appointments
St. Croix Educational Complex
Chasen Richards — U.S. Military Academy (West Point)
Orchadia Sackey — U.S. Air Force Academy
V.I. Montessori School
Portia Norkaitis — U.S. Naval Academy
Air Force Academy Prep School/Ivanna Eudora Kean High School
Peron Trotman — U.S. Air Force Academy
Good Hope Country Day School
Alex Lewit — U.S. Air Force Academy
Joseph Lanclos — U.S. Air Force Academy Prep School
Harry Hoffman — U.S. Coast Guard Academy
Virgin Islands Students Enrolled in U.S. Service Academies
U.S. Military Academy at West Point
Matthew Car, Class of 2015
Jaleel Christopher, Class of 2017
Eliji Mondesir, Class of 2017
U.S. Air Force Academy
Christopher J. Edwards, Class of 2016
U.S. Naval Academy
Eric Wilson, Class of 2015
Bryson Mays, Class of 2016
Alejandro Perez, Class of 2017
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
Samuel Watterson, Class of 2016
Dylan Marohn, Class of 2017
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
Rafael Almonte, Class of 2016
Nikki Barnes, Class of 2017
Background: Graduates of the academies receive a bachelor of science degree from a choice of fields and the military rank of second lieutenant or ensign and must serve a minimum term of duty.
Each Congressional representative is allotted nomination slots to four of the five service academies. The U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a nomination. Graduates of the academies receive a bachelor of science degree from a choice of fields.
To become eligible for a nomination to the service academies, applicants must be domiciled in the Virgin Islands. Applicants must be at least 17 years old, but not have passed their 23rd birthday. They must be a U.S. citizen, unmarried, not pregnant and have no legal obligation to support children or in the 600s for verbal and math.
For more information, students interested in a military appointment should contact the Office of the Delegate to Congress, their school guidance counselor or visit Congresswoman Christensen’s Web site at www.donnachristensen.house.gov .
For more information on the recognition ceremony, contact the St. Croix Educational Complex at 778-2036.