WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley today announced that Ian Conte of Clive (West Des Moines Valley High School), Matthew Rogowski of Des Moines (Lincoln High School), Victoria Walling of Martelle (Cedar Valley Christian School), and Kristina Walz of Monona (Central Community High School) have been selected to attend the U.S. service academies for the 2010/2011 school year. Conte has been selected to attend the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., Rogowski and Walling have been selected to the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., and Walz has been selected to attend the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y.
“The U.S. service academies require all applicants to meet the highest standard, and to be accepted says a lot about these young Iowans,” Grassley said. “Their efforts to meet and exceed the qualifications of our academies show the hard work and commitment they have put forth to serve their country. They will make Iowa proud.”
In early December, Grassley nominated several young Iowans to the Naval, Air Force, Military and Merchant Marine Academies as part of his annual nominations process, which begins each fall. General information about the nominating process can be found on Grassley’s website, http://grassley.senate.gov/info/academy_nominations.cfm. Due dates for next year’s applications have not yet been set.
Grassley indicated that the highly competitive selection process makes narrowing the list of nominees a difficult task. “Each year we have a high level of competition with so many worthy applicants contending for the few service academy openings,” Grassley said. “It’s exciting that our state has such a gifted generation coming up through the ranks.”
Grassley praised the outstanding group of Iowa students who applied for academy nominations in past years and encouraged eligible students to consider submitting applications in the future. “U.S. military academies are an excellent option for students committed to pursuing a higher education,” said Grassley.
Grassley expects additional academy appointments to be offered this year and will issue announcements when appointments are offered.
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