WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley said today that Colton Van’t Hof has been selected by the U.S. Navy for admission to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, for the 2011-2012 school year.
Van’t Hof is a senior at Sioux Center Community High School and the son of Gretchen and Randy Van’t Hof of Sioux Center.
“Admission to the U.S. service academies is highly competitive and a great honor,” Grassley said. “Colton has done a lot to deserve this opportunity, and I join many others, no doubt, in wishing him well and expressing appreciation for his commitment to his country.”
Last fall, Grassley nominated Van’t Hof and other young Iowans for appointments to the Naval, Air Force, Military and Merchant Marine academies, as he does every year. General information about seeking such a nomination can be found on Grassley’s website at /students/academy-nominations. Applications for nominations for the 2012-2013 academy year are due to Grassley’s Cedar Rapids office by October 1, 2011.
Grassley praised the outstanding group of Iowa students who applied for academy nominations in previous years, and he encouraged eligible students to consider submitting applications in the future.
“U.S. military academies provide remarkable educational and service opportunities for young Americans,” said Grassley.
Grassley expects additional academy appointments to be offered in the months ahead and said he will make announcements as appointments are offered by the academies.
Grassley indicated that the highly competitive selection process makes narrowing the list of nominees a difficult task. “There are so many worthy candidates every year,” he said. “It’s really wonderful to see the talent, accomplishments, and drive of so many Iowa high school students year after year.”