OAK LAWN — U.S. Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-3rd) nominated 16 students from throughout his district for admission to U.S. service academies Saturday.
Lipinski's congressional district spans from Chicago's Southwest Side to far southwest suburban Crest Hill. The students set to graduate in 2020 were recognized as part of a ceremony held at the Johnson-Phelps VFW Post 5220 in Oak Lawn.
The students are now eligible to apply for admission to the academies of their choosing. Final acceptance decided by each academy on an individual basis.
“My office receives hundreds of applications each year from an impressive collection of students with an unwavering dedication to service and their country. Just to be nominated to one of our nation’s service academies is a major accomplishment and a great honor," Lipinski said in a written statement.
The nominees include:
U.S. Air Force Academy: Liliana Bautista of Chicago, a student at UIC College Prep; Jeremy Fejedelem of Lemont, a student at Lemont High School and James Scott of Palos Park, also a student at Lemont High School.
U.S. Military Academy (West Point): Zachary Lenihan of Chicago, a student at St. Laurence High School in Burbank, and George Pina of Chicago, a student at Chicago Military Academy.
U.S. Naval Academy: Alexander Benoit of Chicago, a student at Marist High School; Pedro Castillo, Jr. of Chicago, a student at UIC College Prep; Brian Conlisk of Oak Lawn, a student at Brother Rice High School; Michael Gurule, Jr. of Crest Hill, a student at Lockport Township High School; Jorge Heredia of Chicago, a student at John F. Kennedy High School; Aaron Navarro of Chicago, a student at UIC College Prep; Daniel Reidy of Chicago, a student at Brother Rice High School; James Ryan of Oak Lawn, a student at Brother Rice High School; Erin Scudder of Western Springs, a student at Fenwick High School; Sydney Torres of Oak Lawn, a student at Richards High School and John Wheeler of Homer Glen, a student at Providence Catholic High School.
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