Above: Gottheimer congratulates the Fifth District students nominated to one of the U.S. service academies this year.

U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) honored local Fifth District students he nominated to U.S. Service Academies, including the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, at a ceremony at Ramapo College in Mahwah. 

Gottheimer selected the students through the counsel of his Service Academy Selection Committee, comprised of local leaders and veterans who have served in different branches of the armed forces. Selection committee members include Midland Park Mayor and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Harry Shortway, State Senator and U.S. Army veteran Gordon Johnson, Vernon Mayor and U.S. Air Force veteran Howard Burrell, retired U.S. Army Brigadier General and West Point graduate Dr. Cindy Jebb, U.S. Army veteran and West Point graduate Stephen Kalish, Merchant Marine Academy graduate Susan Wagner-Mckenna, U.S. Marine Corps veteran Joyce Gonzalez, U.S. Army veteran and West Point graduate Ken Mack, U.S. Army veteran and West Point graduate Kristin Dicksen, U.S. Army veteran and West Point graduate Terry Yun, U.S. Naval Academy graduate Hank Warnke, and Naval Academy graduate Luke Walsh.

“I am amazed every year — these students blow me away with everything they do — from athletics to academics to community service,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) this week. “We are here today, though, because of the nominees themselves who, at such a young age, already show a tremendous commitment to serving our country. Their nomination to one of our four prestigious military academies: The U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy is a recognition of their excellence in the classroom, in our community, and their sense of duty to our country.”

Gottheimer was joined at Ramapo College by NJ State Senator Gordon Johnson, Stephen Kalish, Terry Yun, Kristen Dicksen, Joyce Gonzalez, and retired United States Army Brigadier General, the fourteenth Dean of the United States Military Academy and first woman to serve as dean at West Point, and President of Ramapo College Dr. Cindy Jebb.

Video of the ceremony can be found here.

The full list of students nominated by Gottheimer this year to attend one of the renowned U.S. Service Academies is below: 

U.S. Military Academy Nominations:

Aaron D’Alessandro, Montvale 

Matthew Alasio, New Milford

Lynne Kim, Northvale 

Elaine Kim, Closter

Charles Perruzzi, Allendale

Rebecca Storch, Haworth

Emily Yoo, Closter

Jason Singh, Paramus

Leo Park, Closter

Jacob Bae, Glen Rock

U.S. Naval Academy Nominations:

Thomas Cowan, Norwood

George Kalkanis, Mahwah

Michael Bukosky, Allendale

Paul Maguire, Ringwood

Byeongjun Lee, Norwood

Daniel Wask, Wantage

Elise Cantu, Lafayette

Cooper Kurtz, Alpine

Jorge Pogue, Hillsdale

Macri Leanza, Demarest

U.S. Air Force Academy Nominations:

Jacquelyn Galella, Hewitt

Christina Watrall, Mahwah

Colin Nicolaou, Blairstown

Markus Espinal, Dumont

Jessica Strickland, Franklin Lakes

Anthony Coronel, Fair Lawn

Sean Kim, River Edge

Eric Lynch, Wyckoff

Kaylin Chan, River Edge

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Nominations:

Andrew Zimmerman, Glen Rock

Harry Liu, Bound Brook 

Ian Sheeron, Mount Laurel

Katelin Hanifan, Lafayette

Aaron Yarnell, Lebanon

Below: Gottheimer with Ramapo College President and former Dean of the United States Military Academy Cindy R. Jebb.

Below: Gottheimer with this year’s Fifth District students nominated to West Point. 

Below: Gottheimer with this year’s Fifth District students nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Below: Gottheimer with this year’s Fifth District students nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy.

Below: Gottheimer with this year’s Fifth District students nominated to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

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