Congresswoman Heather Wilson, First Congressional District of New Mexico

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New Mexico Students Can Reach for the Stars!

August 22, 2003

Experts Will Answer Your Questions about Military Academies on Tuesday, August 26 at 5:30pm in West Mesa High School`s Performing Arts Center

Congresswoman Heather Wilson says New Mexico’s students can reach for the stars and wants to encourage more students to apply to one of our nation’s military academies. To help answer your questions, Wilson is hosting a meeting where students and parents can ask experts about life at an Academy, how to prepare, and how to apply for admission.

Learn how you can reach for the stars!

Academy Night

West Mesa High School`s Performing Arts Center 6701 Fortuna Blvd. NW (On Coors south of I-40) 5:30pm to 8:00pm

Representatives of each of the Academies will be available on Tuesday, August 26, to answer your questions, whether you`re a student thinking about applying to an Academy, or a parent wondering about your kid`s options. UNM`s and NMSU`s various ROTC programs will also be represented.

Earning it

An education at an Academy can open doors for you. But you`ve got to prepare for it well ahead of time. To even be considered for a military academy, a student must first be nominated by a Member of Congress or a Senator. "There’s only one way a student can get a nomination from me," says Wilson. "They have to earn it. But to do that, they have to apply in the first place. I can only nominate from the pool of students that apply, and I worry that the pool of applicants is not representative of the community we live in." Bob Gurule is a member of a task force that is now helping Wilson further her outreach to New Mexico’s students.

Reaching out...

"The military academies build the future leadership of the military," says Gurule, who wants to see more minorities apply to an academy. "New Mexicans, particularly Native Americans and Hispanics, tend to serve their nation in the military. So, I strongly believe that leadership in the military should reflect the enlisted ranks." "The fact is, parents worry about funding expensive college educations," says Wilson. "When you’re accepted into an Academy, you automatically get a full scholarship. It’s a great opportunity for someone who wants to serve their country."

Reaching for the stars

Wilson, the first Air Force Academy graduate to ever serve in Congress, has teamed with Albuquerque native and former NASA astronaut Sid Gutierrez to encourage young New Mexicans to consider attending one of our nation’s four military academies.

When he was a kid, Sid Gutierrez dreamed of flying through the sky. Today he thinks young New Mexicans can reach for the stars, just like he did. Sid graduated from the Air Force Academy, then went on to serve his country as a NASA astronaut.

The two have taped a public service announcement that will air over the coming weeks on several Albuquerque radio and television stations. The idea was conceived by Gurule and others on the Academy Outreach Task Force Committee as a way of spreading the word that service academies, like the Air Force Academy both Wilson and Gutierrez graduated from, are excellent opportunities for a world-class education with a full scholarship. "Army, Air Force, Navy, or Merchant Marine. If you want to go to an Academy, to serve your country and get a good education, you’ve got to plan for it now," says Col. Sid Gutierrez, a Valley High School graduate who became a NASA astronaut and now works for Sandia National Laboratories. "Congresswoman Wilson and I want to encourage you and your parents to plan for your future." Comcast Cable produced the television and radio ads and is airing them on several of the network’s channels. In addition, Citadel Radio, Clearchannel Radio, KLUZ TV-41, and KOB TV 4 are also airing the ads.

Check it out!

Have a look at some Quick Facts about the Academy Nomination Process.

Download and fill-out a nomination application form.

Read a quick Service Academy Information Sheet.