WASHINGTON, DC –  In the midst of another impressive year for local appointments to US Service Academies, Congressman Bill Delahunt will sponsor a forum on Saturday, March 17, 2007 for Tenth District high school students and their families interested in pursuing these unique educational opportunities.

The two-hour Delahunt forum is scheduled to kick off at 10:00am at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay, and will feature admission representatives from the US Military Academy (West Point, NY), Naval Academy (Annapolis, MD), and Air Force Academy (Colorado Spring, CO) – as well as the Coast Guard Academy (New London, CT), Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point, NY), Norwich University (Northfield, VT) and Massachusetts Maritime Academy. Also participating will be officials of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship program.

Forum presenters will outline procedures for pursuing a congressional nomination and admission to the Academies.  Tenth Congressional district residents who graduate from high school by June 2007 are eligible to apply for the 2007-2008 academic year.  The application deadline for next year’s potential nominees is November 1, 2007.

During the event, Charles Cannone of Norwell, who has received an offer of appointment from West Point, will be speaking about his experiences with the academy application and nomination process while relating his thoughts on what led him to pursue a career as a military officer.  Charles was nominated by Congressman Delahunt earlier this year.

“At a time when we are reminded daily about the courage and sacrifice of our armed forces, these students have embraced this opportunity for a fine education, while devoting themselves to serving our country,” Delahunt said. “Their families, friends and teachers can take enormous pride in their commitment.”

The Service Academies extended admission offers to over a third of Delahunt’s nominees for the class matriculating in July of 2006.  Nationally, the average acceptance rate is ten percent. The Congressman attributed the high rate of success to the quality of the local applicants -- and to the members of the Tenth Congressional District Service Academy Nomination Committee.    This panel of distinguished area residents rigorously reviewed each application.  Delahunt then forwarded the Committee’s recommendations directly to the Academies’ admission offices where offers were then made on a competitive basis.

For additional information on the March 17th forum, or about the nomination process please call the Congressman’s office toll-free at 1-800-794-9911.  In addition, application forms are available online through his congressional website at www.house.gov/delahunt/svcacad.htm.
 

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