Sherman Nominates Valley Students to Service Academies Praises Candidates for Air Force, Army, Navy and Merchant Marine Academies

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Brad Sherman announced Wednesday that he has nominated the following outstanding Valley students for admission to the nation’s elite military service academies.

• Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, CO
  Trevor Abbott (Tarzana), Billy Arana (Van Nuys),
  Edward Lixandru (North Hollywood), Elvin Petrosy (Sunland) and
  Edward Rubio (Porter Ranch)
• Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD
  Billy Arana (Van Nuys), Charles Buenaventura (North Hollywood),
  Sophie Cazarez (Reseda), Scott Grijalva (Winnetka), Edward Lixandru (North Hollywood), Elvin Petrosy (Sunland), Edward Polanco (Northridge) and Edward Rubio (Porter Ranch)
• U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY
  Billy Arana (Van Nuys), Rahul Baldwin (Granada Hills), Charles Kamulali (Canoga Park), Rebecca Kratz (Northridge),
  Ryan Merkle (Granada Hills), Elvin Petrosy (Sunland), Edward Polanco (Northridge) and Edward Rubio (Porter Ranch)
• Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY
  (None)

"I am so proud of these young men and women and very grateful for their willingness to serve our country at this critical time," Sherman said.

The military academies are ranked among the best educational institutions in the country.  In addition to a rigorous academic curriculum, an academy education offers cadets extensive hands-on training and an opportunity to participate in varsity and intramural sports, music groups, and clubs. Cadets also must live under a strict, personal and ethical code to develop the discipline necessary to become leaders in today's military.

The service academies decide which of the Congressman's nominees to admit. Each academy generally is required to admit at least one of Sherman’s nominees, and due to the high quality of applicants from the Valley, each academy usually admits two or three.  Some applicants receive nominations to attend two or three different academies.  If nominees are accepted by more than one academy, they decide which one to attend.