LATHAM ANNOUNCES VALLEY HIGH STUDENT OFFERED APPOINTMENT TO AIR FORCE ACADEMY
Washington,
Feb 25 -
Iowa Congressman Tom Latham announced today that a Valley High School senior has been offered an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Tyson Joel McQuerry of West Des Moines was sent an offer of appointment to attend the Academy in the fall of 2013.
Latham notified and congratulated McQuerry by phone of the offer of appointment to the Air Force Academy.
“Tyson is exactly the sort of well-rounded student who makes an excellent appointment to the service academies — someone who is engaged in school in a variety of capacities and understands the virtues of service and selflessness,” Latham said. “I am impressed with Tyson’s desire to give back to his country, and I am honored to represent him in the United States Congress.”
McQuerry has been involved with multiple service projects and school and community involvement. Among other activities, he has served on the leadership council of the Sacred Heart Youth Group and traveled for summer mission trips two years in a row — one to Rosebud Reservation in the summer of 2011 and another to Texas in 2012. Additionally, he is a member of the National Honor Society and his varsity football team, and he captains his varsity track team.
In applying to the service academies, McQuerry wrote, “I believe it is now my turn to give back to the community and country that has already provided me with so much already.”
To gain acceptance to the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Military Academy, or the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, applicants must receive a nomination from an authorized person such as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate. Applicants must be between 17 and 22 years old, single with no children and a United States citizen. Appointments to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy are made on the basis of an annual nationwide competition.
The U.S. military academies are among the most competitive and distinguished undergraduate universities in the country. They provide students with a full four-year scholarship and a career as a commissioned officer in the U.S. armed services upon graduation. Appointments are highly competitive, with the academies selecting candidates based on evidence of character, scholarship, leadership ability, physical aptitude, medical fitness, goals and motivation.
Students interested in a nomination should contact Congressman Latham's office in the spring of their junior year in high school. Also, please note that it is extremely important that the student begin the application process with the academies themselves.
Anyone with questions about the process or interested in a nomination may visit http://latham.house.gov/constituentservices/serviceacademynominations.htm, contact Ben Hammes in Latham's East Constituent Services Office in Des Moines by phone at 515-282-1909, or send correspondence to:
Congressman Tom Latham
Attn: Ben Hammes
2700 Grand Avenue, Ste 109
Des Moines, Iowa 50312
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