Congressman Charlie Dent, R-15th, held his 12th annual send-off reception recently at his 3900 Hamilton Blvd. office in Allentown for high school students from his district who will attend one of the United States Service Academies this fall.

Andrew Posch, of Bethlehem Catholic High School, Reilly McGinnis, of Emmaus High School, Tyler Herber, of Hamburg High School, Jayden Demmy, of Cedar Cliff High School, and Karl Van Blargan, of Hershey High School are going to the United States Military Academy at West Point in New York.

Konstandinos Zaharakis, of Saucon Valley High School, Jacob Hedrick, of Hershey High School, Caleb Vargo, of Bishop McDevitt High School, Andrew Waldron and Michael Schnabel, of Allentown Central Catholic High School, Serena Johnson, of Parkland High School, and Jason Kushy, of Emmaus High School are headed to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

Vincent James Jenkins, of Liberty High School will be attending the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y.

“U.S. Service Academy applicants need to complete two applications,” Melanie Whiteleather, Congressman Dent’s director of Service Academy nominations said. “An application to the particular academy of interest to them and one for a congressional nomination which is required by law.”

Dent has an academy selection committee that helps with the nomination process. Members of the committee are people from the community whom have either served with the armed forces, graduated from one of the service academies or are parents of students that have attended one of the academies.

“I tell every applicant seeking a nomination I sincerely appreciate their interest in serving our country,” Dent said. “We have never interviewed a bad student. Typically, our district sends 10 to 20 students a year.”

“This reception is a way for my staff and I to say thank you to the students for their willingness to serve,” Dent said. “We are blessed to have this fine group of young people who are going to represent the future leadership of the U.S. armed forces.

“We all know these students will make outstanding officers,” Dent said at the reception. “I want to thank the students, their parents and families, my staff and the academy selection committee. Members of the committee voluntarily participate and interview the service academy candidates. I take their recommendations very seriously. They believe each of you are worthy for your selected service academy.”

Dent gave each student at the reception a Congressional Challenge Coin.

“The coins do not have any official significance but it is like a pat on the back in the form of a coin,” Whiteleather said.

The students who attended the reception with their families were Michael Schnabel, of Macungie, Serena Johnson, of Orefield, Konstandinos Zaharakis, of Bethlehem, Caleb Vargo, of Palmyra, Andrew Posch, of Bethlehem, Vincent James Jenkins, of Bethlehem and Reilly McGinnis, of Macungie.

Schnabel applied to the United States Naval Academy because his dad was in the Navy and his brother graduated from the academy last year. “For anyone considering applying in the future, I suggest they get the application done before their senior year and try to reach out to their blue-and-gold officer,” Schnabel said. “A blue-and-gold officer is a liaison the United States Naval Academy provides to help applicants. I am very happy to be at this reception and meet some of the other students who will be in my class at the [United States] Naval Academy.”

“I applied to the [United States] Naval Academy because I felt in sync with it on a moral, mental and physical level,” Johnson said. “It is a place that offers a great chance for me to improve my character. I was also recruited to be on their diving team. I believe the academics there are stellar.

“I am very grateful for Congressman Dent’s nomination,” Johnson said. “Future [United States] Naval Academy applicants should work hard academically and take time to learn something new each day. Staying in good physical shape is also important.”

“I am excited to be here with Congressman Dent and appreciate receiving his nomination,” Zaharakis said. “I have wanted to go into the Navy since eighth grade and believe the [United States] Naval Academy is a great way to enter as an officer.”

“Future applicants should make sure they are doing exactly what the admission requirements ask of them and get their application completed early,” Zaharakis said.

“I always had a dream to serve my country and to do it by becoming an officer at a service academy,” Vargo said. “I felt the [United States] Naval Academy is the best place I can excel.”

“Applying to the academy took a lot of time and commitment, I tried to embrace the process,” Vargo said. “I visited the campus on a candidate visit weekend and participated in one of the [United States] Naval Academy’s summer seminar experiences. It is an honor to be at the recognition ceremony and I am thankful for everything Congressman Dent has helped me do.”

“Everything about West Point excites me,” Posch said. “I look forward to becoming an officer in the Army. Future West Point applicants should develop a strong character, work hard in school, be physically fit and be a good person. It is an honor to be recognized by Congressman Dent and I truly appreciate his nomination.”

“Future applicants for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy should be well-rounded,” Jenkins said. “They should get involved with clubs and activities and keep their academics in check.”

“The Merchant Marine Academy is the service academy least applied to, but definitely worth checking out,” Jenkins said. “I truly appreciate Congressman Dent’s nomination so I can pursue one of the greatest careers in the world. I will attend classes and spend at least a year on a ship. When I graduate, I can be commissioned to any branch of the armed forces.”

“During my sophomore year of high school, the West Point soccer coach started to reach out to me, McGinnis said. “At first, I felt uncertain because I never heard of West Point and it was not anything I was ever exposed to. But each time I visited I fell in love with the campus, the people and everything behind what it means to be a West Point cadet.”

McGinnis suggests future applicants start the application process as soon as they can and make sure to visit the campus. “It means a lot to be recognized by Congressman Dent,” McGinnis said. “The other academy students and I went through a long application process and it is good to see our hard work has paid off.”

Congressman Dent’s office annually hosts a U.S. Service Academy Information Day for high school students. It is geared specifically for those entering their sophomore or junior year. The students are able to learn more about what the academies have to offer, what their nomination and admission processes are and are able to speak directly with service academy representatives.