45 District 155 Grads Enlist in Military

Forty-five District 155 graduates from all four high schools will serve in the armed forces

Ten young women and 35 young men from the 2016 graduating class have enlisted in the United States Air Force, United States Army, United States Coast Guard, United States Marine Corps, United States Navy, National Guard of the United States, the Reserves, and the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC).

“We are extremely proud of our students who have decided to serve our country and defend our freedom. There is no greater sacrifice, and it is truly honorable,”said District 155 superintendent Dr. Johnnie Thomas.

Christina Lanaski, a recent Prairie Ridge High School graduate, is the only woman among the 12 District 155 students who enlisted in the United States Marines Corps.

She is the fourth generation in her family to serve in the military.

“My family has been in the military for four generations and I would be the first female in my family to serve the Marines. I’ve lived such a great life in America, and I need to pay back and serve my country,” said Lanaski.

Christina spent the first few weeks of summer training for boot camp. Every Thursday she met with other Poolees to train and gain more knowledge. When she was 12, she joined the sea cadets. She completed boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Station and has also completed advanced medical training in Battlefield,

“I think it’s important for females to not shy away because it’s male dominated in the Marines. If more females understood that it’s a great place for females to do things and push themselves then more would enlist in the military,” Lanaski said.

Christina will serve active duty for the next five years, and then three years in the reserves. She shipped out for boot camp in Parris Island, South Carolina on June 21.

Here is a look at all 45 men and women from District 155 grads who have enlisted in the military:

United States Air Force

• Nicholas Baietto - Crystal Lake South High School
• Rachel Hurn - Prairie Ridge High School
• Sarah Hurn - Prairie Ridge High School
• Brandon Komes - Crystal Lake Central High School
• Brandon Miraglia - Crystal Lake South High School
• Joseph Puccini - Crystal Lake South High School
• Thomas Schmitz - Crystal Lake South High School
• Caitlyn Thome - Crystal Lake South High School

United States Army

• Aaron Beene - Crystal Lake Central High School
• Joseph Correa - Crystal Lake Central High School
• Marco Leyva - Crystal Lake Central High School
• Samuel Lundgren - Crystal Lake Central High School
• Chandler Moss - Crystal Lake South High School
• David Nelson - Prairie Ridge High School
• Marco Sandoval - Crystal Lake Central High School
• Aleksandra Soltys - Crystal Lake Central High School
• Cole Tiehen - Cary-Grove High School

United States Coast Guard

• Quinn Hastings - Crystal Lake Central High School

United States Marines Corps

• Michael Adams - Crystal Lake South High School
• Peter Bardgett - Cary-Grove High School
• Javen Boettcher - Crystal Lake South High School
• Connor Hill - Crystal Lake South High School
• Joseph Jummati - Cary-Grove High School
• Brian Ladd - Cary-Grove High School
• Christina Lanaski - Prairie Ridge High School
• Jeremy Lesser - Crystal Lake Central High School
• Joseph Miskiewicz - Cary-Grove High School
• Colin Nolan - Crystal Lake South High School
• Joshua Povolo - Crystal Lake South High School
• Zachary Van Hof - Crystal Lake South High School

United States Navy

• Caitlyn Alcarese Smith - Cary-Grove High School
• Samuel Burrell - Crystal Lake Central High School
• Shawn Kyska - Crystal Lake Central High School
• Aubrey Oberlander - Crystal Lake South High School
• Crystal Sleeman - Crystal Lake South High School

National Guard of the United States

• Jake Engen - Cary-Grove High School
• Eric Hertel - Cary-Grove High School
• Bryan Rozanski - Cary-Grove High School
• Philip Siudut - Cary-Grove High School
• Conor Smith - Cary-Grove High School
• Alexander Yentsch - Crystal Lake Central High School

Reserves

• Kristen Gier - Cary-Grove High School
• Antonio Salinas Mascote - Crystal Lake Central High School

ROTC

• Megan Emma - Cary- Grove High School
• Alec Haglund - Cary-Grove High School