Orland Park Students Among Rep. Lipinski's Picks for Service Academies

Caption: Congressman Lipinski (IL-3), State Senator Michael Hastings, US Army Captain and VFW Post 5220 Commander Dan Johnson, and the Service Academy Nominees from the Third Congressional District

Bottom Row, Left to Right: Zachary Sowatzke, Peter Parrilli, Mitchell Ciszewski, Ethan Cook, Abagail Evans, Amanda Walsh, Kristen Young, Jonathan Cline, Robert Schaefer, Matthew Sebok, Thomas Hampston, Ryan Kairis

Top Row, Left to Right: Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3), State Senator Michael Hastings, Thomas Egan, Jacob Rost, Jakob Swenson, Ryan Stowell, Carl Weydeman, Charles Schramka, Andrew Lezon, Connor Koehler, US Army Captain and VFW Post 5220 Commander Dan Johnson

Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) announced this week his nominations of 22 students from the 3rd Congressional District for admission to the U.S. Service Academies for the entering classes of 2015. The nominees were recognized by Rep. Lipinski for their achievement at a ceremony on Saturday at the Johnson-Phelps VFW Post 5220 in Oak Lawn.

“One of the duties of this office that I cherish the most is the honor to nominate young men and women for our nation’s prestigious serviceacademies,” said Rep. Lipinski. “Every year, applications pour into my offices from the district’s best and brightest students. The selection of nominees is based upon a strict ‘whole person’ evaluation, so just to be nominated to one of our nation’s service academies is an incredible honor. I have no doubt that each of these nominees will make significant contributions wherever life takes them. Above all, I am impressed by their unwavering commitment to serving their community and country.”

The nominees are:

U.S. Air Force Academy: Ryan Kairis, of Chicago, Marist High School; Andrew Lezon, of Western Springs, Lyons Township High School; Robert Schaefer, of La Grange, Fenwick High School; Charles Schramka, of La Grange, Lyons Township High School

U.S. Military Academy (West Point): Ethan Cook, of Orland Park, Carl Sandburg High School; Thomas Egan, of Chicago, Whitney Young Magnet High School; Ian Murdoch, of Western Springs, Culver Military Academy; Zachary Sowatzke, of Homer Glen, Shepard High School

Merchant Marine Academy: Jonathan Cline, of Chicago, De La Salle Institute; Ryan Stowell, of La Grange, St. John’s Northwestern MilitaryAcademy

U.S. Naval Academy: Alexander Benoit, of Chicago, Marist High School; Mitchell Ciszewski, of La Grange, Lyons Township High School; Abagail Evans, of Tinley Park, Victor J. Andrew High School; Thomas Hampston, of Palos Park, Marist High School; Connor Koehler, of Lemont, Lemont High School; Peter Parrilli, of Chicago, Brother Rice High School; Jacob Rost, of Orland Park, Providence Catholic High School; Matthew Sebok, of Chicago, Brother Rice High School; Jakob Swenson, of Homer Glen, Providence Catholic High School; Amanda Walsh, of La Grange, IL Mathematics and Science Academy; Carl Weydeman, of Chicago, St. Rita High School; Kristen Young, of La Grange, Lyons Township High School

The admissions departments of the service academies make the final decision on acceptance. Each of the nominees will be notified by the service academies if they have been accepted.