ServiceAcademies062016

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the impressive individuals who will be representing Illinois' 18th Congressional District at three of the most prestigious academic institutions in our nation: our U.S. service academies. Earlier this year, I nominated 22 individuals from my district, and seven of them have been accepted and will begin their service at the Air Force Academy, West Point, and the Naval Academy this summer. I was privileged to meet with these young men and women in my district last Friday and the talent among these seven is indeed inspiring and diverse. These cadets and midshipmen are not only at the top of their class in academic achievements, but they also excel in extracurricular activities. We have a state wrestling champion, a hockey player who will be playing hockey at the Air Force Academy, and a competitive golfer who will be playing at the Naval Academy. Most importantly, I was struck by their earnest commitment to serving our country. Many of these students come from families with a legacy of military service. We even have an aspiring Navy SEAL and a JAG attorney in this group. I want to congratulate Randy Meneweather II, Matthew Helmich, Faith Kim, Trevor Stone, Eric Betts, August Will, and Morgan Riley. Thank you to these students for their commitment to our country, and to their families for raising them, and to those in our Illinois communities who have helped them reach this accomplishment. I wish them much success.