On Saturday, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) commended ten students from the Fourth Congressional District whom he nominated for acceptance to military service academies and who will soon be leaving to attend the academies. The reception was hosted for the future cadets and midshipmen, and their families, as they prepare for four years of school.
“It was hard work that got you here, it will take persistence, commitment, courage and devotion to God and our country to succeed,” Smith said to the nominees present at the forum. “And succeed you will—in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Merchant Marines.”
Commanding Officer of Naval Weapons Station Earle Capt. Pierre Fuller, Daniel Lisle, Quincy Zawadzky, Peter Garlisi, Pareena Patel, Griffin McDermott, Cameo Mooney, Eric Keossian, Arturo Posnanski, Ethan Jaravata, Rep. Chris Smith. |
The ten nominees will be attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York. “The dream—for some a lifelong dream—now begins,” Smith said.
At the ceremony attended by Capt. Pierre Fuller, Commanding Officer of Naval Weapons Station Earle, Smith presented each of the nominees with an American Flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in their honor.
Capt. Fuller shared some insightful anecdotes about military service. “You’ve chosen to serve in our military, and for that I congratulate you and thank you,” he told the future cadets and midshipmen.
Acceptance to the service academies is contingent upon receiving a congressional nomination. In Congress, Smith has nominated 1,029 women and men to the service academies, of whom 248 have graduated from or attended the academies.
The following students from New Jersey’s Fourth Congressional District received appointments to the service academies listed:
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY:
Peter Garlisi – Hamilton Township
Peter attends Hamilton High School where he is a member of the National Honor Society, the German National Honor Society, and the Varsity Swim Team. He served as assistant Senior Patrol Leader in the Boy Scouts, Marching Unit Captain in the Marching Band, and President of the Innovations Lab. Peter has volunteered in various activities, including food drives, park cleaning, veteran recognition, and Eagle Scout projects. He is a recipient of the Rensselaer Medal Award for his achievements in math and science and is Lifeguard/First Aid certified. Peter is pursuing his dream to become a pilot in the Air Force.
Daniel Lisle – Tinton Falls
Daniel Lisle lives in Tinton Falls and was homeschooled. He is a member of the Societe Honoraire de Francais and is Vice President of the Eta Sigma National Honor Society. Daniel was awarded the Honor Flight award for Cadet Officer School and several Civil Air Patrol Awards, including the Wright Brothers award and Amelia Earhart Award. He received 1st place in his age group for the Stars and Stripes Warrior 5K run and received 1st place with his team in the Cadet Officer School Volleyball Championship in 2017. He has also volunteered many hours in organizations such as the Children’s Sand and Surf Mission, Aslan Youth Ministry, and the Bridge of Books. Daniel’s dream is to become an Air Force Officer.
Pareena Patel – Howell
Pareena Patel attends Howell High School and is State Treasurer for the Technology Student Association. She is founder and President of the Robotics Club and led the team to first place in Regionals. Pareena is a member of both the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society, as well as Mock Trial and captain of the Academic Team. She has spent many hours volunteering for Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore, Peer Tutoring, Project Lend a Hand, and Saint Peter’s Hospital, and was team Captain for both the Lacrosse and Field Hockey Teams. Pareena has been awarded 1st place in the Robotics Southern Tournament and Biotechnology Design Technology Student Association, and was awarded National Hispanic Merit Scholar in 2017. Pareena’s goal is to devote her life and freedoms to protect the lives of civilians and the welfare of our nation.
Quincy Zawadzky – Brielle
Quincy attends Manasquan High School where he is a member of the History Honors Society, New Jersey Math League. He has experience in the Civil Air Patrol where he advanced to Senior Airman, and has attended various programs such as the Naval Academy Summer Seminar in 2017 and NASA Space Camp in 2016. Quincy has spent many hours volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, Hands Together, the Jersey Shore Medical Center, and Monmouth County Food Bank Drives. Quincy wishes to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather and become a Naval Officer.
UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY:
Ethan Jaravata – Point Pleasant Beach
Ethan attends Point Pleasant Beach High School and played JV tennis, Varsity Cross Country, and Varsity Swimming, where he went undefeated during his regular season and received the Coach’s Award. He has spent many hours volunteering, including in activities like cleaning the beach, breast cancer walks, and escorting patients in the Emergency Room. He is a member of the National Honor Society for his academic achievements and has also been a part of the Symphonic band, Jazz Band and Marching Band. Ethan’s dream is to serve his country in the military and be both a strong leader and positive role model.
Arturo Joseph “AJ” Poznanski - Middletown
AJ attends the Marine Academy of Science and Technology and is Captain of both the Middletown High School South Varsity Swim Team and the Red Bank YMCA Swim Team where he qualified for the Junior Olympics and New Jersey State Championships. He also has been a member of the Boy Scouts America Troop 246, where he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and served as Senior Patrol Leader. AJ has volunteered over 170 hours in various activities, serving as a lifeguard, camp counselor and student football coach. He is looking forward to the journey ahead of him, continuing to study vessels and learning to pilot them for the next four years of his life.
UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY:
Eric Keosseian – Farmingdale
This year, Eric attended the United States Military Academy Prep School. A 2017 graduate of Howell High School, he was previously Co-Captain of the Varsity Wrestling Team, the 2017 NJSIAA 220lb State Champion, and he has continued to wrestle at USMA Prep in the Army singlet. Eric has participated in various community activities, including as Assistant Swim Instructor at Silton Swim School, participating in swim relay for life, a member of the Triumph Wrestling Club Team, and is participating in Volley for Autism. Eric is proud to be continuing his academic, athletic, and military career at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Francesco La Torre – Jackson
Francesco attends The College of New Jersey and attended Notre Dame High School where he was in both the National Honor Society and the International Language Honor Society. He was a member of the Varsity Football team, Defensive Captain of the Varsity Lacrosse team and member of the Varsity Cross Country Team where he set a Notre Dame High School Freshman 5k record. Francesco is registered as a volunteer for the Wounded Warriors Project and has volunteered over 100 hours of community service including activities such as Relay for Life, food pantries, and tutoring students in an Academic Credit Recovery Program. He is also the first recipient of the TJ Drahushak Ironman Award for his fighting spirit on and off the field. Francesco understands a passion for saving lives and has a goal of selfless service, which he will pursue in the Military Academy. Francesco joins his brother, Antonio, a member of the Class of 2021, at West Point.
Cameo Mooney – Red Bank
Cameo attends the Marine Academy of Science and Technology and is the President of the National Honor Society and Vice President of the Technology Student Association. She was a member of NJROTC, Varsity Track, and Varsity Cross Country as well as Mock Trial Defense Attorney. Cameo is also a member of the Key Club, Spanish Club and Naval Ball Committee. Cameo received first place Structural Engineering at the NJ Tech Student Association state conference, as well as Bronze and Silver achievement awards for the Technology Student Association. She has volunteered countless hours teaching CCD and teaching marine science to middle schoolers and has cleaned beaches during the annual Clean Ocean Action Beach Sweep. Cameo looks forward to the journey ahead serving her country though the United States Army.
UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY:
Griffin McDermott – Belmar
A 2017 graduate of St. Rose High School in Belmar, Griffin attends the University of Maryland, College Park, majoring in materials science and engineering. At St. Rose, he was a member of both the National Honor Society and the Student Council where he served as President, and was Captain of the Varsity Lacrosse team. He was also a four-year scholarship recipient of the Navy ROTC, and received the West Point Society of New Jersey Dwight D. Eisenhower Leadership Award. He has spent many hours volunteering for the Red Bank Police Department and Challenger Winter Classic Ice Hockey Game, which benefitted the USA Warriors wounded veteran ice hockey team and the Brick Stars. Griffin admires and is following in the footsteps of his uncles, who were all military officers. His brother, Colin, is a member of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point Class of 2018.