Nine future cadets and midshipmen from Michigan’s 8th district were honored at a special ceremony Monday in Brighton hosted by Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin.
The event was held to recognize the students who have been appointed to U.S. service academies. Four of them will be headed to the U.S. Air Force Academy, three to the U.S. Naval Academy, and two to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
Each Congressional office is invited to nominate up to 10 candidates each year. In collaboration with her Service Academy Advisory Panel, a review board made up of district veterans, Slotkin’s office reviewed candidates, and put forward the names of the top candidates to the U.S. service academies, which include the U.S. Military Academy, Naval Academy, Coast Guard Academy, Merchant Marine Academy and Air Force Academy.
Surrounded by their families, friends, and school and community leaders, Rep. Slotkin encouraged the group to make the most of the moment and the opportunity.
“These outstanding young men and women are going to receive what I believe to be the finest leadership training in the world at the academies. They represent a new generation of leaders, and I urge them to focus on the values of uniting those they lead, and leading with character and purpose,” Slotkin said. “They have the opportunity to chart a new course for our country that rejects divisiveness and upholds the values of equality, dignity and respect for all.”
The nine young men and women who will be attending U.S. service academies in the fall include three from Livingston County.
Risto Crouse is captain of the Brighton High School Track and Field team and the State Championship Cross Country team. He is also part of Leadership and Young Life as well as an Eagle Scout and a member of Troop 347 in Brighton. He will be attending the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Jordyn Libler will also be graduating from Brighton High School, where she has spent the majority of her free time in the swimming pool. As captain of the varsity swim team, she helped lead the Bulldogs to third in the state and broke many records, several of which were her own. She is also a member of the track team, but given her aquatic life, it’s very fitting Jordyn will be attending the United States Naval Academy, where she plans to continue her swimming career.
Christopher Tamer is from Whitmore Lake, and throughout his time in high school, he played four years of high-level triple-A hockey where his teams won two state championships and one national championship. After high school, he continued to play hockey and held an assistant captain leadership position with his last junior hockey team. This past year, he attended Wentworth Institute of Technology where he studied Mechanical Engineering while playing for the varsity hockey team. He will be attending the United States Military Academy at West Point in the fall.
Also honored;
• Thomas De La Fuente (U.S. Air Force Academy, Mason High School, Ingham County)
• Brendan Lewis (U.S. Naval Academy, Stoney Creek High School, Oakland County)
• Jonah Richards (West Point, Lansing Catholic High School, Ingham County)
• Francis Roth (U.S. Air Force Academy, Notre Dame Preparatory School, Oakland County)
• Zachary Yu (U.S. Naval Academy, Troy High School, Oakland County)
• Not pictured: Ryker Johnecheck (U.S. Air Force Academy, Williamston High School, Ingham County
