Rep. Zeldin Announces Nominations of 35 Local U.S. Service Academy Applicants

PATCHOGUE, NY - On Thursday, January 24, 2019, Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) was joined by New York State Assemblyman Joe DeStefano, Brookhaven Councilman Neil Foley, Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri, and 35 local applicants from across New York’s First Congressional District to announce his nominations to the United States Service Academies.

Members of Congress may nominate candidates for appointment to four of the five U.S. service academies: U.S. Military Academy (USMA), West Point, NY; U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Annapolis, MD; U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, CO; and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), Kings Point, NY. The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), New London, CT, does not require a congressional nomination for appointment.

Over the past year, Congressman Zeldin has worked closely with his staff and Service Academy Review Committee, a group of 18 volunteers, to narrow down the candidates based on specific criteria, including academic achievement, leadership potential, demonstration of character, and participation in extracurricular activities.

“These 35 young men and women are the best and brightest - academically, as future leaders in our community, and in everything they are already accomplishing,” said Congressman Zeldin following the ceremony. “Their decision to use their talents to serve our nation, by attending one of the U.S. service academies, brings such pride to Long Island and our entire nation, and it is an honor to present them with their nominations and congratulate them on their great achievement this early in life.”  

The full list of nominees is as follows:

U.S. Military Academy (USMA), West Point, NY:

Anthony Seymour of Miller Place

Thomas Gabriele of Water Mill

Lindsay Schuster of Middle Island

Kyle Walker of Smithtown

Jessica DeSena of Lake Grove

David Brown of Wading River

U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Annapolis, MD:

Matthew Mullahy of Saint James

Anthony Sciotto of Rocky Point

Carlie Potabi of East Patchogue

Nontsikelelo Mathwasa of Coram

Thomas Marks of Holtsville

Connor Ricciardi of Saint James

Julian Romano of Smithtown

Isabella Costa of Smithtown

Dylan Flaxman of Holbrook

Patrick Wisti of Ronkonkoma

Nikolas Daly of Port Jefferson

Lucas Morelli of Rocky Point

Bernadette Blackford of Eastport

Kyle Rausch of Middle Island

U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, CO:

Mark Tienken of Smithtown

Lucas McNamara of Saint James

Jacob Chandler of Saint James

Christopher Imbriano of Mattituck

Xavier Kahn of East Marion

William Howard of Southampton

Alexander Amirhamzeh of Hauppauge

Claire McGrath of Shirley

Susan Yeung of Ridge

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), Kings Point, NY:

Patrick Vonn Dyke of Centereach

Alek Zahradka of Rocky Point

Finn Moran of Center Moriches

Aidan Felice of Ronkonkoma

Daniel Foley of Lake Grove

Wesley Pase of Shoreham