Local students are nominated for the U.S. Service Academies

Students from Monroe, Pike, and Wayne counties have been nominated for appointments to attend the United States Service Academies.

U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, who made the nominations on Jan. 17, said they will now go through the academies' competitive application process. If offered an appointment, the students will join their respective academy's Class of 2024.

“It is my distinguished honor to nominate these exceptional young women and men as candidates for appointment to our esteemed United States Service Academies,” U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, who made the nominations on Jan. 17. “Each student nominated is among the best and brightest of Northeastern Pennsylvania, and they represent the next generation of great American leaders.”

Here are the nominees:

● Laina Bogusta of Milford, daughter of Alexandra and Stephen Bogusta and a senior at Delaware Valley High School, has been nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado.

● Gavin Brazanskas of Shohola is the son of Cynthia and Stephen Brazanskas and a senior at Delaware Valley High School. He has been nominated to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, and the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.

● Matthew Benedito of Newfoundland, son of Jaclyn Benedito Sennefelder and Paul Sennefelder, is a senior at Wallenpaupack High School and has been nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado.

● Nicholas Hamer of Tafton is the son of Patricia and Christopher Hamer and a graduate of WallenpaupackArea High School. He has been nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.

● Sheamus McCarroll of Swiftwater is the son of Sarah and James McCarroll and a senior at Pocono Mountain West High School. He has been nominated to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, and the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.

● Jessica Sulewski of Tafton is the daughter of Stacey and Charles Sulewski and a graduate of Cornwall Central High School in New Windsor, N.Y. She is currently enrolled at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut.

“I want to thank these outstanding young adults for their willingness to commit to serving their country," Cartwright said. "They give me hope that our best days are surely ahead.”

For the nominees' achievements, please see sidebar.