[Pages S2796-S2797]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

                                 ______
                                 

           RECOGNIZING UTAH'S APPOINTEES TO SERVICE ACADEMIES

<bullet> Mr. LEE. Mr. President, it is my distinct pleasure to 
recognize 21 exemplary men and women who are among the best and 
brightest that Utah has to offer. These individuals have answered the 
call to service by applying and receiving appointments to the U.S. Air 
Force Academy, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, the U.S. Military 
Academy, and the U.S. Naval Academy.
  As a Member of Congress, it is my privilege under title 10 of the 
U.S. Code to nominate young men and women to these iconic service 
academies. However, receiving a congressional nomination does not 
guarantee acceptance. To be admitted, each applicant must meet--on his 
or her own merits--the academies' rigorous standards.
  I am happy to report that each individual has done this and more. 
They have demonstrated their impressive mental and physical aptitude, 
which are essential in meeting the standard of excellence upon which 
our service academies are built. Perhaps more importantly, they have 
shown their high moral character and capacity for leadership, courage, 
honesty, prudence, and self-discipline. They maintain a steadfast 
commitment to stand up for our country.
  I can say without hesitation or exaggeration that you would be hard-
pressed to find a more accomplished, talented, patriotic group of 
citizens than these young Americans. They will be a credit to our 
Nation as they begin their training in Colorado Springs, Kings Point, 
West Point, and Annapolis. I look forward to seeing what they do in 
their academic years and beyond.
  It is one of my greatest honors to recognize and congratulate these 
fine Utahns in the U.S. Senate:

       Wilford William Beck, from Highland, Utah, will join his 
     brother at the U.S. Naval Academy as a midshipman. He 
     maintained a 4.0 GPA at Lone Peak High School while taking 
     challenging classes. Wil lettered in cross country and 
     tennis, where he also served as captain and helped lead his 
     team to a state championship. He participated in the Chinese 
     Club and provided community service with his church youth 
     group and at the VA hospital. He participated in multiple 
     medical mission trips to Honduras to provide assistance to 
     those in need.
       Kohler C. Beckstrand has accepted an appointment to the 
     U.S. Military Academy at West Point. A student of Davis High 
     School, Kohler challenged himself in both academics, where he 
     took a high number of AP classes, and athletics, where he ran 
     cross country and track. He was a member of the National 
     Honor Society and the Health Organization Students of America 
     (HOSA). He plays trumpet and earned superior ratings in the 
     Solo and Ensemble festival. Kohler is active in his community 
     serving neighbors and leading food drives.
       Asher Randall Bowcutt after graduating from Copper Hills 
     High School will enter the U.S. Military Academy at West 
     Point. He served as captain of both the football team, where 
     he earned Academic All-State Honors, and the track and field 
     team, where he holds school records in the shot put and 
     discus, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Asher enjoys 
     snowboarding, chess, drawing, and working as a welder with 
     Hardwick Machinery. He will follow his grandfather, aunts, 
     and uncles into Army service.
       Dawson Lee Douglas accepted an appointment to the U.S. 
     Naval Academy. From Sandy, Utah, he will graduate from Alta 
     High School where he took a high number of AP classes and was 
     awarded AP Scholar with Distinction. He stays active in 
     sports and volunteers in his neighborhood and community, 
     where his church youth group annually puts flags on the 
     graves of our veterans. He routinely challenges himself 
     academically and physically and is looking forward to the 
     challenges of the academy.
       Lucas McCoy Fassio will be attending the U.S. Air Force 
     Academy after graduating from Park City High School. He 
     stayed busy in school taking a high number of AP classes 
     while at the same time competing for the cross-country ski 
     team, where he has qualified for both the U.S. Junior and 
     Senior National Cross-Country Championships. He served as 
     captain of the Park City Ski and Snowboard Club, a member of 
     the Park City Ski and Snowboard Leadership Athlete Council, 
     and as an officer in the Aviation Club.
       Bradley Joseph Floyd, will be joining the cadets of the 
     U.S. Military Academy at West Point following his graduation 
     from Syracuse High School. Bradley has proven himself a 
     leader and someone who can inspire others as the president of 
     the band, captain of the track team, and president of his 
     church youth group. He plays the trombone and has received 
     superior ratings in Solo and Ensemble and Jazz and Wind 
     festivals. Bradley said his father is his inspiration and he 
     will be following his father into the Army.
       Aadi Garg graduated from Providence Hall Charter School and 
     has been attending the University of Utah. He has now 
     accepted an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. He 
     prepared himself by participating in Navy JROTC where he 
     served as the platoon leader and was on the academic, 
     orienteering, and PT teams. He played tennis and ran on the 
     cross-country and track and field teams. He earned Academic 
     All-State awards and was named student of the year. He served 
     his community with the National Honor Society and the Red 
     Cross.
       Zoe Lee Hein, from West Jordan, has accepted an appointment 
     to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. She is serving as 
     Senior Class President of Copper Hills High School and is 
     captain of the track and field team where she holds several 
     school records in the long jump, 100M, 200m, and relays. She 
     is an AAU All American. She maintains a 4.0 with a rigorous 
     academic schedule and is a member of the National Honor 
     Society. She descends from a long line of military service 
     members and will be the first female in her family to serve.
       Malcolm Johnson accepted an appointment to the U.S. Naval 
     Academy. A graduate last year of Herriman High School, 
     Malcolm has spent this year at the Naval Academy Preparatory 
     School. In high school, Malcolm was captain of the basketball 
     team, was awarded the school's Male Athlete of the Year, and 
     earned Academic All-State Honors. He worked in his 
     community serving in food kitchens and gathering supplies 
     for those in need. He is known for his natural leadership 
     abilities and unwavering work ethic.

[[Page S2797]]

       Aedan Frederick Marr will be attending the U.S. Military 
     Academy at West Point after his graduation from Corner Canyon 
     High School. He served as captain of the track and field team 
     and lettered on the state champion football team. The Eagle 
     Scout earned two Gold Eagle Palms, a Silver Eagle Palm, and 
     two Bronze Eagle Palms. He was a leader in JROTC, serving as 
     a squad leader, platoon sergeant, and acting company 
     commander. He lived in Germany where both his mother and 
     father served in the Army.
       Keon Matinkhah, from Salt Lake City, has accepted an 
     appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. He attended the 
     Northwestern Preparatory Academy after graduating from the 
     American Preparatory Academy, where he served two years as 
     student body president. As captain of the Speech and Debate 
     team, he took first in the state for Oratory. He is an 
     accomplished road cyclist and was a member of the Ascent 
     Cycling Club. He participates in Ironman and Spartan races 
     and has raised money for cancer research through his racing.
       Kaitlyn Olivia Meyer was proud to accept her appointment to 
     the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. She will soon graduate from 
     Skyridge High School in Lehi. Kait attended Girls State, is a 
     member of the National Honor Society, and is active in her 
     church youth group. She joined the Air Force JROTC and 
     participated on the Raiders team. Kait is captain of the 
     track and field team and was a leader on both her high school 
     and club soccer teams, where she was the game MVP five times 
     and the defensive MVP eight times.
       Ian McKay Nielsen will join the midshipmen at the U.S. 
     Naval Academy after graduating from West High School. A 4.0 
     student with a heavy load of AP classes, Ian still found time 
     for the Arabic Club and the Boy Scouts. He led the wrestling 
     team in high school and is a champion Sport Bike and 
     SuperMoto racer. He joins a long family legacy of military 
     service that includes his brother, who graduated from the 
     Naval Academy in 2025, his sister in Air Force ROTC, and 
     grandfathers, who each have their own noble records of 
     service.
       Samantha Pope will follow in her father's footsteps and 
     attend the U.S. Air Force Academy. The volleyball captain 
     helped her Lone Peak High School volleyball team earn two 
     state championships. Not to be outdone, her basketball team 
     also earned two state championships. Sam has been preparing 
     academically and physically for the academy since she was 
     young. The natural leader remembered those who helped her 
     with her community service as she prepared bags for 2,500 
     teachers through Show Up For Teachers.
       Theodore Sun Seigrist will be joining his sister at the 
     U.S. Naval Academy. He has been living in Hong Kong with his 
     family and attending the Chinese International School. Teo 
     has made a name for himself as a champion rugby athlete. 
     While challenging himself with an International Baccalaureate 
     class load, he has also tutored refugees in Hong Kong, and 
     helped develop a video game, through Games for Change, to 
     educate young people about ocean pollution. He plays piano 
     and enjoys studying military history and taking time out to 
     ski and scuba dive.
       Joseph M. Smith, from Santa Clara, has accepted an 
     appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. A 4.0 
     student from Snow Canyon High School, Joseph excelled in his 
     AP and concurrent enrollment classes. The senior class 
     president attended Boys State and served as a youth city 
     councilman, and as captain of his football team. His skill in 
     javelin helped his track and field team win two state 
     championships. He participated in Air Force JROTC where he 
     served as staff sergeant. Joseph hosts a religious podcast 
     and enjoys hunting and pickleball.
       William Nakanelua Stant will be attending the U.S. Air 
     Force Academy after graduating from Pine View High School in 
     St. George. Active in Air Force ROTC, William served in many 
     leadership positions--including drill commander and the unit 
     executive officer--and participated in the JROTC drill team, 
     color guard, and Raiders team. He earned the Air & Space 
     Forces Association. He was captain of the high school 
     swimming team and vice-president of the Ping Pong club. He 
     joins several members of his family in military service, 
     including his great-uncle who was a Navajo Code Talker.
       Abigail Thornton, a student of West High School, will join 
     her brother and other cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at 
     West Point. She was very active in high school, taking a 
     number of AP and International Baccalaureate courses and 
     joining the soccer, basketball, and track and field teams. In 
     addition to serving as the captain of her high school soccer 
     team and twice earning the team MVP, she also plays for a 
     number of club soccer teams. She was a member of the National 
     Honor Society, Key Club, Hope Squad, and Environmental club.
       Bradley Rex Thornton will be returning to the U.S. Military 
     Academy at West Point with his sister after serving a church 
     mission in Texas Fort Worth. He graduated from West High 
     School where he served as captain of the basketball team and 
     as a student body officer. He coordinated school assemblies 
     and joined both the German Club and Health Occupation 
     Students of America (HOSA). Bradley was active in the Boy 
     Scouts and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.
       Caleb Bradley Watson will be returning to the U.S. Military 
     Academy at West Point after serving a church mission in 
     Mision Chile Concepcion. Caleb originally entered the academy 
     in 2022 after graduating from Hillcrest High School. During 
     high school, he was captain of the baseball team and was a 
     member of the National Honor Society. He attended Boys State 
     and served on the Draper Mayor's Youth City Council. He was 
     active in the Boy Scouts where he earned the rank of Eagle 
     Scout.
       Preston Lee Whatcott accepted an appointment to the U.S. 
     Military Academy at West Point. The Corner Canyon High School 
     student continues the academy and military tradition in his 
     family but wanted West Point over following his brother and 
     father to the Air Force Academy. He is an excellent student, 
     who has been studying Chinese for over twelve years. Preston 
     is an Eagle Scout and has been a leader in his church youth 
     group and on the Draper Mayor's Youth City Council. In 
     addition to playing football, he also enjoys golf, track, and 
     filming and editing videos.

  It has been inspiring to meet with and nominate each of these 
exceptional young men and women. They give me great hope for the future 
of our armed services and confidence in the future of our Nation.
  To these 21 appointees and to all their future classmates from around 
the country, I thank you for your commitment to service and commend 
your achievements. While this is but the beginning of your journey, I 
urge you to remember the foundation of your success thus far.
  You would not have arrived at this point without the dedication and 
example of your parents, family, teachers, coaches, and mentors. 
Moreover, you would not have arrived at this point without your own 
sacrifice and hard work.
  Strive to continue on the path of strong moral character, and to keep 
love of country as a guiding principle. Look to the past with gratitude 
and to the future with conviction. If you stay this course, I have no 
doubt that your future holds great things in store. I look forward to 
your continued service to our country.<bullet>

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