17 Lehigh Valley Residents Going to U.S. Service Academies

This has got to be one of the best parts of his job.

Today, at 3:30 PM, LV Congressman Charlie Dent will host a "send-off event" for 17 local high school grads that will enter the U.S. Service Academies this Fall. They come from 12 area high schools.

They were nominated by Dent last December, after an extensive nomination process that included interviews with the Congressman’s Military Academy Nomination Board, comprised of local residents with ties to the military and veteran communities.

This will take place at Dent's Lehigh Valley office, located at 3900 Hamilton Boulevard in South Whitehall.

Here's a list of the cadets:

U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD

Samantha Dasilva, Saucon Valley High School
William Draves, Boyertown High School
Rico Goldstone, Parkland High School
Nathan Howe, Apex
Collin Parry, Souderton High School
Maika Polamalu, Pottsgrove High School
Adam Wydra, Central Catholic High School

U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY

Dillon Curtis, Nazareth High School
Patrick Ellison, Easton High School
Meaghan Ellison, Easton High School
Craemer Hedash, Northern Lehigh High School
Travis Holihan, William Allen High School
Austin Semmel, Parkland High School
Aaron Spikol, Parkland High School

U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO

Brandon Haines, Emmaus High School
Ryan Turner, Central Catholic High School

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY

Frank Sysko, Nazareth High School