By Logan Harle
Intern
Three Wilmington high school students recently learned they will attend the U.S. Naval Academy next fall, with another receiving an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy, after each was nominated in the fall by U.S. Rep. David Rouzer.
“The preparation that goes into applying to a service academy takes a tremendous amount of commitment and dedication,” Rouzer stated.
In receiving their appointments, Madeleine Sue Maguire, Katherine Drew Marapese and Deshawn Weeden will all be required to serve at least five years in the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps. Stephanie Athanas, a Wilmington resident and senior at Topsail High School, was nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Maguire, a senior at John T. Hoggard High School, is student council president, a member of Hoggard’s chapters of Beta Club and National Honor Society and was named the 2015 Daughters of the American Revolutionary Good Citizen for the District.
“Madeleine has represented her fellow classmates through various positions in student government and is a lettered cross-country runner,” Rouzer said.
Marapese, a senior at Cape Fear Academy, is the captain of Cape Fear’s debate team, was selected to represent Cape Fear Academy at the Governor’s School of North Carolina and lettered in junior varsity basketball and tennis.
“As a student at Cape Fear Academy, Katherine Drew founded Cape Fear Academy’s Mock Trial Team,” Rouzer said. “She is an extremely talented musician receiving top distinctions; and, among other academic achievements, was named a 2015 AP Scholar with Honor.”
Weeden, a senior at E.A Laney High School, is an honor student, member of the soccer and lacrosse team and also volunteers with the Beach to Battleship Marathon and TOPSoccer events.
“Deshawn’s involvement and participation both inside and outside of the classroom make him well deserving of this honor,” Rouzer said.
Athanas is a member of the Exceptional Children Mentor Program, the National Honor Society, a selectee for jury foreperson in Pender County’s Teen Court and a member of the school’s tennis team.
To receive appoints at the U.S. Naval Academy, the students needed to first receive nominations from their congressman, senator or the U.S. vice president. Of about 4,000 students that receive nominations, about 1,500 are accepted into the academy.
