{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://tenney.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=157", "Congresswoman Claudia Tenney Announces 2017 Service Academy Nominees", "2017-12-12", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Claudia Tenney", "T000478", "tenney.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "New Hartford, N.Y.\u2014Today, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22) announced that nine local students have been nominated for admission to the United States Service Academies. \r\n\u201cAs the mother of a 2013 Naval Academy graduate, I know how life changing and fulfilling attending a service academy can be. Our region has a long tradition of service to our great nation and the Service Academies provide a unique opportunity for those\u00a0looking to continue this important legacy. It is an incredible honor to help make this unique opportunity a reality for our next generation of leaders here in the 22nd District,\u201d said Congresswoman Claudia Tenney. \u201cThe standards for admission to the Service Academies are rigorous and each of these students have shown the dedication, tenacity and integrity necessary to serve our nation in this role. I would also like to thank the members of Academy Selection Committee for their invaluable knowledge and work in selecting this outstanding group of students.\u201d \r\nMembers of Rep. Tenney\u2019s Academy Selection Committee interviewed the academy candidates and reviewed their backgrounds. Nominees were then selected by the board based on a number of factors including: leadership skills, character, academic achievements and motivation. \r\nThe Nominees to the U.S. Service Academies for 2017 are as follows: \r\nUnited States Air Force Academy\r\nJohn Gabor, Cazenovia High School\r\nUnited States Merchant Marine Academy\r\nChristopher DeLage, Homer High School\r\nUnited States Military Academy\r\nConnor Gage, Little Falls High School\r\nMegan Neuman, Syracuse University \r\nUnited States Naval Academy\r\nGiana Gigliotti, Thomas R. Proctor High School\r\nConnor Hathaway, DeRuyter High School\r\nEmmalyn Smith, Brookfield High School\r\nKeegan Steele, Whitesboro High School\r\nRyan Svitak, Whitesboro High School \r\n\u00a0\r\nMembers of Rep. Tenney\u2019s Academy Selection Committee include: \r\nCOL Paul Sweeney\r\nMr. Albert Eaton\r\nCOL Ben Margolius\r\nBrigadier General Phil Tennant\r\nThe Honorable Pat Perfetti\r\nMr. Chris Kendall\r\nCMDR Robert Piper\r\nMr. Orrin MacMurray\r\nMr. Les Lebrecque\r\nMr. Bradley Trudell\r\nMs. Christine Gregory\r\nQuotes from the Academy Selection Committee are as follows: \r\n\u201cAs a retired Colonel of Marines, I was very impressed by the commitment, academic performance and enthusiasm of the applicants this year.\u00a0 I believe the Nation will be well served by the future officers whom Congresswoman Tenney has nominated following this competitive process. \u00a0It is an honor and a pleasure to serve on her Military Academy Committee,\u201d said Paul Sweeney, attorney from Binghamton, New York.\r\n\u201cIt was an honor to meet all of these young men and women whose accomplishments and motivation to serve is so inspiring. The parents should be very proud of the job they have done raising these fine young people,\u201d said Christopher Kendall, attorney from Hamilton, New York. \r\n\u201cThe quality, maturity and character was particularly evident in the candidates who came before the committee this year. \u00a0The selection process was very difficult because the students were so well qualified. \u00a0I truly believe that these young adults represent some of the very best that the country has to offer and we should all feel both proud and thankful for their desire to serve,\u201d said Mr. Les Labrecque, veteran of the U.S. Air Force and father of a Military Academy graduate. \r\n\u201cIt is an honor and high responsibility to advise Representative Tenney on candidates to attend our Military Academies and lead our armed forces in the future,\u201d said Orrin B. MacMurray, Col. USA (Ret). \r\n\u201cAs a 27-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, I greatly appreciate Congresswoman Tenney putting her faith in me to serve on the Academy Selection Committee. It's an honor to help select the talented group of nominees and I look forward to working with these students throughout the application process,\u201d said Cortland County District Attorney Patrick Perfetti.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://tenney.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=157"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8085002191364765, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}