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A San Ramon teen and a student at The Athenian School in Danville are among five Bay Area students set to matriculate to national service academies after they were nominated for acceptance by U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin).
Dane Q. Sur, 18, of San Ramon and Athenian School student Anna L. Borchers, 18, of Pleasanton joined Justina J. Kim, 18, of Pleasanton; Kajol P. Maheshwari, 17, of Livermore; and Denisse A. Ramirez, 17, of Union City were chosen as nominees by the congressman to continue the process of pursuing acceptance into a U.S. service academy.
“Our nation’s military service academies have a worldwide reputation for excellence in scholarship, character-building and physical achievement, and I know these five fine young people will tackle this challenge,” Swalwell said at a reception for the nominees and their families at Pleasanton’s Veterans Memorial Building.
“They are committing themselves to serving and protecting our nation, and I wish them the greatest success as they embark upon this adventure,” the second-term congressman added.
Applications to U.S. service academies require receiving a nomination from an authorized source, such as a member of Congress, and then earning an appointment from a service academy. U.S. senators and U.S. representatives may provide nominations from their respective states or districts. The vice president can also provide nominations nationwide.
Sur, who will graduate from Quarry Lane School in Dublin, will attend the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md. The grandson of a U.S. Navy senior chief petty officer, Sur was president of his freshman, sophomore and junior classes. He has been a math tutor, a student ambassador and captain of his varsity soccer and flag football teams, as well as a fourth-degree black belt and instructor in Taekwondo.
He was the youngest master in Mach Martial Arts’ history, according to a release. He has volunteered for the VA Palo Alto facility in Livermore and a children’s orphanage in Uganda. He stated he sees “no greater, more honorable purpose than to serve as a naval officer,” according to Swalwell’s office
Borchers, who is graduating from The Athenian School in Danville, will attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. She was her school’s varsity swim team captain, a soccer player, a student ambassador leader and a teacher’s assistant for a physics class.
She has also been a youth coach with the Pleasanton Rage soccer club, is a longtime Girl Scout, took many Advanced Placement classes and has traveled to South Africa to build a classroom. She aims to pursue a life of service, according to Swalwell’s office
Kim, who is graduating from the Naval Academy Preparatory School at Newport, R.I., will attend the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado.
Maheshwari, who will graduate from Livermore High, will attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
Ramirez, who will graduate from James Logan High, will attend the Naval Academy Preparatory School at Newport, R.I.
