Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen today extended her congratulations to Matthew Franco Car on his admittance to West Point Military Academy in New York. Car graduated from Country Day School on Sunday.
Matthew is the son of Matt and Antonietta Car of St. Croix. Attending West Point has been his dream and he pushed himself physically and academically over the last two years to gain admission, according to Congresswoman Christensen.
Determined to meet the requirements, Car, 17, enrolled in the V.I. National Guard’s Recruit Sustainment Program and excelled in the mentally and physically challenging program earning him the Physical Fitness Award for receiving the highest score in the Physical Training (PT) test.
Congresswoman Christensen also extended her congratulations to Eric Wilson of St. Thomas, who after completing the Naval Academy Prep School in Rhode Island last month, was accepted into the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. Wilson, 19, previously attended All Saints School and the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School in St. Thomas before attending Wakefield School in Virginia to play basketball.
He applied for admission into the academy in 2009, but was not accepted; however, he was recommended for the academy’s 10-month-long prep school program (NAPS), which he successfully completed last month. He will join Noah Tobias of St. Croix, who is currently in his second year Naval Academy.
Both students were nominated for the academies by Congresswoman Christensen.
“I am proud to have forwarded the nominations for both of these exceptional young men, who have demonstrated by their commitment to excellence that they can be counted among the best in the country,” said Congresswoman Christensen. “I wish them the very best in their future endeavors.”
To become eligible for a nomination to the service academies, applications must be domiciled in the Virgin Islands. Applicants must be at least 17 years old, but not have passed their 23rd birthday. They must be a U.S. citizen, unmarried, not pregnant and have no legal obligation to support children or other dependants. Applicants should also have SAT scores in the 600s for verbal and math.
For more information, students interested in a military appointment should contact the Office of the Delegate to Congress, their school guidance counselor or visit the delegate’s Web site at www.donnachristensen.house.gov.
