Air Force Academy

academy Applications are due today for high school seniors interested in attending a U.S. military academy. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Glendale) will nominate students from his district to the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, the Military Academy at West Point and the Naval Academy at Annapolis. Applications can be dropped off at Schiff's district office at 35 S. Raymond Ave., Suite 205, in Pasadena.

  Two locals make Dean’s List Glendale residents Nicole L. Baida and Michael H. Kim have recently been named to the Dean’s List at Boston University for the spring semester. Boston University is the fourth largest independent university in the United States, with an enrollment of more than 29,000 students in its 17 schools and colleges.   La Cañadan graduates AFI On June 11, La Cañada resident Daniel Muller graduated from the AFI with an MFA in film direction.

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Glendale) will allow local high school students to apply, through his Pasadena office, for various military academies throughout the United States. Students can apply for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point. Applications for 2005 admission are due Nov. 12 at Schiff's office, 35 S. Raymond Ave., Suite 205. Students 17 to 22 can apply.

Congressman Adam Schiff nominated several students from the foothills communities for admission to a U.S. Service Academy. If accepted, these students will join the Class of 2010. There are four service academies that require a nomination, usually from a member of Congress. Each academy offers young men and women a free college education at a nationally-recognized academic program while preparing them for an officer's commission in the armed forces. The academies are the Air Force Academy, the Merchant Marine Academy, the Military Academy at West Point and the Naval Academy.

District 26 Congressman David Dreier has announced his annual United States Service Academy Information Night will be at 8 p.m. on March 29 at the Arcadia Community Center at 365 Campus Drive in Arcadia. Representatives of the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, the U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy will discuss educational and career opportunities available at the Academies as well as the steps involved in the admissions process. The event is open to parents and interested young men and women ages 17 to 23 who are residents of the 26th Congressional District, which includes La Cañada Flintridge.

Air Force Cadet Andrew R. Burghdorf has earned honors with placement on the Superintendent's List at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. The cadet demonstrated excellence in military performance, academic studies, and athletic and physical fitness. Cadets must have maintained a 3.0 or better grade-point average for the dean's list, a military performance average for the Commandant's List, and a physical education average for the Athletic's List for a semester.

Joseph Welliver, a 2002 graduate of John Burroughs High School, was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps. Welliver is stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. He is the son of Pamela Vargo, brother of Samantha Vargo, and the twin brother of Crystal Welliver, all of Burbank. Marine Corps 2nd Lt. James P. Blecksmith, a 1999 graduate of Flintridge Preparatory School in La Canada Flintridge, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., and was commissioned to his current rank in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Matthew Ryan Harley of La Crescenta, graduated in May from the U.S. Air Force Academy as a member of the 50th graduating class, and was personally congratulated by the President Bush . Harley was nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy by Rep. David Dreier in 2004. In Harley’s following four years at the academy, he earned his Parachute Jump Wings, was on the dean’s list for three semesters and attended a six-week language immersion program in Kanazawa, Japan.

Army Pfc. Joseph M. Freeman, son of Helen and Albert Ramirez of Tujunga, has graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning in Columbus, Ga. He received his associate degree in 2001 from Glendale Career College. Vahag Vartanian, son of Khachik and Juliet Vartanian of Glendale, has graduated from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md. The graduate received a medical degree and was commissioned to the rank of captain with a minimum seven-year active duty service commitment.

Charles Rich Two St. Francis High football players will sport private eyes, with both sets focused squarely on the opposition. When quarterback Matt Abbey and strong safety James Eland step onto the football field tonight, they'll be competing for the final time at the high school level. Abbey and Eland will participate in the 54th annual Shrine All-Star Football Classic at 7 p.m. today at Mount San Antonio College's Mountie Stadium in Walnut.

School's out for summer, but there will be no lazy days in the sun for Eric Youn. The Glendale High School graduate is scheduled to report on July 2 for basic training at West Point, the military academy in New York famous for minting the elite of the U.S. Army officer corps. “This is what I want to do,” Youn, 18, said of his unorthodox choice in college. “I want to join the military. All these sacrifices are definitely worth it.” Six weeks of basic training will lead directly into four years of academics and leadership preparation, tuition-free.

GLENDALE — The following are updates on area athletes at the collegiate level.   Vinni Lodolo (St. Francis High, 2009) freshman, Air Force Academy men’s tennis: Lodolo, a reigning All-Area member, played a huge role in helping the Falcons post a 4-3 win against service-academy rival Army on Sunday in Orlando, Fla. It marked the ninth win in a row for Air Force, which saw Lodolo clinch the victory with a 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) win against Johnny Lucero.

GLENDALE — After a 30-year absence, the speech and debate squad at Glendale Community College is looking to win its fourth consecutive national title in four years. Students have won first- and second-place awards, including a national championship in “informative speaking” last year. Four-year universities like to admit transfer applicants with extracurricular involvement, and many Glendale debaters can boast of beating contestants from universities like Northwestern, Ohio State and the U.S. Air Force Academy.

GLENDALE — The following are odds and ends from the local sports scene .   VAQUEROS PICK UP CONFERENCE HONORS After helping lead the Glendale Community College men’s tennis team to a second-place finish in the Western State Conference and an appearance in the Southern California Regionals, Rony Yeghnazary was tabbed as the conference’s co-player of the year along with Zach Taylor of Ventura College....

Matthew Ryan Harley of La Crescenta, graduated in May from the U.S. Air Force Academy as a member of the 50th graduating class, and was personally congratulated by the President Bush . Harley was nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy by Rep. David Dreier in 2004. In Harley’s following four years at the academy, he earned his Parachute Jump Wings, was on the dean’s list for three semesters and attended a six-week language immersion program in Kanazawa, Japan.

  Two locals make Dean’s List Glendale residents Nicole L. Baida and Michael H. Kim have recently been named to the Dean’s List at Boston University for the spring semester. Boston University is the fourth largest independent university in the United States, with an enrollment of more than 29,000 students in its 17 schools and colleges.   La Cañadan graduates AFI On June 11, La Cañada resident Daniel Muller graduated from the AFI with an MFA in film direction.

Assemblyman Paul Krekorian introduced a bill yesterday that if passed would regulate a type of plastic that is exceptionally damaging to marine life and water quality. The bill targets "nurdles," which are pre-production plastic pellets that are used to make larger plastic goods like detergent containers, coffee lids and cellular phones. Krekorian's legislation would increase monitoring of industries that use the plastic, and also would develop a multi-agency task force to work alongside the Ocean Protection Council to help reduce litter flowing into the ocean.

District 26 Congressman David Dreier has announced his annual United States Service Academy Information Night will be at 8 p.m. on March 29 at the Arcadia Community Center at 365 Campus Drive in Arcadia. Representatives of the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, the U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy will discuss educational and career opportunities available at the Academies as well as the steps involved in the admissions process. The event is open to parents and interested young men and women ages 17 to 23 who are residents of the 26th Congressional District, which includes La Cañada Flintridge.

Rep. Adam Schiff nominated 14 students from his district -- including six from Glendale or Burbank -- for admission to a U.S. service academy. Each of the four service academies -- the Air Force Academy, the Merchant Marine Academy, the Military Academy at West Point, and the Naval Academy -- require a nomination, usually from a Congress member. Each academy offers young men and women a free college education at a nationally recognized academic program while preparing them for an officer's commission in the armed forces.