Learn About Educational Opportunities at Academy Open House

Nebraska has no shortage of patriotic young people willing to serve their country. Each year, young men and women from the Third District attend our nation's prestigious Service Academies. These institutions provide a first-rate higher education and unmatched opportunities for young people looking to achieve their potential in education and service.

As a Member of Congress, I have the honor of nominating a select group of young Nebraskans to attend the U.S. Service Academies. The academies include: the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York; the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland; the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York.

To provide Nebraskans interested in this unique opportunity with more information, my office is hosting a Service Academy Open House on Saturday, May 4, 2013. The event will be held at Central Community College's Grand Island Campus in the Health Sciences 500 Building (3134 W Highway 34, Grand Island) from 10:00 a.m. -- 1:00 p.m. CDT. At the open house, Third District students will receive information to help them determine whether a college education at a U.S. Service Academy is the right choice for them. Representatives from each academy will be in attendance to discuss academy life, the benefits of enrolling, and the application process.

This year, the open house will also feature representatives from the Army and the Navy Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) to discuss scholarship opportunities for students planning on attending a four-year college program and who are interested in a military career. Members of my staff, and representatives from the offices of Senator Mike Johanns and Senator Deb Fischer will also be on hand to answer questions about the nomination process.

In order to be considered for a Service Academy nomination, students are required to complete two steps. First, a completed Academy Packet must be submitted with a postmark date no later than September 30, 2013. The packet provides academic records, letters of recommendation, and other relevant information.

The second step to receive a nomination is the required personal interview. In early November 2013, students who have completed packets by the required deadline will be invited for an interview with my Academy Advisory Committee, which has been established to help evaluate applicants for nomination.

Once these steps are complete, I will nominate a select few for admission. Ultimately, the final decision to admit a nominee belongs to the Academies. Criteria for admission include personal merit, academic achievement, character traits, leadership ability, physical aptitude, and extracurricular involvement. For more information about the Academy Packet and the nomination process, feel free visit my website: http://adriansmith.house.gov/serving-you/military-academy-nominations or call my Grand Island office at (308) 384-3900.

I hope interested young people will attend the Service Academy Open House to get more information about the service academies and ROTC programs. I am incredibly proud of Nebraska's young people and am honored to help them pursue these unique opportunities to receive a college education and to serve our country.