DeLauro Honors Local Students Accepted to Service Academies

Washington, DC –Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) praised two local students today, Sarah Melville and Daniel Park, both of Woodland Regional High School, who were being honored for their acceptance into two of the nation's military academies. Melville will be attending the United States Military Academy at West Point, while Park will be attending the United States Naval Academy. Both students are from Beacon Falls.

Melville, a high honors student and National Honors Society member, has received academic awards in Humanities, Spanish, Mathematics, Choral Music, and Journalism. She is an active student body member, serving as the Student Affairs Committee chair, the Internal Affairs Committee chair, and Chief Justice of the Woodland Regional Student Council's Judicial Branch. She also competed on her schools Cross Country team, helping them to an undefeated 2009 Championship season, and on the Indoor and Outdoor Track teams.

Park, also a National Honor Society member, is very active in the local community, volunteering at a food bank, the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen in New Haven, and teaching at the New Haven Korean Church, among many other activities. Additionally, he is the reigning 2009 champion in All-State Indoor Track, All-State Outdoor Track, and All-League Outdoor Track.

Both Melville and Park are also being recognized as the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Scholar Athletes of the year for Woodland High School.

"I was very pleased to nominate some of our brightest young students to West Point and the United States Naval Academy. Both Sarah and Daniel have demonstrated the academic excellence, strength of character, and leadership qualities that the academies require, and I am confident that they will serve our country with honor and distinction," said Congresswoman DeLauro. "From serving our local communities to serving our country, it was a great pleasure to honor Sarah and Daniel by nominating them, and I am so proud that they have been accepted into the service academies of their choice. It takes a certain type of young man or woman to pursue such institutions, and after reading their applications and hearing from those who recommended them, I am certain that both Sarah and Daniel will succeed in achieving their dreams."