Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) congratulates Westlake resident and Van Nuys High School senior Hee Yeon Kim on her appointment to the U. S. Military Academy. Hee Yeon expects to begin the elite 4-year West Point program next month. 

Pictured from left to right: Hee Yeon’s mother, Pil Sang Seo; Hee Yeon Kim; and Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard.

Every year, Congresswoman Roybal-Allard nominates qualified students from her district to the service academies including the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York.

Entrance into the U.S. Military Academy is highly competitive. Each applicant is evaluated in three areas: academic performance, demonstrated leadership potential, and physical aptitude. Of the 570 women who were nominated last year, only 190 were offered an appointment.

Hee Yeon is a well-rounded Van Nuys High School student, a senior active in many after-school clubs including the Make a Wish Club, Junior States of America, the Pacific American Volunteer Association, and the Visual Art and Music for Society Organization. She has also been a member of the Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) since her freshman year in high school.

The Military Academy offers a well-rounded learning experience which includes a rigorous academic curriculum, physical education, and leadership training. In exchange for a fully funded college education, service academy graduates are required to serve in the military as commissioned officers for a minimum of five years after completing their studies. Some of West Point’s most noted graduates include: Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, George S. Patton, Douglas MacArthur, and Dwight Eisenhower.

Every fall Congresswoman Roybal-Allard hosts an annual workshop covering the nomination and application process. To learn more about the service academies or to inquire about future workshops please visit the congresswoman’s website (www.house.gov/roybal-allard) or call Diana Porras in the district office at (213) 628-9230.