CRAPO: ACADEMY DEADLINE NEARLY HERE

Washington, DC - More than 250 Idaho students have downloaded applications for nominations to U.S. military academies from Idaho Senator Mike Crapo's website. The strong interest follows Academy Day presentations in Boise and Coeur d'Alene earlier this month. Crapo reminds interested Idaho students that applications for nominations to four of the nation's military academies must be submitted by Wednesday, October 31, 2007, to be considered for the class entering in 2008. Every year, Crapo nominates selected Idaho students to the following: the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, New York; the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York; and the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland. Interested students need to submit an application and references and meet certain scholastic requirements.

"This year, students have used the Internet to download their application materials," Crapo said. "There are just five days left before the Wednesday, October 31st, deadline, and students need to turn those application materials into my office by then in order to receive consideration for the upcoming class. Idaho has a strong tradition of sending outstanding students to our nation's military academies, which have some of the highest academic standards and programs in the country. I expect that this year's field of applicants will continue that practice and Idaho will once again be represented by some of our finest students in our military academies." 

Students may apply to both U.S. Senators and the U.S. Representative from their congressional district as well as the Vice President of the United States. The names of students nominated by Crapo will be forwarded to each service academy. Decisions about final appointments are then made by the individual institutions.

Those wishing to apply for a nomination to the next class, entering in 2008, should visit Crapo's website to download an application at http://crapo.senate.gov/services/academy_nominations.cfm or contact his military representative, Linda Norris, at (202) 224-0851 for more information. Applications must be submitted no later than October 31, 2007.