Joplin - Southwest Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt announced today that Joplin High School seniors Vivien Arlette Moreno and Nathan Lewis Fisher have accepted appointments to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point starting in the summer of 2011. Moreno and Fisher are among the top 20 students academically in a class of nearly 500 at Joplin High. Both have excelled in high school sports, volunteer work and extracurricular activities.

Vivian Moreno, age 17, pictured, the daughter of Juan and Carolina Moreno of Joplin, is a member of student council, the National Honor Society, the Math League, Foreign Language Club and the Junior ROTC program. She also has lettered in track, cross country and soccer. In the community she volunteers at the Joplin Humane Society. She wrote Congressman Blunt that attending West Point was a childhood aspiration: "While the average person opts for the civilian-college experience, and while it does sound tempting, I am more than willing to put in the years of hard work now for future, long-last rewards. I want to attending the United States Military Academy and serve on active duty as an Army officer."

Nathan Fisher, age 18, pictured, the son of Judson and Cynthia Fisher of Joplin, is the senior class president, a member of student council and of the National Honor Society and a leader in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He is on the all-conference academic team for soccer and track. He is a certified Red Cross lifeguard and a volunteer in a church youth group. In his request for nomination to West Point, he explained to Blunt a desire to pursue a career in engineering.

"I want to attend a school where I can not only lead but also be surrounded by other leaders," Nathan Fisher said. "I want to ally myself with people who are dedicated to excellence and expect to achieve great things." He added, "I want to continue taking challenging and rigorous academic courses by learning from the best in the country."

"The nation's military academies are investments in our national security by molding the young men and women into our military leaders of the next generation," Blunt said. "Students like Moreno and Fisher will be challenged, inspired and motivated with a world-class education to serve in a career dedicated to the US military."

A committee of Southwest Missouri residents interviewed applicants and presented recommendations to Blunt for formal nominations to the nation's military academies. Applicants are considered on the basis of leadership skills, academic achievement, physical aptitude and extracurricular activities. Approximately 20 students from Southwest Missouri currently are attending the nation's service academies.

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