U.S. Rep. Michael Bilirakis has named the 2001 U.S. military academy appointments. Admission to these academies is highly competitive. Appointees have met strict academic and physical standards and have demonstrated leadership in the classroom as well as the community. After completing four years of intensive schooling, they will receive commissions as active duty military officers.

Appointees to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., are Sean MacDougall and David Wright, both graduates of Tarpon Springs High School, and Peter Merkle, the salutatorian of Clearwater High School. MacDougall is the son of Rosemary Hanes and James MacDougall of Palm Harbor. Wright is the son of Maria and David Wright of Tarpon Springs. And Merkle is the son of Angela and Robert Merkle of Clearwater.

Appointees to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., are Anthony Santo, a graduate of Tarpon Springs High School, and Thomas Cantillo IV, a graduate of Countryside High School. Santo is the son of Gloria Santo and Anthony Santo of Palm Harbor. And Cantillo is the son of Jacque and Thomas Cantillo III of Palm Harbor.

David Deptula, a graduate of Tarpon Springs High School and student of Coast Guard Preparatory School, has been appointed to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn. He is the brother of Rachel Deptula of Tarpon Springs.

Awards

William V. Bunker, Area 11 chair of the Defense Department's Florida Committee of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, received the Seven Seals Award. The award, which symbolizes the seven reserve components, acknowledges his dedication to the committee.

Completion of training

Pvt. 2 Shawn William Helms, a 1998 graduate of Dunedin High School, completed cavalry scout training at Fort Knox, Ky., and will continue further training at that location. He is the son of Donald and Pamela Helms of Clearwater.

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Pfc. Jessica L. Livernois, a 2000 graduate of Countryside High School, has completed basic training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C., and the operating room specialist course in Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. She completed her internship at the Ireland Army Community Hospital at Fort Knox, Ky., and works as an operating technician at Sun Coast Hospital in Largo. She serves as a reservist in the St. Petersburg 73rd Field Hospital.

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Pfc. Matthew Rojas graduated from the military intelligence advanced individual training course at Fort Huachuca in Arizona and completed basic training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina. He will be stationed at Camp Zama in Japan. He is the son of Patricia Roesler.

-- To submit an item to this column, write to Lorri Helfand, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756.

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