Brewster, NY – Assemblyman Kevin Byrne (R, C, I, SAM,ROS – Mahopac) is pleased to announce that recent Carmel High School graduate Matthew Demme of Patterson, NY has been awarded a full-tuition scholarship to SUNY Maritime College in Throggs Neck, NY. Matthew was a candidate for this rare scholarship through SUNY Maritime’s Cadet Appointment Program (CAP), which requires applicants to have high academic standing, be a member of the Regiment of Cadets, and receive a nomination from either a state assemblyperson or state senator. A state legislator can only nominate one student attending the college at a time – meaning there must not be a current student within the legislator’s respective district receiving the CAP scholarship at the time of nomination.
Given the rarity of this scholarship’s availability to students in the district, Assemblyman Byrne created a local nominating committee consisting of various local community leaders with naval experience to assist him in the scholarship review process. Committee members included Kent Highway Superintendent and Marine veteran Richard Othmer, Marine and Army veteran Jack Duncan, and Navy veteran Louis Liotti who also serves as a member of the 18th Congressional District’s U.S. Military Academy Nominating Committee. Members of the committee were on hand with Assemblyman Byrne to interview Matthew on Monday, June 28th.
“Each member of our nominating committee was thoroughly impressed by Mathew’s presentation, academic record, and commitment to community service,” said Byrne. “This particular scholarship is only offered to a select few each year. I’m proud to say that this year with our nomination one of our community’s own will receive the honor. Mathew has earned it and I congratulate him.”
“Thank you to Assemblyman Byrne and the veterans that were on hand to conduct my interview for the Cadet Appointment Program,” said Matthew Demme. “I am eager to continue my academic and athletic career at Maritime College. Furthermore, I look forward to joining the Regiment of Cadets and the Navy (ROTC) Strategic Sealift Officer program.”
“SUNY Maritime College provides students with opportunities for a prestigious education and industry experience,” said Dana Caponong, Transfer Coordinator at SUNY Maritime. “The Cadet Appointment Program Scholarship is provided to top applicants and Matthew Demme is surely one of our incoming students that stood out!”
Matthew is opting to earn his US Coast Guard Deck license to become a Third Mate aboard a commercial vessel. Requirements for the Cadet Appointment Program at Maritime College state that the student must be a member of the Regiment of Cadets at Maritime College, must receive a nomination from a state legislator in an open-district, and must have a high grade point average.
Learn more about SUNY Maritime at www.sunymaritime.edu
The above information was previously distributed and made public for immediate release by the Office of Assemblyman Kevin Byrne