Volunteers help students navigate Naval Academy admissions

Aug. 17, 2010 - PRLog -- Officers of the U.S. Naval Academy Blue and Gold program for Central and South Texas will meet Saturday, Aug. 21, at TMI – The Episcopal School of Texas, to train volunteer recruiters for the upcoming college-admission season. New and returning recruiters will receive updated information about Academy admission requirements to share with prospective applicants and their families; teleconferencing will be available for officers in other locations.

Blue and Gold officers are an extension of the Naval Academy admission department, said Bruce Davis, a 1985 graduate and head of the regional recruitment program. These volunteers represent the Academy at college fairs, distribute catalogs and brochures to college counselors and conduct small-group meetings to share tips on navigating the dual application process of applying for admission and a nomination to the Academy.

Local volunteer recruiters include Naval Academy alumni, retired and active-duty military officers, college professors, parents of current Academy students or alumni and other professionals. “Community outreach is what we are all about,” said Blue and Gold officer Richard Villarreal, who recently completed recruiter training at the Academy in Annapolis, Md.  “The application process is long and complex.  We share information with applicants to help make them more competitive.”

Some volunteers who grew up in low-income areas specialize in working with students in their old neighborhoods. “Even if students set their sights on the Academy, then decide they would be happier at another college, we still win,” said Roman Sanchez Jr., a former Army officer who conducts workshops at Edison High School. “The most important thing is to motivate these young people into higher education.”

For help with Naval Academy admission, contact Davis at bruce.davis@parsons.com or 488-1688.

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About TMI – The Episcopal School of Texas: Founded in 1893, TMI is a private, co-educational, college-preparatory school for grades 6-12, with optional Junior ROTC and boarding programs. For information, visit www.tmi-sa.org or call 698-7171.