Naval Academy Awarded Third Meritorious Unit Commendation

The Naval Academy received its third Meritorious Unit Commendation from the secretary of the Navy Dec. 8.

The Honorable Ray Mabus presented the citation to the Brigade of Midshipmen, faculty and staff during a ceremony held in Mahan Hall on the Naval Academy Yard.

"I thought it was important to recognize you all in a formal way," said Mabus. "I don't give many MUCs ... but you have earned it as much as any of our forward-deployed forces, as much as any of our warriors have, out protecting this country - as you made possible."

The award recognized the academy's significant achievements from Aug. 1, 2013 to Oct. 1, 2015. The Meritorious Unit Commendation recognizes superior mission accomplishment and is comparable to achievements which would merit the presentation of a Bronze Star Medal to an individual.

The award, signed by Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson, specifically cited the establishment of the academy's "flagship cybersecurity" program, including required cyber courses for all midshipmen and the development of the cyber operations major.

The award also recognized the Naval Academy's U.S. News and World Report rankings during that time period as the "#1 Top Public School," the "#9 Liberal Arts School," and the "#5 Best Engineering School."

According to the citation, the academy "increased its applicant pool by 60 percent, while admitting the highest number of female and minority candidates in its history. In addition, the academy won a record number of league titles, earned numerous national awards for athletes and coaches, and was awarded the Patriot League President's Cup for the best school in conference for the third time in four years."

During the presentation, Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Adm. Ted Carter invited a number of faculty, staff and athletic coaches to the stage.

"This is a complex organization," said Carter. "There are so many people here who make our mission run. These are critical leaders in every element of the Naval Academy.

"We are very honored that the Navy has recognized the Naval Academy with such an award on behalf of this incredible group of professionals," Carter continued. "I am so proud to be a very small part of of this institution and lead everyone from our faculty to our staff to those who take care of the midshipmen to those who run the ships and sailboats - to every aspect of this Naval Academy."

The last time the Naval Academy received the Meritorious Unit Commendation was in 2008.

USNA Midshipmen hold 26th Annual Giving Tree Ceremony

By Petty Officer Brianna Jones

The United States Naval Academy and the Salvation Army held the 26th annual Giving Tree lighting ceremony Nov. 29 in the rotunda of Bancroft Hall.

Each year, midshipmen from 6th Company decorate the tree with paper angel ornaments that contain the age, gender and gift wish-list of a child in need from the greater Annapolis area.

The midshipmen as well as faculty and staff are encouraged to take an angel from the tree and purchase a holiday gift for the child the ornament represents.

“I love seeing our Naval Academy family rally around a cause like this,” said Midshipman 2nd Class Anna Paz. “Most of us have sponsor families that are community members here in the Annapolis community, we are fortunate to have the support we do, it’s always great to give back any chance we can.

This year, USNA is expecting to provide gifts for approximately 500 children.

"This event, to me, represents one of the purest forms of giving," said Midshipman 1st Class Cabot Bisbee. "Those involved will likely never meet the child they sponsor, and the child won't ever know where the gifts came from."

Despite the fact that they remain anonymous, people will spend hundreds of dollars just to ensure that a stranger has a happy holiday.

“The Naval Academy ‘adopts’ the most kids that we have,” said Lt. Laurie Ferraez, of the Annapolis Salvation Army. “A lot of the support the children get comes from the Naval Academy this time of year. These donations can really brighten a child’s holiday.”

Many of the wishlists include items like electronics, musical instruments, bicycles, winter clothes and footwear.

The angels with the children's names and gift suggestions are provided by the Salvation Army. Each child is from a household where their parent or guardians do not have the extra income to provide holiday gifts.

“I know my fellow midshipman have been working tirelessly on the physical, moral and educational mission,” said Paz. “Annapolis provides us with great support, and being able to give back perfectly wraps up the end of a hard semester.”

The unwrapped donations will be placed under the Giving Tree by Dec. 13th when the Salvation Army will collect, wrap and distribute the gifts to the children.

USNA Midshipman Dies of Illness

The Naval Academy is mourning the death of Midshipman First Class (senior) Jason Jablonski, 21, of Orchard Park, N.Y., who died yesterday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after a fight against leukemia.

“Midshipman Jablonski was well known by fellow Midshipmen for his tremendous optimism and ability to have a positive impact on everyone he met, even in the face a disease like leukemia,” said Naval Academy Commandant Marine Col. Steve Liszewski. “His attitude and fighting spirit can serve as an inspiration to us all, and his passing is a humble reminder about the value of life.”

Jablonski was diagnosed with leukemia in August of this year and was receiving treatment at Walter Reed since the diagnosis. His condition deteriorated significantly over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and his immune system surrendered to an infection. He was surrounded by his family and fellow midshipmen when he died at approximately 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 27.

Jablonski is a graduate of Saint Francis High School in Athol Springs, N.Y. At the Naval Academy, Jablonski was a member of the 13th Company and the men's (club) ice hockey team. Academically he was an economics major and was on the Superintendent’s list for the past three semesters and on the Commandant’s list every semester during his time at the academy. He previously held positions in his company as a platoon sergeant and a squad leader.

The Naval Academy is supporting the midshipman’s family, friends, and loved ones during this time of grief. Grief counseling services and support are made available to midshipmen, faculty and staff through chains of command, our chaplains, and the Midshipmen Development Center.

Funeral arrangements are pending at this time.

USNA Midshipman Named One of 32 Rhodes Scholars

Midshipman 1st Class (senior) Lucy Ford, 21, of St. Augustine, Fla., was recently selected as the Naval Academy’s 50th Rhodes Scholar. Nearly 900 applicants were endorsed by over 300 schools for one of the 32 scholarships awarded this year.

Ford is an ocean engineering major at the Naval Academy where she focuses on environmental change and energy. She currently serves as the 5th Battalion Commander and is the co-chairman of the Naval Academy Science and Engineering Conference. She is involved in the Women’s Glee Club and mentors youth through the Anne Arundel County Teen Court. As part of a semester exchange, she studied at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore during her junior year.

This past summer Ford received the Summer International Service Leadership (SISL) grant to travel to Kigali, Rwanda where she worked to develop energy policy and increase health care access, electrifying health clinics in rural Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo with sustainable and reliable electricity.

Ford plans to pursue a Master’s of Science in Nature, Society, and Environmental Governance with a focus in Energy Policy followed by a Master’s of Science in Economics for Development at Oxford.

Ford will attend Nuclear Power School after graduating from Oxford to become a submarine officer.

Rhodes Scholarships provide two to three years of study at the University of Oxford in England. Rhodes Scholars are chosen based on high academic achievement, integrity of character, a spirit of unselfishness, respect for others, potential for leadership and physical vigor. The value of the Rhodes Scholarship varies depending on the academic field, the degree pursued, and the college chosen at Oxford. The Rhodes Trust pays all college and university fees, provides a stipend to cover necessary expenses while in residence in Oxford as well as during vacations, and transportation to and from England.