District 196 High Schools Recognize Seniors Choosing Military Service After Graduation

Press release from Independent School District 196:

May 31, 2022

All four comprehensive high schools in District 196 held ceremonies in May to recognize seniors who have enlisted in the military and will be departing for service after they graduate. Apple Valley and Eastview high schools held ceremonies the week of May 16 and Eagan High School’s ceremony was May 26.

Rosemount High School held its Military Recognition Ceremony for the Class of 2022 on Monday, May 23, in the school’s Performing Arts Center. Principal Pete Roback presided, the Rosemount High School Brass Ensemble and Chamber Singers gave performances, and Sergeant General Major John Carlson of the U.S., Army’s 34th Infantry Division made remarks and administered the ceremonial oath to the 18 Rosemount seniors in the Class of 2022 who will be entering the military after graduation.

Before taking the oath as a group, one by one, each of the students shared what branch of the military they will be serving, their selected area of expertise, the name of their recruiter and their reasons they joined the military. Students repeatedly cited a commitment to serve their country, along with earning opportunity for college, continuing a family tradition and strengthening their discipline as their reasons for enlisting in the military after high school.

Of the 18 Rosemount seniors, 15 are entering the Army National Guard and the other three earned academy appointments: Matthew Condon, U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn.; Joshua Liggett, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., and Calli Maskel, U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. Names of the Army National Guard enlistees are Ramani Arunachalam, Blaike Bellikka, Ibrahim Chouman, Michael Cline, Brock Edelen, Taylor Fritz, Samuel Gerten, Alex Johnson, Jacob Lewis, Eric Martin, Brennan Pavek, Johann Phillips, Collin Ruka, Ty Salak and Parker Stakston.

Apple Valley High seniors entering the military include Travis Bender, U.S. Army, Alonso Delgado-De Leon, U.S. Marines and Sean Haley, Air National Guard.

Eagan High seniors entering the military include Ethan Brockberg and Noah Johnson, U.S. Air Force and Evan Fleischhacker, MN Air National Guard.

Eastview High seniors entering the military include Maura Hewitt, Naval Academy, Payton LaSota, Air Force Academy, Ethan Taylor, Air Force, Kidus Zelalem and Biruk Zelalem, Navy. Names of the Army National Guard enlistees are Vivian Asani, Reece Cox, Luke Habeck, Jessie Morrisette, Braelee Mueller, Tysen Myers and Daiqone Wright.

View photos from the high school ceremonies

This press release was produced by Independent School District 196. The views expressed here are the author’s own.