Three Notre Dame Preparatory School seniors have been accepted to the United States Naval Academy (USNA). These acceptances are unprecedented at NDP, as this is the first time that three Blazers in the same class have been accepted to the Naval Academy, considered the most competitive service academy in the United States. Latest rankings list the acceptance rate to the USNA at 8.5%.
The students’ matriculation comes at an historic time for women at the Academy: for the first time ever, a woman, Rear Adm. Yvette Davids, has been nominated to be the superintendent of the USNA.
Headed to Annapolis this summer are:
- Samantha Farley—During her time at NDP, Samantha has focused on STEAM activities, including CyberPatriots and Fire Protection Engineering; in addition, she co-captained the crew team, played cello, and served as the captain of the Mock Trial team. For her the USNA offers outstanding academics and leadership opportunities: “It gives me a chance to be fulfilled academically and serve my country.” Samantha plans to pursue political science and eventually law school with the hopes of one day being named a member of the prestigious JAG Corps.
- AnneMarie Gallo—President of NDP’s Science National Honor Society and co-captain of the Crew Team, AnneMarie looks forward to diving into Naval Academy culture. “You get an introduction to teamwork from day one,” she says. “It’s so deeply rooted in tradition, and I am excited to be a part of it all.” AnneMarie plans to major in Surface Warfare with the goal of going to dental school.
- Maya Mercadante—For the past several summers, Maya has attended summer camp at the Naval Academy, with an eye to one day becoming a midshipman. Her interest in computers led her to become president of both NDP’s Computer National Honor Society and Cyber Club. In addition, she is captain of the basketball team and a member of the Asian Students Association. As a midshipman, Maya looks forward to “being a part of a team in daily life.” She knows life at the Academy will be regimented, but the daily routine and discipline “make sense in [her] mind.” Continuing her interest in “cyber ops,” Maya plans to pursue a cybersecurity degree and career path.
Notre Dame Prep’s Class of 2023 includes 151 students, all of whom are attending a four-year college or university. At this time more than 600 merit scholarships totaling nearly $36 million have been awarded to 95% of the class.