Announcements

A long-standing, childhood dream has come true for South High School senior, John Hogsett, who has been appointed to the United States Naval Academy. Immediately after graduation from South, John will travel to Plebe Summer in Annapolis, Maryland for seven weeks of intensive training and classes. After the seven weeks, John enters the Naval Officer’s class of 2015.

“I am incredibly honored that one of our students has been chosen to serve his country by pursuing a degree at the United States Naval Academy. John’s determination, persistence, and selfless leadership qualities make him a superb candidate. He's a remarkable role model and a naturally-born leader with enormous self-respect and dignity, and his appointment is huge for the South community,” said a proud Steve Wera, South principal.

Ranked in the school’s top 5 percent of seniors, John is a member of the National Honor Society, the Student Senate, and was elected to the prestigious Denver Public Schools’ Student Board of Education. John is also a member of South’s lacrosse team and has been named MVP in several city and state-wide championships. He was a member of the school’s JROTC, and in his freshman and sophomore years, he acquired Certificates of Commendation for “Outstanding First Year Cadet” and “Cadet Battalion Security Officer.”

John also received first place in the Denver Public Schools Air Rifle championship, a ROTC Bronze medal, and a Certificate of Achievement from the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) and the United States Air Force Academy. John has received Varsity Letters in Rifle, JROTC, lacrosse, and soccer, as well as an Academic Letter.

Appointed to the Academy by former South alum, United States Congresswoman Diana DeGette, John proclaimed, “I am humbled and honored and there are simply too, too many people to thank for this distinction. Mr. Wera is definitely one person who helped me along the way, because he’s known that I’ve wanted this since the 5th grade when he was Assistant Principal at Slavens.” Added Steve Wera, I am confident that John Hogsett will serve his country with pride and he will take his selection to the United States Naval Academy with the highest dignity, respect, and honor that his appointment deserves.”

Congratulations, John Hogsett, you are tribute to your school and all of the students in the district!

If you would like to nominate a Denver Public Schools student or teacher to be featured in the Spotlight section, e-mail us at Goodnews@dpsk12.org. Please include a photo with a write-up on the nominee's accomplishments. Photos of students require a signed media consent form, which you can fax to 720.423.3611. (Spanish version within same document.)

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