San Miguel Academy is proud to announce that Christopher Recinos and Christian Recinos were accepted to the United States Naval Academy! Christopher and Christian each received Congressional Nominations from Representative Pat Ryan of New York District 18. After graduating from San Miguel Academy in 2020, Christopher attended The Mount Academy in Esopus, NY, and Christian attended Suffield Academy in Suffield, CT. Both young men have been dedicated student-athletes and exemplary community members.

David Terwilliger, A320 Captain, Major, U.S.N. retired, who oversees San Miguel Academy’s STEMPilot program, is himself a graduate of the US Naval Academy and has acted as a field representative for the Naval Academy admission process. He recognizes the significance of the situation: “Entire school districts rarely have even a single academy applicant and impoverished inner-city schools seldom have even one. To have two applicants from a small middle school class, each with the resume to compete for one of the most competitive institutions in the country is a tremendous accomplishment.” Christopher recently reminded Father Mark Connell, Executive Director and one of the School’s founders, that he told him in 7th grade that he could be one of the first to attend a service academy.

San Miguel Academy is a small independent middle school in Newburgh, NY, founded in 2006 to break the cycle of poverty through education. Christopher and Christian will join the ranks of many San Miguel Academy alumni who have gone on to serve their country either through ROTC or enlistment. Currently, two San Miguel Academy graduates are serving as commissioned naval officers in the Pacific fleet. Several others are reservists, some of whom have been called to active duty for extended periods.