Sisters youth tries for Naval Academy

Kate Canja. photo provided Kate Canja is following a family tradition. The Sisters High School senior is pointed toward a career in the military, specifically the U.S. Navy via the U.S. Naval Academy.

Recently, U.S. Representative Greg Walden nominated Kate as one of eight Central Oregon high school students for admission to the service academies.

Walden's office had received over 70 requests for nomination to one of the service academies: U.S. Military Academy at West Point (USMA), U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), and U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA).

Other Central Oregon nominees were from Bend, Redmond, Prineville and Madras.

According to Walden, "Being nominated to one of America's service academies represents years of hard work and discipline. Competing with the best and brightestof America's youth for an appointment to a military academy is both a tremendous opportunity and a great honor."

Applying for a nomination is just the beginning process in applying to an academy. Initial selection criteria for nomination by Walden included grades, service and extra-curricular activities, and an essay on "Why I want to go to a service academy."

From there Canja was selected to undergo an intensive interview by "military higher-ups" which included at least one admiral.

On January 2, Kate received a phone call informing her that she is an official "candidate." She expects to receive a formal application from the USNA this week. Then comes a medical examination, the Physical Aptitude Exam and an interview by a trained Naval Academy Information Officer.

Then she hopes to receive a formal appointment, one of 1,500 (out of 4,000 applicants).

The Physical Aptitude Test requires male applicants to accomplish (female in parentheses) a one-mile run in 10:30 minutes (12:40), 40 push-ups in 2 minutes (18), and 65 sit-ups in two minutes (same).

The Canja family came to Sisters via the transfer of Kate's mother, Judy, a Bonneville Power employee, from Portland to Redmond in December, 1997. Judy finished her work and was transferred back to Portland in June, 1998. She returned to the Portland area with Kate's older sister, Libby. Kate stayed in Sisters with her father, Saf, to attend Sisters Middle School.

The family reunited back in Portland in time for Kate to start high school at Jesuit High School. After two years, the family moved back to Sisters and Kate is completing her high school career here. Meanwhile, Kate's sisters are attending Oregon colleges, Libby at OSU and Christine at the U of O.

Canja has achieved a 3.7 gpa, is vice-president of both the student body and the Key Club, and participates in Special Friends, where she mentors two Hispanic elementary school students. She is in her fourth year of Spanish.

Athletically, she is on the varsity swimming and softball teams. Her first love is swimming and she is a lifeguard at Black Butte Ranch.

Kate is also an accomplished musician. She has played the piano since age five, plays saxophone in the high school band, and sings in the jazz choir.

At the Naval Academy Kate plans to specialize in aerospace engineering.

She said that 60 percent of those accepted to the academy have engineering interests.