Olivia Lutkevich accepted to the U.S. Naval Academy

PUHI — Olivia Lutkevich, a senior at Island School, had a treat, Monday when she was personally congratulated by Congressman Kai Kahele on her acceptance to the U.S. Naval Academy as a Congressional appointee.

Kahele’s visit to Island School also included fielding questions from students in one of the school’s social studies classes, led by Island School instructor Pat Gegan.

Following the nearly hour-long discussions that spanned a variety of topics ranging from Kahele’s childhood days to Olelo Hawai‘i on the floors of Congress, Kahele congratulated Lutkevich on her acceptance to the U.S. Naval Academy.

“She started this process a long time ago,” Gegan said. “Her initial application was through Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. When Tulsi decided she was going to run for the presidency, and following Kahele’s election to fill the vacancy, Kai picked up where Tulsi had left off to complete the appointment.”

Lutkevich will be joining her brother who is also enrolled at the U.S. Naval Academy, and Waimea High School senior Luke Dela Pena of Kalaheo who was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy by Sen. Brian Schatz, the appointment coming in February.

“It is my privilege to nominate exceptional students from Hawai‘i for appointment to the United States service academies,” Kahele said on his social media pages where a photo of the congratulatory certificate was posted. “Today, I had the opportunity to make a special presentation to Olivia Lutkevich from Island School Voyagers Kaua‘i for her acceptance to the U.S. Naval Academy. Congratulations, Olivia!”

Wyatt Hartsell, a senior at Waimea High School, was also appointed to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point by Sen. Mazie Hirono.

Lutkevich, a strong runner with the Voyagers’ running programs, earlier told the Hawai‘i Business magazine that “her dream college is the U.S. Naval Academy where she hopes to major in English, or environmental science.”

Joining Lutkevich in the social studies class, Island School senior Jaden DeSouza, another strong Voyager runner, had plans to sign a Letter of Intent to the Saint Mary’s College of California.