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Updated: December 6, 2024 @ 3:35 am
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Conner DeMann, center, with family, friends and U.S Marines Captain Edgardo Diaz, at Monday’s check ceremony at Newburyport High School.
Conner DeMann, center, with family, friends and U.S Marines Captain Edgardo Diaz, at Monday’s check ceremony at Newburyport High School.
NEWBURYPORT — Newburyport High School senior Conner DeMann’s impending college experience got off to a remarkable start Monday when he was awarded a $180,000 Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps national scholarship.
“I’m really excited about this,” DeMann said. “I worked really hard for it and am excited to see it all pay off.”
The scholarships are offered to candidates interested in joining the U.S. Marines or Navy with DeMann receiving his scholarship under the Marine Corps. option.
U.S Marines Captain Edgardo Diaz said DeMann was one of 32 scholarship winners from a pool of over 120 applicants on the Eastern seaboard.
“Conner was my top candidate. He is very polished and his body of work is extremely impressive,” Diaz said. “He has a desire to serve, based on his family lineage and some other values that are important to him. So I think he’s going to be a phenomenal asset to the Marine Corps., and ultimately the nation.”
DeMann’s mother, Tami said she and her family are very proud of her son.
“He’s an overachiever,” she said. “He’s a smart kid who loves his family and is a good leader.”
As part of Monday’s ceremony at the high school, DeMann was joined by family and friends as he received an oversized check from the NROTC program.
Diaz explained the scholarship will pay for either the young man’s housing or full tuition throughout his undergraduate career at whatever college or university he wants to go to, (as long as it has a Marine ROTC program).
Conner DeMann will also receive a monetary stipend throughout as well as money for other educational expenses like books, lab fees and uniforms.
The 17-year-old will be an NROTC midshipman in college, according to Diaz, who said he will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marines when he graduates.
“Then he will begin his journey throughout the Marines,” Diaz said.
Conner DeMann said he chose the Marines after hearing his veteran father, Timothy DeMann tell stories about his days in the Corps.
“I want to serve my country and that really motivated me,” he said. “I believe the Marines should best foster that interest.”
Tami DeMann said her son began the scholarship’s application process last spring.
“He had to go through a whole gamut of things,” she said. “He had to have the right grades, GPA test scores and volunteer hours. He also had to prove he had leadership skills and go through an oral interview.”
Conner DeMann said he currently has a weighted GPA of 4.6.
Passing the physical tests proved to be no trouble as Conner DeMann plays varsity soccer and tennis at NHS, according to his mother.
“He scored really high on that,” Tami DeMann said.
Conner DeMann said he is interested in obtaining an engineering degree with Notre Dame University, Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia, or University of California San Diego his top choices.
He also thanked his family for all their support.
“They really motivated me to put in the work, both at school and outside,” DeMann said.
Staff writer Jim Sullivan covers Newburyport for The Daily News. He can be reached via email at jsullivan@newburyportnews.com or by phone at 978-961-3145. Follow him on Twitter @ndnsully.
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