Rep. Wild Announces 2020 U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Appointee from PA-07

GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY – Today, U.S. Representative Susan Wild (PA-07) proudly announced that Thomas Xing, from Pennsylvania’s Seventh District, has accepted an appointment to attend the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy beginning this Summer. Nominated by Wild last year, Xing underwent a competitive application process and has joined the academy’s Class of 2024.

“It is a great privilege to nominate some of our community’s best and brightest young people to our nation’s service academies,” Wild said. “Thomas is an exemplary young man who has demonstrated true leadership at a young age. I’m thrilled that he will be representing our community at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and I am truly eager to see what he accomplishes as he continues his career of service.”

The United States Merchant Marine Academy is known for its rigorous academic program and the Academy’s Sea Year experience, which affords midshipmen the opportunity to acquire hands-on, real-world experiences aboard working commercial or military vessels sailing to ports around the world. This academy educates and graduates leaders who are committed to serve the national security, marine transportation, and economic needs of the United States as licensed Merchant Marine Officers and commissioned officers in the Armed Forces. With 95 percent of the world's products transported over water, these leaders are vital to the effective operation of our merchant fleet for both commercial and military transport in peace and war. Academy graduates abide by the motto: “Acta Non Verba," or "Deeds Not Words," and are leaders that exemplify the concept of service-above-self.

Thomas Xing, Nazareth, PA

Thomas is the son of Lan Ma and the brother of Tyler and Toby Xing. Throughout his high school career at Nazareth Area High School, Thomas has demonstrated strong leadership in and out of the classroom. A varsity basketball player, he is a dedicated athlete who represented the United States at the United World Games in Europe during which the USA Youth Basketball Team won a Bronze Medal. Thomas’ strong spirit of volunteerism has led him on several trips through international organizations to Peru, Ecuador, and Guatemala. Over the past several years, he also maintained a free neighborhood food pantry. Thomas has accepted an appointment to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and is the first in the history of Nazareth Area High School to attend this academy.

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