Chatham’s John Casano-Boris Selected To Attend US Naval Academy

CHATHAM, NJ — He just graduated from Chatham High School and now John "Jack" Casano-Boris, 18, is readying for the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

Casano-Boris was one of 23 students throughout the 11th U.S. Congressional District who Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, D-11th Dist., recently announced as one of the appointees in her district.

Sherrill herself is a Naval Academy graduate, having finished her studies there in 1994, before a decade-long career as one of the Navy’s Sea King helicopter pilots and a Russian policy officer.

During his high school’s award ceremony on June 3, Patrick Hurley - a 1987 Naval Academy graduate and Academy Admission Blue and Gold Officer assigned to Chatham High School - gave him his appointment. He spoke about Casano-Boris’ achievements to become a part of the Academy's Class of 2025.

“Upon graduation in four years he will receive one of the most prestigious academic degrees in the world, while also taking an oath to become a commissioned officer, a leader of the great men and women from across this nation who have volunteered to serve in the United States Navy and Marine Corp,” Hurley said.

At that same ceremony, Casano-Boris was given a Business Commitment to Excellence Award, one of the school’s Department Awards. At graduation, he received the American Legion Post #92 Scholarship, he said.

When Casano-Boris heads to the Naval Academy, he told Patch he plans to major in Engineering or Quantitative Economics.

While at Chatham High School, Casano-Boris played varsity basketball and was a three-year varsity letter winner, having additionally served as the team's captain. He was also an AAU basketball program student athlete with the Riverside Hawks, a Harlem-based team, which he said has more than 100 former players who ended up in the NBA.

“I plan on trying out for the Division 1 Basketball Team over Plebe Summer at the Naval Academy,” he added.

Casano-Boris says he also enjoys running and swimming.

Among his leadership roles in high school, he said, was having served as a volunteer with the Chatham Borough Farmers’ Market and as an Elected Youth Advisor with Chatham Town Hall. While he was involved with the Farmers’ Market, Casano-Boris said he organized - as club president as well for the Wounded Warrior Project - a stand at the market for the project, where he fundraised over $2,000 cumulatively to benefit Community Hope, which helps provide shelter to veterans.

He also taught close to 20 STEM-related classes at the Library of the Chathams, for children between first and third grades, with the “Super Science” course he created.

At Chatham High School, Casano-Boris was the Key Club Treasurer, who helped to manage more than $8,000 in club finances, he said.

The full list of students honored in NJ-11 who accepted service academy appointments were:

Jenna Bargfrede, Sparta – US Naval Academy
John Casano-Boris, Chatham – US Naval Academy
Jordan Quiles, West Orange – US Naval Academy
Colin Ramos, Wayne – US Naval Academy
Kenneth Johnson, Boonton – US Naval Academy
Nicholas Amoroso, Montville – US Military Academy
Darius Sattari, Morristown – US Military Academy
Clayton Bernauer, Parsippany – US Military Academy
Thomas Dean, Sparta – US Military Academy
Robert Blacha, Wayne – US Military Academy
Royson Folas, West Orange – US Military Academy
Hyunmook Kang, Montville – US Military Academy
James Conti, Caldwell – US Military Academy
Tomas Hut, Nutley – US Military Academy
Justin Chorstowski, Butler – US Military Academy
Patrick McCabe, Madison – US Military Academy
Kevin LaCouture, Wanaque – US Air Force Academy
Connor Manion, Morris Plains – US Air Force Academy
Hydar Aran, Lake Hiawatha – US Air Force Academy
Yong Seong Cho, Livingston – US Air Force Academy
Benjamin Endersby, Caldwell – US Merchant Marine Academy
Matthew Son, Secaucus – US Merchant Marine Academy
Arthur Dozier, Southampton – US Merchant Marine Academy

Questions or comments about this story? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.