HM1(SW/DSW/FPJ) Michael Rodrigues, leading petty officer of the Naval Station Annapolis Dive Locker, was selected as the Senior Sailor of the Year. Rodrigues is the lead instructor of the petty officer indoctrination course and serves as the president of the First Class Association. He also actively mentors junior Sailors as the Naval Station Annapolis Mentorship program manager.

HM2(SW/AW/FMF) Lisa Van Winkle, leading petty officer in Bancroft Hall Dental Clinic's Endodontic Department, was recognized as the Junior Sailor of the Year. Van Winkle is responsible for immunization of more than 2,200 midshipmen, training four junior Sailors and managing a $160,000 operating budget.

HN Talha Aziz, assigned to the Naval Health Clinic, Annapolis, was selected as the Blue Jacket of the Year. Aziz helps medical officers provide care for more than 2,800 patients. He is a member of the command color guard and is a basic life support instructor.

The corpsmen were three of nine nominees left standing after Naval Academy Command Master Chief Bernard Quibilan, who acted as master of ceremonies, introduced all the Sailors who had been nominated and briefly listed their contributions and achievements.

The remaining six nominees included EM1(SW) Gaston Hatfield, an instructor and supervisor in the naval architecture and ocean engineering department within the division of engineering and weapons; MU1 James Fowler, leading petty officer of the Naval Academy Band; HM1(SW/AW/FMF) Richard Guerrero, leading petty officer at Brigade Medical in Bancroft Hall; YN2(SS) Roberto Ocampo, the leading yeoman at Naval Station Annapolis; MM2 Abdalla Tawfik, who has served as an instructor in the engineering and weapons labs and as an adjunct in the language studies department; and HTFN Jeffrey Rose, a maintenance man in hull division at the Naval Station.

"They are leaders, administrators and technicians. They are parents, sons, daughters, brothers and sisters, but more importantly, they are Sailors," said Quibilan.

He said Navy leaders, fellow shipmates, family and friends took time out of their work day to recognize those Sailors who have performed diligently in their duties, contributed to the mission of their commands and that of the Navy.

Vice Adm. Rodney P. Rempt, Naval Academy superintendent, said that he was proud of all the nominees and any one of them could proudly serve as the Sailor of the Year.

"Each one of these nominees has been a leader in some aspect, whether they are a petty officer, a new fireman or corpsman," said Vice Adm. Rempt. "People like them make a difference."

The Sailors of the Year received their orders and awards and a special presentation was made by Devanice Ball from Lincoln Military Housing.

"The cream rises to the top. This is your cream of the crop," said Quibilan.