Olivia’s father, Michael Palutis, a U.S. Army veteran and commander at the Fort Monmouth Memorial Chapter of Disabled American Veterans (DAV), is her hero and inspired her passion for veterans’ issues.
“All I heard growing up was ‘Go Army, Beat Navy,’ but that all changed after my dad visited the Academy. He’s on board with it,” Palutis said of her decision to go to the Naval Academy.
She started out helping her father organize DAV chapter meetings and events, and her involvement with veterans’ causes has grown from there. As the Battalion Community Affairs Officer for the MAST Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC), Palutis organized an effort to place U.S. flags on veterans’ gravesites at the Bay View Cemetery in Leonardo, NJ. In addition, she recently crocheted 10 blankets, which took about 10 hours each to make, for wheelchair-bound patients at the East Orange VA Medical Center. She will deliver them in person during MAST’s spring break.
“I visited the hospital with my father and saw patients outside waiting in the cold for their families to come,” Palutis said. “I thought the blankets could be something I could do to recognize the service they gave to our country and help keep them warm as they wait.”
A resident of Ocean Township, Palutis has always lived within walking distance of the water and has a deep affinity for the shore and the ocean. She helped organize several beach sweeps in partnership with Clean Ocean Action in her role as the MAST NJROTC Community Affairs Officer. Her studies at MAST have helped fuel that passion and she plans to study oceanography at the Naval Academy.
“Ms. Baskin (Liza Baskin-Arboleda) who teaches research and oceanography is great,” Palutis said. “She taught us different ways to conduct research and going out on the boat with her and learning about all the different kinds of fish in the ocean was awesome.”
Another MAST teacher who influenced Palutis’ path at MAST is math teacher Kathleen Tomalesky. Math was one thing Palutis didn’t have a passion for and Tomalesky helped her become more than a better math student.
“She helped me become way more confident and way more focused on my studies,” Palutis said. “She was how I was able to grow and change so much as a student.”
In addition, Palutis said she matured at MAST and learned the time management and study skills it will take to be successful at the Naval Academy. She will leave for the academy on June 26 – just six days after her graduation from MAST. An outstanding athlete, she plans on running track and cross country for the Navy.
“Our naval science instructors at MAST really prepared us well,” Palutis. “They made sure we pay close attention to detail, which has become ingrained in my head.”
Michael Palutis said he has noticed how his daughter has matured since going to MAST, which he expressed in a letter to MAST Principal Earl Moore.
“These past four years at MAST have been transformative and Olivia would not have made such amazing achievements without the support of you, your dedicated staff and the NJROTC Cadre,” Palutis wrote.
Palutis said he could not be prouder of this daughter’s accomplishments and her Presidential Nomination to the U.S. Naval Academy. “When Olivia runs, I will be her biggest fan – sporting Navy gear,” Palutis said. “I’m a convert – Go Navy, Beat Army!”
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