Local Naval Academy grads reflect on meeting the president

President Donald Trump, after shaking hands with 1,042 graduates at the United States Naval Academy, was given a gift — a stein, with crests of the academy and its Class of 2018. Handing it to him was Snohomish High School graduate Daniel Stitt.

Trump was the commencement speaker for the May 25 graduation at Annapolis, Maryland. Stitt, as president of the Naval Academy’s Class of 2018, also gave a speech.

The 2011 Snohomish High graduate earned a broad smile and an exuberant nod from Trump with this introductory remark: “From one president to another,” said Stitt — who in a quiet aside added “classic joke” — “and on behalf of the Class of 2018, I’d like to present you with a gift.”

“That moment was definitely surreal,” Stitt, 25, said Thursday from Annapolis.

His father, Peter Stitt, graduated from the Naval Academy 35 years ago, in 1983. Daniel Stitt, now a Navy ensign planning to become a submariner, is one of several 2018 Naval Academy graduates from Snohomish County.

Each graduate receives a bachelor of science degree and takes an oath of office. They are commissioned as either an ensign in the U.S. Navy or a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Ben Johnston, a 2014 Snohomish High School graduate, is now a Marine second lieutenant. With graduation behind him, he’ll head to Quantico, Virginia, for Marine officers’ training at The Basic School, said his father, David Johnston, a Snohomish School Board member.

“What he wants to do is infantry, on-the-ground operations,” David Johnston said of his son. Ben Johnston, who played for the Naval Academy’s rugby team, was featured in The Herald as a Super Kid in 2014.

Blake Guidice, another 2018 academy graduate, is a former Herald Super Kid too. A 2014 graduate of Everett’s Cascade High School, the 22-year-old Guidice earned a bachelor of science in nuclear engineering. Honored by a “blue chip” selection process, Guidice will join the crew of the USS John P. Murtha, a ship based in San Diego, later this month.

Guidice, now home in Everett, said it was a “really cool thing” that Daniel Stitt presented the gift to Trump. Being in one of the last companies to shake hands with Trump, Guidice said, “I had to wait awhile to go up there.” When he was face to face with Trump, Guidice said the president told him, “Congratulations, great job, nice work.”

“It was a very surreal interaction. He’s not only president, but my commander in chief,” said Guidice, who like other graduates owes the military five years of service.

Two other young men from the area are 2018 Naval Academy graduates. Nicholas Taglialavore, of Mukilteo, was in Kamiak High School’s class of 2014. The son of Mike and Debbie Taglialavore, he plans to attend the Navy nuclear propulsion course in the Charleston, South Carolina, area. His sister, Laura, is also a Naval Academy graduate.

And Bothell’s Benjamin Anderson, a graduate of Cedar Park Christian High School, earned a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering, as Taglialavore did.

Daniel Stitt, whose mother Melissa Stitt teaches math at Snohomish High School, took a longer road to the academy than most. After high school, he attended Everett Community College, then enlisted in the Navy. Before going to the academy, he attended the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Rhode Island.

He was a Naval Academy sophomore when he ran for class president, a post he’ll keep for about a decade. His winning campaign motto was “Stitt happens.”

“It’s a carefree catch-all,” he said. “I say it when times are good and when times are bad.”

Walt Guidice, Blake’s father, described Trump as “very commander-in-chiefish,” and said the president’s speech honored graduates and was well received.

The Guidices made the weeklong schedule of graduation events a family affair. Along with Blake’s dad and mother, Crystal, his sisters Brooke and Brielle were there. There were campus tours and a dressy Navy ball.

Security was tight, with an obvious Secret Service presence. “President Trump flew over in his helicopter first. It was cool, the pilot kind of dipped,” Walt Guidice said. A Blue Angels fly-over was part of graduation day. The president steered clear of political rhetoric during a speech that lasted about 35 minutes, he said.

“I was very impressed,” said Walt Guidice, who was amazed by Trump’s stamina. With temperatures in the mid-80s, Trump stood shaking hands for about two hours. Those handshakes weren’t cursory, he said. “He looked them in the eye and seemed really, really personable.”

The last midshipman received more than a handshake. Trump “gave him a great big hug,” Walt Guidice said.

“He gave a speech one might think he would,” said David Johnston. “It was supportive of the military. Some kids probably had political qualms about some of it, but he received a warm welcome.

“It was a special day,” Johnston added. “You get a much better appreciation of the sacrifices people make to keep us all safe.”

Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460; jmuhlstein@herald net.com.