Coast Guard cadets make history for diversity

CONNECTICUT - The new class of U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London had barely stepped on campus before making history...

Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.

By Brian Coleman, Brynn Gingras and LeAnne Gendreau
NBC Connecticut

The new class of U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London had barely stepped on campus before making history. The incoming class of about 290 incoming cadets might be the most diverse class in academy history, according to academy officials.

More than one-third, 34 percent, are from minority groups and 34 percent are women. As of July 2010, 29 percent of academy’s cadets were woman, 17 percent were minority and 43 states and 15 foreign nations were represented.

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“Our challenge, of course, has been to increase our minority numbers to better mirror what you see in American society and this year we’ve been really successful with that representation,” Chief Warrant Officer Kimberly Smith said

This is a historic year for the academy. Sandra L. Stosz recently took charge of the academy. She is the first female superintendent of any of the military service academies.

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