The 2000 West Point Society of the District of Columbia Distinguished Member Award is presented to Lieutenant Colonel John Nicholas Lesko, Jr. for his exemplary service to West Point, the West Point Society of the District of Columbia, his class, and to his community. Lieutenant Colonel Lesko has exemplified the motto "Duty, Honor, Country" through distinguished and selfless service during active and reserve duty and in his civilian career while serving as the Society's Career Advisory Chairman.

Lieutenant Colonel Lesko assumed chairmanship of the West Point Society of the District of Columbia Career Advisory Service in 1995 and immediately undertook the responsibilities associated with this important Society activity. Without hesitation, Colonel Lesko initiated procedures to make the Career Advisory Service not only workable but fully effective in view of Army down-sizing that influenced graduates to leave the service and look for civilian employment. In doing so, he coordinated the efforts of Industry points of contact and mentors to assist local graduates in transition. Under his guidance, this work was advertised via both print and electronic media. He further enhanced these services by moving the majority of correspondence from the post office to the Internet and e-mail.

Adding significantly to his efforts on behalf of USMA graduates, Colonel Lesko actively supported the Service Academy Career Conference each spring and the Career Networking & Business Forum each fall. The Conference traditionally features 50-plus hiring companies and more than 500 graduate-applicants of all the service academies. Under his leadership, the local networking events have supported approximately 50 graduates every year. Colonel Lesko personified the motto he devised for this service - "Grads Helping Grads."

Colonel Lesko also served as a Military Academy Liaison Officer since September 1995. He started helping the Admissions Committee by supporting the three largest high schools in Prince William County, and later assumed Admissions responsibilities for all private and public schools in Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park. He then added Fairfax County to his area before taking on the additional responsibility of coordinating all Military Academy Liaison Officers and Admissions participants within Northern Virginia.

In addition to these outstanding accomplishments, Colonel Lesko has been active in local class functions and served on the committee for the 15th reunion of his class at West Point. Everything he has done for West Point, the West Point Society of the District of Columbia, and his class has been epitomized by the highest ideals of USMA. It is, therefore, fitting that the West Point Society of the District of Columbia award Lieutenant Colonel John Nicholas Lesko, USAR, USMA Class of 1979, the Distinguished Member Award.