Mack nominates 37 students to U.S. service academies
WASHINGTON — Congressman Connie Mack (FL-14) announced Monday that 37 students in Florida’s 14th Congres-sional District will receive congressional nominations to United States service academies for the Class of 2015.
“Attending a United States Service Academy is truly an admirable way for young people to serve their country,” said Mack. “All of the candidates showed an incredible depth of talent, have reached high levels of academic and athletic achievement, and are very active in their schools and communities. I am confident that these students will enjoy successful futures, and I was honored to support their nominations to the U.S. Service Academies.”
One of the responsibilities of members of Congress is to nominate outstanding young men and women to the four U.S. service academies, which include the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York; the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland; the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York (the U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a Congressional nomination).
The process of securing a nomination is highly competitive. Students must also apply to the academy and meet their competitive standards in addition to applying for a nomination from a member of Congress. A congressional nomination does not guarantee an appointment.
A nominating committee comprised of former military officers and enlisted personnel, as well as community leaders from throughout Southwest Florida, selected the candidates based on personal interviews, academic and athletic achievement, standardized test scores, and community and extra-curricular involvement. Mack then nominated the best applicants to each academy.
Below is a list of the 37 students who received nominations, their hometowns, and the high school they currently attend (some students received nominations to more than one academy).
— Tyler Alderuccio of Naples; Naples High School; nominated to U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
— Lynnette Andersen of Cape Coral; Cape Coral High School; nominated to U.S. Naval Academy
— Audra Bianco of Lehigh Acres; Lehigh Senior High School; nominated to U.S. Naval Academy
— Tyler Blajian of Naples; Gulf Coast High School; nominated to U.S. Naval Academy
— Garrett Braun of Naples; St. John Neumann High School; nominated to U.S. Air Force Academy
— Weldon Cox III of Cape Coral; Ida Baker High School; nominated to U.S. Military Academy
— Mitchell Daniels of Cape Coral; North Fort Myers High School; nominated to U.S. Air Force Academy
— Frank DeRogatis of Lehigh Acres; Riverdale High School; nominated to U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
— Casey Gibson of Fort Myers; Cypress Lake High School; nominated to U.S. Air Force Academy
— Andrew Gonzalez-Louis of Cape Coral; Cape Coral High School; nominated to U.S. Air Force Academy
— Alexis Harrison of Naples; Patch American School in Germany; nominated to U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Air Force Academy
— Erik Henegar of Cape Coral; Bishop Verot High School; nominated to U.S. Naval Academy
— Kirsten Hernandez of Naples; Gulf Coast High School; nominated to U.S. Military Academy
— Thomas Herrlich of Naples; Gulf Coast High School; nominated to U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
— Jake Kistel of Fort Myers; Bishop Verot High School; nominated to U.S. Air Force Academy
— Derrick Krell of Fort Myers; Bishop Verot High School; nominated to U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
— Zachary Laniewski of Englewood; Lemon Bay High School; nominated to U.S. Naval Academy
— Stephanie Main of Naples; Naples High School; nominated to U.S. Military Academy
— Ronald Marra of Bokeelia; Bishop Verot High School; nominated to U.S. Naval Academy
— Krista McAloose of Estero; Fort Myers High School; nominated to U.S. Air Force Academy
— Katherine McLaughlin of Naples; Florida Virtual School; nominated to U.S. Military Academy and U.S. Naval Academy
— Giovanni Melchiorre of Fort Myers; Fort Myers High School; nominated to U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
— Adam Melton of Cape Coral; Cape Coral High School; nominated to U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
— Chad Moore, Jr. of Naples; Gulf Coast High School; nominated to U.S. Military Academy and U.S. Air Force Academy
— Jamie Moreno of Naples; Lely High School; nominated to U.S. Military Academy
— James Murphy III of Bonita Springs; Massanutten Military Academy; nominated to U.S. Military Academy
— Thomas O’Connell of Fort Myers Beach; Cobham International School in London; nominated to U.S. Military Academy
— Dayle Pinto of Fort Myers; Cypress Lake High School; nominated to U.S. Naval Academy
— Theresa A. Quintana of Cape Coral; Ida Baker High School; nominated to U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
— Evelyn Rios of Fort Myers; Fort Myers High School; nominated to U.S. Naval Academy
— Jamie Schisler of Naples; Barron Collier High School; nominated to U.S. Air Force Academy
— Jacob Strauss of Matlacha; Island Coast High School; nominated to U.S. Naval Academy
— Jamison Tate of Naples; Community School of Naples; nominated to U.S. Military Academy and U.S. Naval Academy
— Bryan Tischler of Fort Myers; Bishop Verot High School; nominated to U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
— Grady Timmins of Naples; Barron Collier High School; nominated to U.S. Naval Academy
— Kevin West of Cape Coral; Ida Baker High School; nominated to U.S. Military Academy
— Cheyanne Winebrenner of Fort Myers; Fort Myers High School; nominated to U.S. Air Force Academy