Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D., has announced the Class of 2019 Service Academy Appointees who reside in the 26th Congressional District, and is pleased to congratulate these distinguished future military leaders. These young men and women will be attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY, the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY, the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, CO, and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy at New London, CT.

“I am grateful that so many young North Texans have accepted this challenge to serve their country,” Rep. Burgess said. “These young men and women are some of the future leaders of our armed forces and it is my pleasure to have helped them in their journey. I wish them all the best of luck in their future endeavors and know that they will make Texas’ 26th Congressional District proud.” 

Students requesting appointments to the U.S. Service Academies are rigorously evaluated by on a variety of criteria including academic performance, leadership qualifications and physical preparedness. Appointments to an academy must be preceded by a nomination from a Member of Congress, Academy Superintendent, the Vice President or a military connected nomination. The exception is to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, where a nomination is not required for consideration, but appointments are based upon a competitive nationwide admissions process.

In Texas’ 26th District, applicants also undergo a board review lead by former Air Force Academy Superintendent and Lieutenant General (USAF Ret.) Charles Hamm.  Other board members include active duty Armed Forces, former service academy graduates, community leaders, and administrators from local higher education institutions. 

Those 26th Congressional District students entering the service academies are as follows:

U.S. Military Academy (Army) - West Point, NY
George Kratz (Frisco)
Johnathon Muraski (Keller)
Dowon Park (Fort Worth)
Victoria Reyer (Highland Village)
Seth Sowalskie (Frisco)

U.S. Naval Academy - Annapolis, MD
Daniel Barrett (Flower Mound)
Colin Duggan (Keller)
Bryan Hammond (The Colony)
Tony Powers, Jr. (Frisco)

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy - Kings Point, NY
Blake Bunce (Trophy Club)
Michael Tanttari (Krum)
Elias Yu (Flower Mound)

U.S. Air Force Academy - Colorado Springs, CO
Micah Capra (Argyle)
Austin Cutting (Keller)
Cade Erwin (Highland Village)
Gabriel Martinez Quinones (Watauga)
Ethan Nichols (Keller)
Molly Olmos (Keller)
Elizabeth Pennington (Roanoke)
Zach Raines (North Richland Hills)
Gabrielle Rupard (Flower Mound)
Robert Simpson (Denton)
Colton Stowe (The Colony)
Mary Vedra (Frisco)

U.S. Coast Guard Academy - New London, CT
Cole Austin (Flower Mound)