Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26), Vice Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health and Chairman of the Congressional Health Care Caucus, announced the thirty-two students from the 26th District of Texas who have been selected as Class of 2016 nominees to our nation’s service academies. These outstanding young men and women were nominated to attend 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 and the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, CO.

“I was very impressed by the high caliber of candidates that applied to my office,” said Dr. Burgess. “The selection process was very competitive, and each of these students has a strong record of academic performance and leadership in school activities, sports, JROTC, and community and volunteer service.  I proudly nominated them for admission to our nation’s service academies.  If selected to attend their respective academies, I know each of these students will perform admirably, and serve honorably as officers in our country’s military services.”

Nominees were selected after a rigorous application process culminating in a personal interview with Dr. Burgess’ Academy Advisory Board. A congressional nomination does not guarantee admission to one of the service academies as the academies’ respective admissions boards decide who is offered appointment, and ultimately admitted. If appointed, the nominees will enter this summer.

The following candidates were nominated to the service academies. Several individuals have been nominated to multiple academies; if they receive appointment offers from more than one academy, the student will have to choose one to attend.

• Cody Apfel of Highland Village attends Marcus High School in Flower Mound and has been nominated to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
• Marcus Birk of Fort Worth attends Central High School in Keller and has been nominated to the U.S. Military Academy.  
• Kim Bray of Frisco attends Frisco High School and has been nominated to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.  
• Berkley Brown of Keller attends Keller High School in Fort Worth and has been nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy.  
• Dan Carlton of Flower Mound attends Flower Mound High School and has been nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
• Shannon Chang of Lake Dallas attends The Greenhill School in Addison and has been nominated to the U.S. Military Academy.  
• Kyle Condry of Lewisville attends Marcus High School in Flower Mound and has been nominated to the U.S. Military Academy.  
• James Cooke of Flower Mound attends Lewisville High School and has been nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.  
• Craig Corato of Keller attends Nolan Catholic High School in Fort Worth and has been nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy.
• Quyen Dang of Lewisville attends Marcus High School in Flower Mound and has been nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy.  
• Ben Dye of Flower Mound attends American University in Washington D.C. and has been nominated to the U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.  
• Robert Felix of Lewisville attends the U.S. Military Academy Prep School and has been nominated to the U.S. Military Academy.
• Preston Green of Argyle attends Coram Deo Academy in Flower Mound and has been nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy.  
• Brock Hakalmazian of Fort Worth attends Timber Creek High School in Fort Worth and has been nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy.  
• Reyden Harris of Fort Worth attends Timber Creek High School in Fort Worth and has been nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.  
• Nicholas Hernandez-Sepper of Frisco attends Wakeland High School in Frisco and has been nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.  
• Aaron Horikami of Flower Mound attends Flower Mound High School and has been nominated to the U.S. Military Academy.  
• Jin Joo of North Richland Hills attends Fort Worth Christian High School and has been nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy.
• Tim Mask of Frisco attends Legacy Christian Academy in Frisco and has been nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy.  
• Andrew McNair of Argyle is homeschooled and has been nominated to the U.S. Military Academy.  
• Michael Nathman of Fort Worth attends The Oakridge School in Arlington and has been nominated to the U.S. Military Academy.
• Simon Park of Flower Mound attends the Marion Military Institute and has been nominated to the U.S. Military Academy.  
• Morgan Pettyjohn of Keller attends Carroll Senior High School in Southlake and has been nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.  
• Alex Preisser of Keller attends Keller High School and has been nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Military Academy.  
• Joshua Raines of North Richland Hills attends Keller High School and has been nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.  
• Ryan Reaves of Keller attends Keller High School and has been nominated to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.  
• James Tran of Frisco attends John Paul II High School in Plano and has been nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy.  
• Leah Weber of Flower Mound is homeschooled and has been nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy.  
• Hayden Whitt of Keller attends Keller High School and has been nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy.  
• James Wood of North Richland Hills attends Grapevine High School and has been nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy.  
• Connor Yancy of Keller attends Keller High School and has been nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy.
• Conner Zimmerman of Frisco attends Wakeland High School in Frisco and has been nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy.    

Additional information regarding the academy nomination and application process may be obtained on Dr. Burgess’ website at http://burgess.house.gov or by contacting Robin Vaughan, District Administrator, in the Lewisville district office at (972) 434-9700.