Washington, D.C. – At a reception prior to the opening of the Denton Airshow, Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26) recently recognized the students residing in the 26th District of Texas who have accepted appointments to the United States Service Academies.  Later this summer the young men and women will be entering 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.  

Students requesting appointments to the U.S. Service Academies are rigorously evaluated 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.  

Dr. Burgess presented appointees with a Special Certificate of Congressional Recognition and a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in honor of their appointment.  "I was pleased to nominate incredible young men and women who will be the future leaders of our armed forces and America,” stated Dr. Burgess. “I am even more delighted and grateful that these future leaders have accepted this challenge to serve their country."

Those students from the 26th Congressional District who will be attending the service academies are:

U.S. Military Academy
Ben Barclay of Flower Mound attended Flower Mound High School
Robert Felix of Lewisville attended the U.S. Military Academy Prep School
Aaron Horikami of Flower Mound attended Flower Mound High School
Michael Nathman of Fort Worth attended The Oakridge School in Arlington
Adam Wilde of Denton, is returning to West Point after serving a religious mission
Nicole Zajimovic of North Richland Hills attended Richland High School

U.S. Naval Academy
Forrest Cooke of Flower Mound attended Lewisville High School
Hayden Whitt of Keller attended Keller High School
Robert Sutherland of Denton attended the Hill School in Pottsdown, PA

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
Nicholas Hernandez-Sepper of Frisco attended Wakeland High School
Joshua Raines of North Richland Hills attended Keller High School
Andrew Williams of Lantana attended Guyer High School in Denton

U.S. Air Force Academy
Cody Apfel of Highland Village attended Marcus High School in Flower Mound
Craig Corato of Keller attended Nolan Catholic High School in Fort Worth
Zach Moer of Flower Mound attended the U.S. Air Force Academy Prep School
Leah Weber of Flower Mound was homeschooled

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.

***To download a photo of Dr. Burgess with the service academy appointees click here. Photo: (pictured left to right) Congressman Burgess, Aaron Horikami, Forrest Cooke, Robert Felix, Nicholas Hernandez-Sepper, Zach Moer, Michael Nathman, Josh Raines, Craig Corato, Robert Sutherland, Leah Weber, Hayden Whitt)***