U.S. Rep. Connie Mack (FL-14) said today that 15 students from Southwest Florida have received appointments to the U.S. service academies and will be honored at a reception on Sunday, June 14 in Estero. Mack nominated 32 students to the service academies last December. The academies make the decision as who will be selected to attend.

One of the responsibilities of Members of Congress is to nominate outstanding young men and women to the four U.S. service academies. The process of securing a nomination is highly competitive — each applicant for nomination must demonstrate evidence of integrity, exceptional scholarship, leadership, physical aptitude, and medical fitness, and strong motivation to attend an academy. A nominating committee comprised of community officials from Southwest Florida objectively rates each nominee, and Mack then nominates the best candidates to the academies.

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.

The following students from Southwest Florida will be attending a U.S. Service Academy in the fall:

U.S. Military Academy:

Anthony DiBias of Sanibel; Canterbury High School

Joshua Kelcher of Fort Myers; currently a student at the Military Academy Prep School

Eric Morgan of Fort Myers; currently a student at the Military Academy Prep School

Carl Rios of Fort Myers; Fort Myers High School

U.S. Naval Academy:

Sean Alexander of Fort Myers; Canterbury High School

Anthony Johnson of Cape Coral; currently a student at the Naval Academy Prep School

Mark Livengood of Cape Coral; currently a student at the New Mexico Military Institute

Michael Thorsen of Naples; currently a student at Northfield Mt. Hermon School in Massachusetts

U.S. Air Force Academy:

Shawn Hibbard of Naples; Gulf Coast High School

Joshua Partain of Lehigh Acres; Gateway Charter High School

Colton Wetzel of Naples; Barron Collier High School

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy:

Alexander Coviello of Cape Coral; currently a student at the New Mexico Military Institute

Blake Krell of Fort Myers; Bishop Verot High School

Sean Minor of Fort Myers; Bishop Verot High School

Howard Showalter of Naples; Valley Forge Military Academy in Pennsylvania