WASHINGTON – Congressman Connie Mack (FL-14) announced 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.
“Attending a United States Service Academy is truly an admirable way for young people to serve their country,” said Mack in a prepared statement. “All of the students who received appointments 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 very proud of the caliber of students in Southwest Florida. The fact that 15 students received appointments – out of the 32 nominated – is a testament to the strength and ability of our students and is a tremendous reflection on our community.”
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 attend 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

More information about the service academy application and nomination process is available on Congressman Mack’s Web site at: http://mack.house.gov/