Congressman Patrick McHenry (N.C.-10) has announced 10 young men and women from North Carolina’s 10th Congressional District who have been nominated to the nation’s military service academies for the Class of 2018. Each of these students applied through McHenry’s office and were interviewed by the congressman and his Military Advisory Committee before receiving the nominations.
“I would like to congratulate each of these students on their nominations,” McHenry said. “The young men and women who attend our nation’s service academies are the best that this country has to offer, and I am proud to have nominated these fine candidates to represent the 10th District at the service academies.”
The students have been nominated by McHenry to attend either the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York; the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland; or the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colo.
The 10 students are listed below based on the service academy to which they have been nominated.
United States Military Academy at West Point
- John Biondi of Denver
- Bear Naisang of Fairview
- Will Whisnant of Shelby
United States Naval Academy at Annapolis
- Megan Lauterer of Denver
- William Hoppe of Kings Mountain
- Hannah Teo of Montreat
- Rachael Hamm of Conover
United States Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs
- Cole Matolka of Gastonia
- Katie Ellis of Kings Mountain
- Andrew Beard of Maiden
The United States Department of Defense operates five service academies across the country, one representing each branch of the military. Men and women between the ages of 17 and 23 are eligible for nominations to four of the five service academies. Nominations can come from the president, vice president or a member of Congress, and those accepting an appointment must serve at least five years active duty following completion of their studies.