Congresswoman Stansbury Announces Nominations for U.S. Service Academies

ALBUQUERQUE – Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) announced student nominations from New Mexico’s First Congressional District to enter the United States Service Academies.

“We are excited to announce the exemplary students we are nominating to our military service academies,” said Rep. Stansbury. “These amazing young people represent the best of our state as our future leaders and carry forward a long tradition of military service by New Mexicans across all of our communities. I am proud they will represent our state as they move forward in their application processes and in serving our country. Congratulations to our outstanding nominees.”

Rep. Stansbury’s 2021 Service Academy nominees include:

• Michael Gray- U.S. Air Force Academy Prep (U.S. Air Force Academy and U.S. Naval Academy)
• Lee McDonald- Greystone Academy (U.S. Merchant Marine and U.S. Naval Academy)
• Caden Box- La Cueva High (U.S. Air Force and U.S. Naval Academy)
• Thomas Fotter- La Cueva High (U.S. Air Force Academy and U.S. Military Academy—West Point)
• Trevor Anderson- La Cueva High (Air Force Academy and U.S. Military Academy—West Point)
• Maksymilian Olszowka- New Mexico Military Institute (U.S. Military Academy—West Point)
• Zachary Neel- University of New Mexico (U.S. Military Academy—West Point and U.S. Naval Academy)
• Natasha Sun- Albuquerque Academy (U.S. Air Force Academy)
• Luke Vaughn- Volcano Vista High School (U.S. Air Force Academy)

Interviews took place in early fall. Rep. Stansbury’s Service Academy Selection Board considered all the applications from the young New Mexicans interested in attending the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, or the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

Academy nominees submit an application that includes a personal statement, resume, letters of reference, academic transcripts, and standardized test scores. Applicants must meet the individual admission requirements for each academy to earn a congressional nomination. Students may be nominated for more than one service academy. The academies make the final decision on who will receive an appointment of admission.

Selection to U.S. Service Academies is among the most competitive and rigorous in the country; regardless of the number of qualified applicants each Member of Congress nominates, only a select few are accepted by the service academies each year. Those selected will enter the academies in June 2022.