RICHMOND, VA - Congressman Eric Cantor (VA-07) proudly nominated 28 students from the Seventh District of Virginia to United States service academies.  Admission to a service academy is a two-tiered process. First, the candidate must apply through the academy directly and meet the minimum standards that it sets. These standards include, among others, medical, physical and academic qualifications. The second tier in pursuing admission is the Congressional Nominations process.  The President, Vice President, Members of Congress and some ROTC organizations have the authority to nominate persons for admission to United States Air Force Academy, United States Military Academy at West Point and United States Naval Academy; the United States Merchant Marine Academy uses state quota to determine admission; Congressional nominations are not incorporated into the admissions process for the United States Coast Guard Academy.   

“Nominating students to U.S. service academies is one of my greatest honors as a Member of Congress. United States service academies have a rich tradition of developing students into leaders of our military.  It is heartening to see so many students interested in serving our country to safe guard our future national security and freedom.  These young men and women show great valor and patriotism and I thank them for their commitment to the United States of America.”    

2007 Nominees: 

Juan Acosta, Deep Run High School, Henrico County: U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy 

Randolph Baird, Henrico High School, Henrico County: U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy 

Matthew Basso, Deep Run High School, Henrico County: U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy at West Point 

Rachel Burk, Maggie Walker Governor’s School, Henrico County: U.S. Air Force Academy 

Jacob Byron, VCU and Mills Godwin High School, Henrico County: U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 

Michael Callahan, James River High School, Chesterfield County: U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, U.S. Air Force Academy  

Shavont’e Cotman-Rissell, Hermitage High School, Henrico County: U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 

Lucas Culver, Naval Academy Preparatory School, Louisa County: U.S. Naval Academy 

Michael Fiorelli, Douglas Freeman High School, Henrico County: U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy 

David Ince, Spotsylvania High School, Spotsylvania County: U.S. Air Force Academy 

John James, Woodberry Forest School, Henrico County: U.S. Naval Academy*, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 

Jordan Kelmar, Deep Run High School, Henrico County: U.S. Naval Academy 

Cameron King, Maggie Walker Governor’s School, Chesterfield County: U.S. Air Force Academy 

David Knause, Mills Godwin High School, Henrico County: U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 

Jacob Lassiter, Clover Hill High School, Chesterfield County: U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 

Jennifer Logan, Luray High School, Page County: U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 

Robert McGee, Collegiate School, Henrico County: U.S. Military Academy at West Point 

Wilson Minter, Culpeper High School, Culpeper County: U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 

Bryan Rhoades, Spotsylvania High School, Spotsylvania County: U.S. Air Force Academy*, U.S. Naval Academy 

Matthew Rhyne, Benedictine High School, Hanover County: U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 

Matt Ropelewski, Monacan High School, Chesterfield County: U.S. Military Academy at West Point 

Robert Stone, Benedictine High School, Henrico County: U.S. Naval Academy 

Rachel Stuhlmiller, James River High School, Chesterfield County: U.S. Military Academy at West Point* 

Joseph Suarez, St. Christopher’s High School, Henrico County: U.S. Military Academy at West Point 

Jarred Timok, Highland Springs High School, Henrico County: U.S. Air Force Academy 

Alexandra Webster, Lee-Davis High School, Hanover County: U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 

Maxwell Yates, Orange County High School, Orange County: U.S. Military Academy at West Point 

Tiffany Zehnle, Deep Run High School, Henrico County: U.S. Military Academy at West Point, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy  

*Denotes Principle Nominee 

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