Washington, DC (January 4, 2006) – Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15) today announced his nominees to the United States military service academies.  The group of nominees is comprised of seven individuals chosen from a competitive pool of 18 applicants.  The nominees were selected on the basis of their application materials, which included letters of recommendation, high school transcript, community and extracurricular activities, and SAT and/or ACT scores.

“The United States Military Academies are among the best educational institutions in the country and in the world,” said Hinojosa.  “Service to country in our nation’s military is something not taken into lightly – and I am extremely proud that these young men and women would seek out the best educational opportunities possible while all the while seeking to represent their country in its military.  It is an honor for me to nominate these outstanding young men and women to these institutions, and I wish them luck during the selection process and in their future endeavors.”

Each year Members of Congress nominate exemplary young men and women from their respective districts to service academies and, from those recommendations, the service academies make final selections.  Some names are submitted to more than one academy, if an applicant selected an alternate school. 

Congressman Hinojosa submitted the following names to the U.S. service academies:

U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York:
Cody Sommer, Yoakum, Yoakum High School
Alexander Herring, McAllen, McAllen High School / Lamar Academy

U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland:
Lupita Dodge, Beeville, Refugio High School
David Allen Miller, Harlingen, Marine Military Academy
Daniel Moczygemba, Berclair, Goliad High School

U.S. Air Force Academy – Colorado Springs, Colorado:

Matthew Cheesman, Cuero, Cuero High School
Cody Sommer, Yoakum, Yoakum High School
Daniel Moczygemba, Berclair, Goliad High School
Amanda Aguirre, Donna, Donna High School