U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) named the following students for nomination to military academies:

* Clinton Brdlik of Greenbrier East High School in Greenbrier County for nomination to the Air Force Academy.
* Joseph Campbell Gooding of Pocahontas County High School in Pocahontas County for nomination to the Naval Academy and West Point.
* Melissa Carson of Nicholas County for nomination to the Naval Academy, West Point, and the Merchant Marine Academy.
* Andrew Feyh of Greenbrier East High School in Greenbrier County for nomination to the Naval Academy and West Point.
* Lauren Lee Hutchinson of Woodrow Wilson High School in Raleigh County for nomination to the Naval Academy and West Point.
* Benjamin W. Jewell of Pocahontas County High School in Pocahontas County for nomination to the Air Force Academy and the Naval Academy.
* Joshua D. Kephart of Princeton Senior High School in Mercer County for nomination to the Air Force Academy and West Point.
* Joshua Mann of Shady Spring High School in Raleigh County for nomination to the Air Force Academy.
* Lincoln Moloney of James Monroe High School in Monroe County for nomination to the Air Force Academy and Naval Academy.
* Jeremiah O'Sullivan of Fork Union Military Academy and a Greenbrier County resident for nomination to the Air Force Academy.
* Tyler L. Prince of Shady Spring High School in Raleigh County for nomination to the Naval Academy.
* Michael Pyszkowski of Northwestern Prep School in California and a Logan County resident for nomination to the Air Force Academy.
* Dereck Scarbro of Shady Spring High School in Raleigh County for nomination to West Point.
* Christopher M. Smallwood of Richwood High School in Nicholas County for nomination to the Air Force Academy, Naval Academy and West Point.
* Travis R. Torlone of Cabell Midland High School in Cabell County for nomination to the Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and West Point.
* Kyle Steven Wolfe of Oak Hill High School in Fayette County for nomination to the Air Force Academy.
* Benjamin Zutaut of Woodrow Wilson High School in Raleigh County for nomination to the Air Force Academy and West Point.

"The apostle Paul best summarized the need for effective leaders when he said, ‘For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself to the battle?' At the service academies, our future leaders learn to sound the certain call of honor and duty," Rahall said. "If chosen these students will represent our State well."

The Federal service academies - the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy - combine a top education with a military command. Service academy students major in a variety of subjects, from the sciences to the humanities. When they graduate, they are given an officer's commission. Admission is a two-step process. From a pool of candidates nominated by Members of Congress and U.S. Senators, the schools themselves choose the select group of students to be offered an appointment.

"At the service academies, young West Virginians can become the officers who lead our fighting forces to victory," Rahall said. "The leadership skills the academies teach guide former cadets and midshipmen for the remainder of their lives. These future leaders of America will certainly make West Virginia proud."