Rep. Vince Fong Announces U.S. Service Academy Nominees
Today, Rep. Vince Fong (CA-20) announced his nominations to the United States Service Academies. Nominees were selected in a competitive process in which many highly qualified 20th Congressional District students applied for consideration.
“It is my honor to nominate these distinguished students to the United States Service Academies,” said Rep. Fong. “I am certain that their dedication to their studies and our country will help them excel in their future endeavors and make our community proud. Thank you to my esteemed interview panel who helped with the selection process.”
Rep. Fong designated one principal nominee for each academy that will fill one of five slots afforded to him as a Member of Congress at each academy. He also nominated competing alternate nominations for each academy that will be ranked according to their competitiveness by the Academy Admission Board and selected for admission at the academy’s discretion. The academies traditionally notify the alternates by April whether they will be offered an appointment. Some applicants received a nomination to more than one academy according to the rank preference listed on their application.
Each candidate was interviewed by Rep. Vince Fong’s Academy Interview Committee and the selections were submitted to the Representative. The 2024 Academy Committee Members included: Cam Martin, former External Affairs Director at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center, father of two United States Naval Academy graduates; (Committee Chair) Brigadier General Douglas Wickert, Commanding Officer, 412th Test Wing, Edwards Air Force Base,United States Air Force Academy graduate; Bob Ainley, Attorney and Owner of the Darling Hotel in Visalia; Derek Jeffery, Vice President & General Manager for KGET-TV, Telemundo, and CW Bakersfield stations; and Dr. April Moore, Superintendent, Sierra Sands Unified School District in Ridgecrest.
United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO (USAFA)
Principal Nominee:
Braeden Hill, 16, of Friant, California. Braeden attends University High School in Fresno and is the son of C. Aaron and Shawna Hill.
Competing Alternates:
Kade Bravo, United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School, Colorado Springs, CO
Joshua Gault, Clovis North High School, Clovis, CA
Sofia Gonzalez, Hanford West High School, Hanford, CA
Tyler Kipp, Centennial High School, Bakersfield, CA
Joanna Lee, El Diamonte High School, Visalia, CA
Lauren Phillips, Bakersfield Christian High School, Bakersfield, CA
Shelbie Porter, Liberty High School, Bakersfield, CA
Aidan Vansickle, Desert Junior-Senior High School, Edwards, CA
Elijah Zepeda, Stockdale High School, Bakersfield, CA
United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD (USNA)
Principal Nominee:
Joanna Lee, 17, of Visalia, California. Joanna attends El Diamante High School in Visalia and is the daughter of Wook Lee and Seonim Yu.
Competing Alternates:
Joshua Gault, Clovis North High School, Clovis, CA
Sofia Gonzalez, Hanford West High School, Hanford, CA
Braeden Hill, University High School, Fresno, CA
Layla James, Stockdale High School, Bakersfield, CA
Madison Lane, Bakersfield Christian High School, Bakersfield, CA
Jeremiah Molina, California State University, Fresno, CA
Lauren Phillips, Bakersfield Christian High School, Bakersfield, CA
Eli Pugliese, Clovis High School, Clovis, CA
Elijah Zepeda, Stockdale High School, Bakersfield, CA
United States Military Academy, West Point, NY (USMA)
Principal Nominee:
Shelbie Porter, 16, of Bakersfield, California. Shelbie attends Liberty High School in Bakersfield and is the daughter of Fred II and Kathleen Porter.
Competing Alternates:
Brinon Gacad, United States Military Academy Preparatory School, West Point, NY
Reese Galloway, Desert Junior-Senior High School, Edwards, CA
Sofia Gonzalez, Hanford West High School, Hanford, CA
Braeden Hill, University High School, Fresno, CA
Layla James, Stockdale High School, Bakersfield, CA
Madison Lane, Bakersfield Christian High School, Bakersfield, CA
Augustine Miller, University High School, Fresno, CA
Lauren Phillips, Bakersfield Christian High School, Bakersfield, CA
Elijah Zepeda, Stockdale High School, Bakersfield, CA
United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY (USMMA)
NOTE: The United States Merchant Marine Academy does not allow for a principal nominee to be designated. Members of Congress submit a slate of unranked nominations to the academy.
Competing Alternates:
Madison Lane, Bakersfield Christian High School, Bakersfield, CA
Lauren Phillips, Bakersfield Christian High School, Bakersfield, CA
Eli Pugliese, Clovis High School, Clovis, CA