{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://cole.house.gov/media/press-releases/cole-announces-2026-military-academy-nominations", "Cole Announces 2026 Military Academy Nominations", "2025-11-18", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "House", "OK", "Tom Cole", "C001053", "cole.house.gov", "cole", "https://cole.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 18, 2025 | CONTACT: Olivia Porcaro 202-225-6165\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) announced the names of the 2026 Service Academy Nominees from Oklahoma\u2019s Fourth District, who will be considered for a full offer appointment to either the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, or the U.S. Naval Academy.\n\nThe congressional nomination process for these academies is highly competitive. Applicants are evaluated for academic performance and standing, including class rank, SAT/ACT scores, and school records. Other criteria considered by Congressman Cole and the recommendation panel include athletics, physical fitness, extracurricular activities, recommendations, and leadership potential. Upon congressional nomination, students become eligible for consideration to receive an appointment to the service academy (or academies) to which they applied.\n\n\u201cThe want to serve our country in uniform is deserving of all our respect,\u201d said Congressman Cole. \u201cI am honored to recommend these distinguished young men and women from the Fourth District for appointment to one of our nation\u2019s esteemed military academies. They are truly so impressive and, regardless of what path they end up taking, I am sure that each one of them have bright futures ahead of them.\u201d\n\nThe list below includes the names and high school information of the students, as well as the academies to which they have been nominated. Many of the students received nominations to multiple academies. Note that applications are still being considered by the selection committee for admission at the various academies.\n\nU.S. Air Force Academy\n\nJax Birth \u2013 Ardmore High School\n\nJulianna Chesnut \u2013 Rush Springs High School\n\nBraden Evans - MacArthur Senior High School\n\nBrandon Heckethorn \u2013 Lone Grove High School\n\nChristopher Hilz \u2013 Lawton High School\n\nJonah House \u2013 Lone Grove High School\n\nTessa Inman \u2013 Lindsay High School\n\nSimon Marchesano \u2013 Moore High School\n\nJakob Reece - Epic Charter School\n\nEzekiel Stoda \u2013 Blanchard High School\n\nNathan Walls \u2013 Blanchard High School\n\nGregory Williams \u2013 Norman North High School\n\nNicklas Wolfgram \u2013 Bridge Creek High School\n\nUnited States Merchant Marine Academy\n\nJulianna Chesnut \u2013 Rush Springs High School\n\nJoseph McCormick \u2013 McCormick Home School\n\nU.S. Military Academy at West Point\n\nJulianna Chesnut \u2013 Rush Springs High School\n\nJesse-Anne Oberle \u2013 Seton Home Study School\n\nEzekiel Stoda \u2013 Blanchard High School\n\nGage Streater \u2013 Byng High School\n\nU.S. Naval Academy\n\nJax Birth \u2013 Ardmore High School\n\nJulianna Chesnut \u2013 Rush Springs High School\n\nChristopher Hilz \u2013 Lawton High School\n\nStephen Kerl \u2013 Midwest City High School\n\nSimon Marchesano \u2013 Moore High School\n\nJoseph McCormick \u2013 McCormick Home School\n\nGracie Ragland \u2013 Byng High School\n\nEzekiel Stoda \u2013 Blanchard High School\n\nGage Streater \u2013 Byng High School\n\nNathan Walls \u2013 Blanchard High School\n\nGabriel Ward \u2013 Mount Saint Mary Catholic High School\n\nGregory Williams \u2013 Norman North High School\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://cole.house.gov/media/press-releases/cole-announces-2026-military-academy-nominations"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7553459145128727, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}