{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://fong.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-fong-announces-us-service-academy-nominations-californias-20th", "Congressman Fong Announces U.S. Service Academy Nominations for California's 20th District", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "CA", "Vince Fong", "F000480", "fong.house.gov", "fong", "https://fong.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "BAKERSFIELD, Calif. \u2014 Today, Congressman Vince Fong (CA-20) announced his nominations to the United States Service Academies for students from California\u2019s 20th Congressional District. Nominees were selected through a highly competitive process that included many qualified applicants committed to academic excellence, leadership, and service.\n\n\u201cIt is a tremendous honor to nominate these outstanding local students to our nation\u2019s Service Academies,\u201d said Congressman Fong (CA-20). \u201cTheir dedication, discipline, and commitment to service reflect the very best of our region. They will represent our community with distinction as they pursue careers serving our country. I am grateful to my committee members for their time and expertise throughout this rigorous selection process.\u201d\n\nAs a Member of Congress, Congressman Fong is authorized to nominate candidates to fill up to five vacancies at each Service Academy. For the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, and U.S. Military Academy, Congressman Fong designated one principal nominee per academy and submitted a slate of competitive alternates. Alternate nominees are ranked by each academy\u2019s admissions board and selected at the academy\u2019s discretion. Traditionally, alternates are notified by April if they receive an appointment. Some applicants received nominations to more than one academy based on their stated preferences.\n\nEach candidate was interviewed by Congressman Fong\u2019s Service Academy Interview Committee, which evaluated applicants on academics, leadership, character, and commitment to service before submitting recommendations to Congressman Fong.\n\nSee the 2025 Service Academy Interview Committee Members below:\n\nCam Martin, former External Affairs Director, NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center; parent of two U.S. Naval Academy graduates\n\nRear Admiral Keith Hash, Commander, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake; U.S. Naval Academy graduate\n\nJenny Frank, Director of Veterans Services and Programs, Bakersfield College\n\nBlake Zante, Executive Director, Kenneth L. Maddy Institute, Fresno\n\nIsrael Sotelo, Chief of Staff, Tulare County Board of Supervisors, Visalia\n\nSee the nominees to the U.S. Service Academies below:\n\nUnited States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO (USAFA):\n\nPrincipal Nominee: Samuel Chambless, 18, Bakersfield, CA, Heartland Charter School, Son of Mark and Christie Chambless\n\nCompeting Alternates:\n\nLuke Arends \u2014 Buchanan High School, Clovis, CA\n\nDustin Bui \u2014 Sherman E. Burroughs High School, Ridgecrest, CA\n\nRonin Davis \u2014 Liberty High School, Bakersfield, CA\n\nLauren Delgado \u2014 Buchanan High School, Clovis, CA\n\nTyler Diaz \u2014 Buchanan High School, Clovis, CA\n\nCharles Gadbois \u2014 Liberty High School, Bakersfield, CA\n\nLake Ginn \u2014 Paraclete High School, Lancaster, CA\n\nAndrew Haas \u2014 Sherman E. Burroughs High School, Ridgecrest, CA\n\nKairi Hall \u2014 SHAPE American School, Europe West District\n\nHadassah Jackson \u2014 Desert Christian High School, Lancaster, CA\n\nConnor Machado \u2014 Monache High School, Porterville, CA\n\nFranco Martinez-Cortez \u2014 Frontier High School, Bakersfield, CA\n\nPreston Riley \u2014 Liberty High School, Bakersfield, CA\n\nHenry Van Germert V \u2014 Sierra Pacific High School, Hanford, CA\n\nUnited States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD (USNA):\n\nPrincipal Nominee: Luke Arends, 17, Clovis, CA, Buchanan High School, Son of Gary and Julie Arends\n\nCompeting Alternates:\n\nTyler Bridges \u2014 Clovis Community College, Clovis, CA\n\nDustin Bui \u2014 Sherman E. Burroughs High School, Ridgecrest, CA\n\nSamuel Chambless \u2014 Heartland Charter School, Bakersfield, CA\n\nLauren Delgado \u2014 Buchanan High School, Clovis, CA\n\nTyler Diaz \u2014 Buchanan High School, Clovis, CA\n\nLake Ginn \u2014 Paraclete High School, Lancaster, CA\n\nAndrew Haas \u2014 Sherman E. Burroughs High School, Ridgecrest, CA\n\nDeacon Naylor \u2014 Legacy Academy Homeschool, Clovis, CA\n\nMason Rothermel \u2014 Tehachapi High School, Tehachapi, CA\n\nHenry Van Germert V \u2014 Sierra Pacific High School, Hanford, CA\n\nUnited States Military Academy, West Point, NY (USMA):\n\nPrincipal Nominee: Mason Rothermel, 17, Tehachapi, CA \u2014 Tehachapi High School, Son of Jairus and Sarah Rothermel\n\nCompeting Alternates:\n\nTyler Bridges \u2014 Clovis Community College, Clovis, CA\n\nDustin Bui \u2014 Sherman E. Burroughs High School, Ridgecrest, CA\n\nSamuel Chambless \u2014 Heartland Charter School, Bakersfield, CA\n\nLauren Delgado \u2014 Buchanan High School, Clovis, CA\n\nHadassah Jackson \u2014 Desert Christian High School, Lancaster, CA\n\nConnor Machado \u2014 Monache High School, Porterville, CA\n\nPreston Riley \u2014 Liberty High School, Bakersfield, CA\n\nUnited States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY (USMMA):\n\nNote: The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy does not allow Members of Congress to designate a principal nominee. All nominations are submitted as an unranked slate.\n\nNominated Candidates:\n\nDustin Bui \u2014 Sherman E. Burroughs High School, Ridgecrest, CA\n\nLauren Delgado \u2014 Buchanan High School, Clovis, CA\n\nTyler Diaz \u2014 Buchanan High School, Clovis, CA\n\nFranco Martinez-Cortez \u2014 Frontier High School, Bakersfield, CA\n\nMason Rothermel \u2014 Tehachapi High School, Tehachapi, CA\n\nCongratulations to these outstanding students!", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "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://fong.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-fong-announces-us-service-academy-nominations-californias-20th"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.7129830084741116, "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"}