{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://kevinmccarthy.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mccarthy-announces-appointment-of-local-students-to-service-academies", "McCarthy Announces Appointment of Local Students to Service Academies", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "CA", "Kevin McCarthy", "M001165", "kevinmccarthy.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Congressman Kevin McCarthy is pleased to announce his nominations to the United States Service Academies.Nominees were selected in a competitive process in which a number of highly qualified 23rd Congressional District high school students applied for consideration. Congressman McCarthy 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 a slate of 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 academys discretion. Some applicants received a nomination to more than one academy according to the rank preference listed on their application. The academies traditionally notify the alternates by April whether or not they will be offered an appointment.Principal nominees are notified in February or late March. I am proud to nominate students from my district who display the core values of honor and courage in their commitment to serve our country, said Congressman McCarthy. I congratulate each of them in their pursuit of becoming future leaders in our Armed Forces. Each candidate was interviewed by Congressman McCarthys Academy Interview Committee in November and the selections were submitted to the Congressman.The Academy Committee Members were: Cam Martin, External Affairs Director at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center, father to two USNA grads (Committee Chair); Lieutenant Tim Buehn, VX-9 detachment, Edwards Air Force Base, Test Pilot (USNA grad) Brenda Lewis, Ed.D., Associate Superintendent of Instruction, Kern High School District; Maureen Basham, Accounts Specialist and Safety Officer for Sequoia Parks Conservancy, retired Marine as Director of Manpower Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center; Dick Taylor, Director, Kern County Veterans Services Department, former Marine Corps active duty member and reservist.\nUnited States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO (USAFA)\nPrincipal:\n  Homin Key, 17, Ridgeview High School, Bakersfield, CA, son of Steve Key and Juhee Jung.\nIn addition to receiving a nomination to the Air Force Academy, he also received a competing alternate nomination to the Naval Academy.\n  Competing Alternates:\nNicholas Arias, Frontier High School, Bakersfield, CA (2017 graduate)\nAhmed Baameur, East Bakersfield High School, Bakersfield, CA\nLee Begin, Garces Memorial High School, Bakersfield, CA\nKami McCormick, Lancaster High School, Lancaster, CA\nIzdihar Mohamed, Centennial High School, Bakersfield, CA\nAlberto Moita, United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School, Colorado Springs, CO\nRoberto Moita, University Of Phoenix, Bakersfield, CA\nDerek Rodriguez, Liberty High School, Bakersfield, CA\nJacob Sibayan, Monache High School, Porterville, CA\nUnited States Military Academy, West Point, NY (USMA)\nPrincipal: Kobie Budak, 18, Frontier High School, Bakersfield, CA, son of Michael and Kristina Budak.\nIn addition to receiving a nomination to the Military Academy, he also received competing alternate nominations to the Naval and Merchant Marine Academies. Competing Alternates:\nKarla Guzman, Ridgeview High School, Bakersfield, CA\nDerek Rodriguez, Liberty High School, Bakersfield, CA\nJacob Sibayan, Monache High School, Porterville, CA\nGrant Vigneault, Sherman E. Burroughs High School, Ridgecrest, CA\n  United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD (USNA)\n  Principal: Grant Vigneault, 17, Sherman E. Burroughs High School, Ridgecrest, CA, son of David and Kyla Vigneault.\nIn addition to receiving a nomination to the Naval Academy, he also received a competing alternate nomination to the Military Academy.\n  Special Mention: Karla Guzman, 18, Ridgeview High School, Bakersfield, CA, daughter of Orlando and Patricia Guzman.\nIn addition to receiving a competing nomination to the Naval Academy, she also received a principal nomination to the Merchant Marine Academy and a competing alternate nomination to the Military Academy.\nKarla has received an early offer of admission for the Naval Academy and has chosen to accept that appointment.\nCompeting Alternates:\nNicholas Arias, Frontier High School, Bakersfield, CA (2017 graduate)\nAhmed Baameur, East Bakersfield High School, Bakersfield, CA\nLee Begin, Garces Memorial High School, Bakersfield, CA\nKobie Budak, Frontier High School, Bakersfield, CA\nHomin Key, Ridgeview High School, Bakersfield, CA\nDerek Rodriguez, Liberty High School, Bakersfield, CA\nJacob Sibayan, Monache High School, Porterville, CA\nMichael Stegeman, Frazier Mountain High School, Frazier Park, CA\n\nUnited States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY (USMMA)\nCompeting Alternates:\nKobie Budak, Frontier High School, Bakersfield, CA\nMichael Stegeman, Frazier Mountain High School, Frazier Park, CA", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "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://kevinmccarthy.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mccarthy-announces-appointment-of-local-students-to-service-academies"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.701957080513239, "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"}