{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398395", "Upton nominates local youth to United States service academies", "2014-12-12", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The 17 service academy nominees for the 2015-2016 academic year have excelled academically as well as athletically at their respective schools and have gone through an extensive selection process, according to members of the advisory board for Congress Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, who met with the students. \u201cOne of my greatest pleasures as a Member of Congress is being able to nominate such talented students to our nation\u2019s prestigious military service academies,\u201d said Upton. \u201cThese young men and women follow in the tradition of some of America\u2019s finest leaders and brightest minds. Each member of this group has undergone a rigorous selection process to get to where they are today. They represent the best that Southwest Michigan has to offer. We are so proud of their accomplishments and desire to serve their country.\u201d  The selection process included an interview with Upton\u2019s Academy Advisory Board, which is comprised of local community leaders.\u00a0 Upon approval by the board, the students\u2019 names were given to Upton, who then officially nominated the students to the military academies.\u00a0 The individual academies will make the final decisions on military appointments. All applicants to military academies must be nominated by a Member of Congress, the President, or the Vice President. \u201cI encourage all area students aspiring to follow in the path of these students to contact my constituent service office in St. Joseph/Benton Harbor to learn more about the academies and nomination process,\u201d said Upton. Students interested in attending a service academy are encouraged to contact Upton\u2019s St. Joseph/Benton Harbor District Office for further information: (269) 982-1986. They may also learn more about the academies by visiting Upton\u2019s website at /constituentservices/serviceacademynominations.htm.\u00a0 Upton has nominated the following students for the class of 2019: United States Military Academy\nMatthew Robinson, Dorr, Hopkins High School  \nTyler Zortman, Augusta, Sutton Park School United States Naval Academy\nZoe Vlachos, Kalamazoo, Portage Northern HS/Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center  \nSawyer Hess, Gobles, Otsego High School  \nKaylie Butt, Portage, Portage Northern HS/Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center  \nGabrielle Perrin, Vicksburg, Vicksburg HS/Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center  \nPeter Sinkovitz, Richland, Homeschool  \nNoah Pollack, Kalamazoo, Portage Central High School  \nAaron Sayles, Kalamazoo, Mattawan High School  \nGyumin Lee, Sturgis, Seoul American High School  \nGunner Harrison, Stevensville, Marion Military Institute United States Air Force Academy\nDaniel Christensen, Augusta, Gull Lake High School  \nBenjamin Lenning, Schoolcraft, Schoolcraft HS/Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center  \nHunter Simino, Portage, Portage Central High School  \nNathaniel Wadas, Grand Junction, South Haven High School  \nEllen Miota, Coloma, Grace Christian School United States Merchant Marine Academy\nKelsey Ramirez, Stevensville, Lakeshore High School", 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": ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398395"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.811447087675333, "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"}