Strong touts region’s nationally ranked U.S. service academy appointments

WASHINGTON — Calling it one of his “greatest honors as a member of Congress,” U.S. Rep. Dale Strong announced the appointments of 22 students from Alabama’s Fifth Congressional District to attend U.S. service academies.

It is one of the top class of appointments in the country, too, Strong said.

The Fifth District tied fourth nationally for the total number of accepted West Point candidates from a single congressional district and second in the Southeast region.

Madison’s Bob Jones High School tied first nationally and ranked first overall in the Southeast region for the number of West Point appointments from a single high school.

“Each year, North Alabama produces young, patriotic leaders who are willing to answer the call and lead the next generation of our Armed Forces,” said Strong (R-Huntsville). “It is one of my greatest honors as a member of Congress to nominate students across the Tennessee Valley to attend our nation’s prestigious service academies.

“I extend my gratitude to the cadets, midshipmen, and families in the Class of 2029 for their commitment and service to our nation.”

Strong hosts an annual Academy Day, which features recruiters from every branch of service and admissions representatives from each service academy.

The next Academy Day is Aug. 2 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Huntsville High School gymnasium, 2304 Billie Watkins Ave.

Fifth District students who have accepted appointments to U.S. service academies:

U.S. Military Academy

• Matthew Buhl, Harvest, Westminster Christian Academy
• Charlotte Droege, Madison, Bob Jones High School
• Molly Halter, Madison, Bob Jones High School
• Charles Jacobs, Decatur, Providence Classical School
• Kricket Johnston, Madison, Bob Jones High School
• Nicholas Lozano, Madison, Bob Jones High School
• Naeem Miller, Madison, Sparkman High School
• William Mitchell, Huntsville, Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering
• Juliann Reid, Huntsville, St. John Paul II Catholic High School
• Jacob Sigler, Madison, Bob Jones High School
• Thomas Sigler, Madison, Bob Jones High School
• Thomas Von Eschenbach, Madison, St. John Paul II Catholic High School

U.S. Air Force Academy

• Isaac Achenbach, Madison, James Clemens High School
• Jack Messervy, Owens Cross Roads, Huntsville High School
• Jason Park, Madison, James Clemens High School
• Logan Jackson, Madison, Bob Jones High School
• Brendan Martin, Huntsville, Grissom High School

U.S. Naval Academy

• Colton Burton, Huntsville, Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering
• Joshua DeFour, Madison, Sparkman High School
• David Hudry, Decatur, Decatur Heritage Christian Academy
• Heinrich Hanada, Huntsville, German International School of Tokyo
• Ellen Vegerita, Brownsboro, Huntsville High School