Press Releases

U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga has nominated 14 students to be considered for acceptance into the 2016 class of the U.S. Military, Air Force, Navy, and Merchant Marine Academies. 

“I admire these students who answer the call to serve our country. It is an honor to nominate such motivated and brave young men and women from West Michigan in their application to the U.S. Service Academies.” Huizenga said. 

The nominations are based upon a 10-member academy advisory board interview that evaluates such criteria as academic achievement, extracurricular achievement and leadership abilities. The U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a congressional nomination. Further information on requirements for nomination and the application process is available on Huizenga’s website at /

Huizenga nominated the following students for the class of 2016:

U.S. Naval Academy – Annapolis, MD

·         Thomas Dalton (Hamilton) – Black River Public School

·         Michael Drew (Manistee) – Manistee Catholic Central

·         Mark Fletcher (Holland) – West Ottawa High School

·         Patrick Jensen Jr. (Spring Lake) – Spring Lake High School

·         Coleman Myhre (Norton Shores) – Mona Shores High School

·         Mike Nicolas (Grant) – Grant High School

·         Jason Pluger (Hudsonville) – Hudsonville High School

·         Keeghan Semans (Whitehall) – Whitehall High School

U.S. Military Academy – West Point, NY

·         Kelly Daniel (Zeeland) – Zeeland East High School

·         Mark Fletcher (Holland) – West Ottawa High School

·         Patrick Jensen Jr. (Spring Lake) – Spring Lake High School

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy – Kings Point, NY

·         Thomas Dalton (Hamilton) – Black River Public School

·         Coleman Myhre (Norton Shores) – Mona Shores High School

U.S. Air Force Academy – Colorado Springs, CO

·         Jacob Batt (Dorr) – Hopkins High School

·         Michael Drew (Manistee) – Manistee Catholic Central

·         Mark Fletcher (Holland) – West Ottawa High School

·         Nathalie Kenny (Manistee) – Manistee High School

·         Hank Martin (Montague) – Montague High School

·         Jacob Neubecker (Grand Rapids Charter Twp.) – West Catholic High School

·         Joshua Neubecker (Grand Rapids Charter Twp.) – West Catholic High School

·         Jason Pluger (Hudsonville) – Hudsonville High School

A nomination does not guarantee appointment to an academy. An academy must receive a nomination from an authorized nominating source, one of which is a Member of Congress, before admitting a student and offering them an appointment to the academy.