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Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga announced his 10 nominations to be considered for acceptance into the 2017 class of the U.S. Military, Air Force, Naval, and Merchant Marine Academies.

“It is an honor to nominate such driven and courageous young men and women in their application to the U.S. Service Academies. Whenever I hear from our distinguished service academies, I am told that cadets from West Michigan are some of the best and brightest our nation has to offer. I have no doubt that this group will continue that tradition.” Huizenga said.

The nominations are based upon an 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 /

Congressman Huizenga nominated the following students for the class of 2017:


U.S. Military Academy: West Point, New York

• Matthew Ziegeler - West Ottawa High School
• Caroline Fender - West Ottawa High School
• Evan Viau - Jenison High School
• Benjamin Dorsey - American International School of Bucharest
• Connor Schmid - St. John's Northwestern Military Academy
• Christopher Mason - Oakridge High School
• Troy St. Peter - Fremont High School
• Jonathan DeHaan - Calvin Christian High School


U.S. Air Force Academy: Colorado Springs, Colorado

• Evan Viau - Jenison High School
• Benjamin Dorsey - American International School of Bucharest
• Troy St. Peter - Fremont High School


U.S. Naval Academy: Annapolis, Maryland

• Caroline Fender - West Ottawa High School
• Aaron Cinnamon - Black River High School
• Evan Viau - Jenison High School
• Troy St. Peter - Fremont High School
• Benjamin Dorsey - American International School of Bucharest
• Mitchell Meppelink - Zeeland West High School
• Christopher Mason - Oakridge High School


U.S. Merchant Marine Academy: Kings Point, New York

• Connor Schmid - St. John's Northwestern Military Academy
• Christopher Mason - Oakridge High School
• Benjamin Dorsey - American International School of Bucharest


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.