Shimkus Announces Nominees to Military Service Academies

(GRACE ZELLER OF EFFINGHAM IS A MILITARY ACADEMY NOMINEE OF CONGRESSMAN JOHN SHIMKUS. SHE IS SEEN {second from left} ALONG WITH CHARLES GOSS OF SULLIVAN, CONGRESSMAN SHIMKUS, GABRIEL OETTING OF CHARLESTON AND CHRISTOPHER HENSON OF FLORA)

Congressman John Shimkus (R, Illinois-15) has announced his 16 nominations to the military service academies. The congressman nominates, and then the academies themselves make the final determination whether a nominee receives an appointment to attend that academy.

Grace Zeller of Effingham has been nominated to the US Military Academy at West Point. She is the daughter of Eric and Nicole Zeller.

"The academies look at academics, leadership, and physical fitness in order to assure a young person is well-rounded and able to cope with the unique challenges of attending a military school," Shimkus said. "As a West Point graduate, I am very proud of these young men and women for considering an academy for their college choice and am grateful for the honor of being able to nominate them.”

The four military academies that require congressional nominations are: United States Military Academy (USMA), West Point, New York; United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, Colorado; United States Naval Academy (USNA), Annapolis, Maryland; and United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), Kings Point, New York.

High school juniors, college students, or current members of the military who are residents of the 15th District and wish to attend an academy beginning in 2018 can request a nomination packet by writing Congressman John Shimkus, 15 Professional Park Drive, Maryville, IL 62062. Those packets with complete requirements will be sent out in late summer.

“Potential nominees complete applications with both my office and online with each individual academy they wish to pursue,” Shimkus added. “I again offer my congratulations to these outstanding students.”