McCarthy Announces Nominees to U.S. Service Academies
Washington, Congressman Kevin McCarthy today announced his nominations to the United States Service Academies. Nominees were selected in a competitive process in which a number of highly qualified 22nd Congressional District high school and college students applied for consideration. Congressman McCarthy designated one principal nominee for each academy that will fill one of the slots afforded to him as a Member of Congress at each academy. He also nominated competing alternates for each academy that will be ranked according to their competitiveness by the Academy Admission Board and selected for admission at the academy's discretion. Last year, eight students who received nominations from Congressman McCarthy were offered appointments to one of the U.S. Service Academies.
"We are fortunate in our local communities to have some of the brightest young people across the country," said Congressman McCarthy. "It always impresses me and makes me proud that so many of our students choose to dedicate their lives to serving our great nation. All of these nominees possess honor, courage and integrity and I am proud to nominate each and every one."
The following students received a principal nomination from Congressman McCarthy:
United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO:
Jibraun Asaad, 17, of Lancaster, California attends Quartz Hill High School in Lancaster, California. He is a two-sport athlete in baseball and football. He is the quarterback and Team Captain for the Rebel Varsity Football Team. He is a member of the Associated Student Body currently serving as Sports Commissioner. Jibraun is considering majoring in mechanical or aeronautical engineering while at the academy. In addition to receiving the principal nomination to the Air Force Academy, he also received a competing alternation nomination to the U.S. Naval Academy.
United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD:
Aidan Farrell, 18, of Paso Robles, California attends Paso Robles High School. Aidan plays the saxophone in the Bearcat Marching Band. He is a member of the Cross Country and Track Teams. Aidan attained the rank of Eagle after only two years of joining the Boy Scouts. He plans on studying oceanography while at the academy and would like to be a pilot. In addition to receiving the principal nomination to the Naval Academy, he also received a competing alternate nomination to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
United States Military Academy, West Point, NY:
Clark Cali, 18, of San Luis Obispo, California attends Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School, in San Luis Obispo, California. He is a two-sport athlete in Football and Track and Field. He has a 4.4 grade point average and has been a member of the California Scholarship Federation for four years. Clark served as a page to the United States House of Representatives during the summer of 2011. His goal is to be a career officer in the U.S. Army.
United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY
Bryan Bumgarner, 17, of Bakersfield, California, attends Highland High School, in Bakersfield, California. He is a four year member of the Scotsman Swim Team and President of Interact. His exact field of major is undecided, but Bryan has a strong interest in Mathematics, Science and Technology.
For more information on these candidates or to learn how to contact them, please contact Kati McKeown in the Bakersfield District Office at: (661) 327-3611.
Each candidate was interviewed by Congressman McCarthy's Academy Interview Committee and the selections were submitted to the Congressman. The 2012 Academy Committee Members are: Cam Martin of Tehachapi, External Affairs, NASA and parent to two Naval Academy graduates; Colonel Ahron Hakimi of Bakersfield, Executive Director, Kern Council of Governments and Active Duty Army Reservist; Lt. Colonel Darrell W. Platz of Edwards, United States Marine Corps, Commanding Officer MAG-41 Det A, Edwards AFB, CA and a 1993 Graduate of the United States Naval Academy; Ruscel Reader of Bakersfield, former principal of of Cesar Chavez Elementary School in Bakersfield, CA; and Olivia Garcia of Bakersfield, Editor of Bakersfield Life Magazine.
The following students received competing alternate nominations from Congressman McCarthy:
United States Air Force Academy (USAFA):
• Madison Boynton, Frontier High School, Bakersfield, CA
• Natrelle Demison, United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School, Colorado Springs, CO
• Matthew Greene, Quartz Hill High School, Lancaster, CA
• Jennifer Hulfachor, Templeton High School, Templeton, CA (also received alternate nomination to USNA, USMA and USMMA)
• Austin Medeiros, Liberty High School, Bakersfield, CA
• Jonathan Supple, Tehachapi High School, Tehachapi, CA
• Daniel Villarreal, Burroughs High School, Ridgecrest, CA
• Cady Whicker, Lancaster High School, Lancaster, CA (also received alternate nomination to USMMA)
United States Military Academy (USMA):
• Matthew Carder, Mojave High School, Mojave, CA (also received alternate nomination to USNA)
• Aidan Farrell, Paso Robles High School, Paso Robles, CA (also received principal nomination to USNA)
• Jennifer Hulfachor, Templeton High School, Templeton, CA
• David Newton, Stockdale High School, Bakersfield, CA
• Nathan Scharpenberg, Stockdale High School, Bakersfield, CA (also received alternate nomination to USNA)
• Patience Wilcox, Templeton High School, Templeton, CA
United States Naval Academy (USNA):
• Diego Alcantar, Templeton High School, Templeton, CA
• Jibraun Assad, Quartz Hill High School, Lancaster, CA (also received principal nomination to USAFA)
• Britanie Bowers, Desert High School, Edwards Air Force Base, CA
• Taylor Burnell, Paso Robles High School, Paso Robles, CA (also received alternate nomination to USMMA)
• Matthew Carder, Mojave High School, Mojave, CA
• Ezra Howells, Howells Family Home School, Tehachapi, CA
• Jennifer Hulfachor, Templeton High School, Templeton, CA
• Nathan Scharpenberg, Stockdale High School, Bakersfield, CA
• Prisilla Ybarra, California State University Bakersfield, Bakersfield, CA (also received alternate nomination to USMMA)
United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA)
• Taylor Burnell, Paso Robles High School, Paso Robles, CA
• Andrew Fierro, Bakersfield High School, Bakersfield, CA
• Cameron Green, New Mexico Military Institute, Roswell, NM
• Jennifer Hulfachor, Templeton High School, Templeton, CA
• Will Mauk, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Atascadero, CA
• Ronald Welch, Desert High School, Edwards AFB
• Cady Whicker, Lancaster High School, Lancaster, CA
• Prisilla Ybarra, California State University Bakersfield, Bakersfield, CA