PEORIA – Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16) today announced that he nominated 19 remarkable young men and women from central and northern Illinois to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy, and the U.S. Air Force Academy. This is the first step to future evaluation and consideration for a potential appointment to one of our service academies. LaHood released the following statement congratulating the nominees:
“It is an honor to nominate this group of remarkable students from Illinois to be considered to attend our great military service academies. America is the greatest and safest country on Earth because of young leaders like these who are willing to put service before self to support and defend our freedom. One of the great joys of my job is nominating and meeting the exceptional students who want to serve our country. I know Illinois will be well represented by these young men and women. I wish each of these nominees the best as they continue to move through this process.”
This set of nominations was made in 2024 during the 118th Congress and reflect communities in the current 16th District of Illinois. Nominees completed a rigorous application process and interviews conducted by a selection panel of veterans and central and west-central Illinois community leaders. The U.S. Service Academies will inform the final nominees of their admission decisions over the next four months. LaHood will open the application process for 2025 Service Academy Nominations for 16th District residents this Spring. Students can be nominated to multiple service academies and the 2024 nominees can be found below.
U.S. Military Academy at West Point
Scout Adams, Metamora - St. Johns Northwest Academies
Michael Behm, Peoria - Richwoods High School
Kaden Combs, Woodstock - Woodstock North High School
William Goldammer, Princeville - Peoria Notre Dame High School
Carter Lundeen, Minooka - Minooka Community High School
Nathan Maestas, Bloomington - Georgia Military College
Franchesca Rodriguez, Streator - Illinois Valley Community College
James Schomburg, Roscoe - Hononegah Community High School
Andrew Wahlgren, Princeton - Croatan High School
U.S. Air Force Academy
Kaden Combs, Woodstock - Woodstock North High School
Jared Counterman, Morris - Coal City High School
Isaac Rife, Elizabeth - River Ridge High School
Franchesca Rodriguez, Streator - Illinois Valley Community College
James Schomburg, Roscoe - Hononegah Community High School
Jak Sheehan, Bloomington - Long Road Sixth Form College
Andrew Wahlgren, Princeton - Croatan High School
Kate Walghren, Princeton - Humphreys High School
Bennet Williams, Princeton - Princeton High School
U.S. Naval Academy
Scout Adams, Metamora - St. Johns Northwest Academies
Brennan Bjorling, Morton - Morton High School
Karley Fulcher, Heyworth - Heyworth High School
Andrew Elward, Morton - Peoria Notre Dame High School
Isaac Rife, Elizabeth - River Ridge High School
Franchesca Rodriguez, Streator - Illinois Valley Community College
James Schomburg, Roscoe - Hononegah Community High School
Andrew Stone, Metamora - Metamora Township High School
Andrew Wahlgren, Princeton - Croatan High School
Noah Wenzel, Dakota - Dakota Senior High School
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