Congressman seeks service academy hopefuls

BASTROP COUNTY — U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, is now accepting applications from students in Texas’ 10th Congressional District, including Bastrop County, who are seeking nominations to a United States service academy.

Each year, members of Congress may nominate up to 15 candidates per academy from their district. Eligible applicants may be considered for appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Merchant Marine Academy.

“It’s a privilege to nominate several of my district’s most outstanding young men and women to the United States service academies each year,” McCaul said in a statement. “I commend these brave and patriotic young Texans as they apply for a spot at one of these prestigious universities and look forward to their bright futures defending our nation.”

Admission is based on a range of qualifications, including SAT or ACT scores, class rank, physical aptitude, extracurricular involvement, athletic ability, medical exams and a panel interview, according to officials.

The application process opened earlier this month and will remain open through Sept. 19.

For more information or to request a nomination packet, students may visit McCaul’s website at mccaul.house.gov or contact Destinee Vargas, the academy nominations coordinator, at [email protected] or (979) 431-6480.