Applications must be received by Oct. 31

GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. – Each year, Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers has the privilege of recommending a select group of students from his congressional district for admission to the U.S. Service Academies. Congressman Ehlers must receive applications for nomination by Friday, October 31, 2008. A reviewing board will interview applicants in December, and a letter notifying students of nomination will be sent no later than January, 2009.

      Students may apply to any of the U.S. Service Academies: The U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. 

      Congressman Ehlers recommends students interested in attending one of these academies start the nomination process in the spring of their junior year in high school. A student must have a congressional nomination to apply to U.S. Service Academies. Competition for the limited number of nominations is strong. Students must submit the following to Congressman Ehlers’ Grand Rapids office to apply:

• Completed Academy Information Sheet
• Official high school or college transcript of the most recent grading period
• Statement from guidance counselor as to your projected rank in class and cumulative grade point average
• Three letters of recommendation
• ACT or SAT scores
• Current photo

In addition, students must apply directly to the academies they are interested in attending.

Congressman Ehlers will host an Academy Night on Monday, November 24 at 7 p.m. at the Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids for students interested in attending a U.S. Service Academy. Congressman Ehlers, along with representatives from the academies, will be at this free event to inform prospective applicants about the academies and the application process.

More information on U.S. Service Academies may be found on Congressman Ehlers’ Web site: http://www.house.gov/ehlers/military_academics.shtml