Press Releases

Today, Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06) announced the names of the students within the Sixth Congressional District of Virginia whom he has nominated to join the Class of 2026 at one of four U.S. Service Academies.

Applicants to the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy require a nomination from a Member of Congress or another nominating authority. Nominees are listed below alphabetically.

"One of the most important responsibilities I have as the Representative for Virginia's Sixth District is the nomination of high school seniors and others to one of four United States Service Academies," Cline said. "Understanding this, I spent the past several months meeting individually with each interested applicant. The passion for service and love of country that these students exuded was truly inspiring, and I am pleased to announce today the names of those I have nominated to each Academy. I offer these students my sincere congratulations and wish them the best of luck throughout the rest of the admissions process."

Sixth District Nominations for the Class of 2026:

United States Naval Academy:

Charles Armes, senior at Heritage High School and a resident of Lynchburg

Darian Belisle, freshman at Mary Baldwin University and a resident of Staunton

Zachary Hodgen, senior at Wilson Memorial High School and a resident of Fishersville

Seamus Looney, senior at Rockbridge High School and a resident of Lexington

Logan Perry, senior at Stuarts Draft High School and a resident of Stuarts Draft

Weston Rogers, freshman at James Madison University and a resident of Harrisonburg

Alice Sherman, senior at Patrick Henry High School and a resident of Roanoke

Patrick Uhlenkott, freshman at Franciscan University of Steubenville and a resident of Front Royal

Jacob Warner, senior at The New Community School and a resident of Rockbridge

United States Military Academy:

Kameron Burns, senior at Heritage High School and a resident of Lynchburg

Lance Dorman, senior at Fishburne Military School and a resident New Market

Nathan Haskins, senior at Skyline High School and a resident of Front Royal

Cadless Jarvis, senior at Fishburne Military School and a resident of Waynesboro

Robert Miller, senior at William Byrd High School and a resident of Roanoke

Noah Miller, senior at Turner Ashby High School and a resident of Bridgewater

Kaiden Minter, senior at Northside High School and a resident of Roanoke

Andrew Sakamoto, senior at Hidden Valley High School and a resident of Roanoke

Dillon Stowers, senior at Liberty Christian Academy and a resident of Lynchburg

McKenna Vess, senior at Wilson Memorial High School and a resident of Waynesboro

United States Air Force Academy:

Bradley Colkitt, senior at Jefferson Forest High School and a resident of Lynchburg

Jarred Newcomb, senior at Jefferson Forest High School and a resident of Forest

Jakob Presley, freshman at Lord Fairfax Community College and a resident of Maurertown

Mariela Ruiz, senior at Waynesboro High School and a resident of Waynesboro

Francis Treutlein, senior at Warren County High School and a resident of Linden

United States Merchant Marine Academy:

Connor Wolfe, senior at Parry McCluer High School and a resident of Buena Vista

Congressman Ben Cline represents the Sixth Congressional District of Virginia. He previously was an attorney in private practice and served both as an assistant prosecutor and Member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Cline and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Botetourt County with their two children.

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