Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) has announced 33 Alabama students who accepted their appointments to a U.S. service academy, along with one student who received a coveted Falcon Foundation scholarship. These students were nominated by Tuberville to represent Alabama in the class of 2026 at one of the four service academies: the United States Air Force Academy, United States Military Academy, Merchant Marine Academy, and the Naval Academy. This is Tuberville’s first group of U.S. service academy appointments since assuming office.
“It is an honor to nominate these outstanding young Alabamians to our United States service academies,” Tuberville said. “Our military needs young men and women like them to ensure we remain the strongest fighting force in the world. Their hard work has led them to this point, and I hope it will continue to guide them in their journey ahead. America is better off thanks to their desire to defend and serve our country.”
Service academy nominees must be residents of Alabama and undergo an extensive application process to receive a nomination. Applicants must complete the required ACT and SAT exams and provide letters of recommendation, a school transcript and completed medical examination, along with the required application form.
More information on applying for a U.S. service academy can be found online. A complete list of Senator Tuberville’s nominees for the class of 2026 can be found below.
United States Air Force Academy :
Megan Y. Duffy: daughter of Anthony and Yen Duffy, Dothan, AL; Dothan High School
Charles C. Heidepriem: son of Suzanne Heidepriem, Birmingham, AL; Briarwood Christian School
Spenser Lamb: son of Jane and Patrick Lamb, Homewood, AL; Homewood High School
Henry Rasmussen: son of Reid and Lori Rasmussen, Montgomery, AL, St. James School
Thomas Rutherford: son of Jeffrey and Martha Ann Rutherford, Montgomery, AL; Churchill Academy
Joseph Shearer: son of April Marie Shearer and Joseph Hollis Jr., Heflin, AL; Ranburne High School
Luke Stringer: son of Joe and Marty Stringer, Daphne, AL; UMS-Wright Preparatory School
Jack Talley: son of Wesley and Holly Talley, Vestavia Hills, AL; Vestavia Hills High School
Michael Wolkow: son of Troy and Mary Wolkow, Birmingham, AL; Spain Park High School
Walker Zapp: son of Justin and Kellly Zapp, Auburn, AL; Auburn High School
United States Military Academy:
Vincent Cameron: son of Elaine Cameron, Madison, AL; James Clemons High School
Gavin Comulada: son of Oscar and Mary Elizabeth Comulada, Huntsville, AL; Whitesburg Christian Academy
Andrew Girgis: son of Ayman and Theresa Girgis, Madison, AL; University of Alabama in Huntsville
Ian Howell: son of Paul and Dianna Howell, Northport, AL; Pelham High School
John Johnson: son of Marcus and Lezlie Johnson, Guntersville, AL; Arab High School
Eli Musselwhite: son of Michael and Teresa Musselwhite, Auburn, AL; Auburn High School
Cooper Shafer: son of Brian Shafer, Tuscaloosa, AL; American Christian Academy
Cade Wagoner: son of Marvin and Jennifer Baxter Wagoner, Auburn, AL; Lee-Scott Academy
Peyton West: son of Larry and Sondra West, Brookwood, AL; Tuscaloosa Christian School
Wesley Yeatman: son of James and Donna Yeatman, Birmingham, AL; Oak Mountain High School
United States Merchant Marine Academy:
Jacob Fairbairn: son of Sheri Fairbairn, Birmingham, AL; Marion Military Institute
Madeleine Hope: daughter of Duncan and Jessica Hope, Mobile, AL; Marion Military Institute
Kaila Sisk: daughter of Anthony and Beth Sisk, Eight Mile, AL; Saraland High School
United States Naval Academy:
Timothy Brisco: son of Samuel and Laura Brisco, Trussville, AL; Hewitt Trussville High School
Grant Carpenter: son of Lawrence and Petra Jay Carpenter, Mobile, AL; UMS-Wright Preparatory School
James Latona: son of Norman and Shannon Latona, Alabaster, AL; Thompson High School
Isabel Jaden Mayo: daughter of John and Kimberly Mayo, Mobile, AL; Murphy High School
James Perkins, Jr.: son of James and Mortesha Perkins, Pinson, AL; Pinson Valley High School
Will Stallworth: son of Rob and Heather Stallworth, Hoover, AL; Hoover High School
Clark Turner: son of John and Eran Clark Turner, Mobile, AL; UMS-Wright Preparatory School
James Waldrop: son of James and Dana Waldrop, Hueytown, AL; Shades Valley High School
Austin Wallace: son of Ken and Stephanie Wallace, Pelham, AL; Pelham High School
Kaili Williams: daughter of Rick and Leigh Williams, Columbiana, AL; Shelby County High School
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