Rep. Sherrill Announces 2025 NJ-11 Appointments to U.S. Service Academies

Livingston, N.J. –  Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) announced the 24 students from New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District appointed to the U.S. Service Academies and attending the Service Academy Preparatory Schools and Preparatory Programs. These students will begin their education and service careers this year at the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and their associated Preparatory Schools and Programs. Rep. Sherrill hosted an event to recognize the students last week in Bloomfield.

"I am so proud of all the young men and women from NJ-11 who are reporting to the military academies or academy preparatory programs this summer. From my time at the Naval Academy, I remember how challenging the academy's programs are — both academically and physically. Learning to work as a team and overcoming those challenges prepared me to lead servicemembers as a military officer. I am grateful for these young men and women who are willing to serve our nation in uniform and I wish them the best of luck as they start their careers as future military leaders," said Rep. Sherrill.

The 22 NJ-11 students attending U.S. Service Academies:

• Jessica Bao, Chatham  – U.S. Naval Academy
• Troy Dibble, Montclair – U.S. Naval Academy
• Alberto Grossetti, Nutley – U.S. Naval Academy
• Lincoln Hedberg, Montclair– U.S. Naval Academy 
• Margaret Hedberg, Montclair – U.S. Naval Academy
• Trisha Patel, Denville – U.S. Naval Academy
• Noah Rega, Madison – U.S. Naval Academy
• Alexandra Richard, Bloomfield – U.S. Naval Academy
• Connor Ross, Morris Plains – U.S. Naval Academy
• Yael Ben-Adi, Maplewood – U.S. Military Academy 
• Max Coey, Maplewood – U.S. Military Academy
• Leila Galarza, Parsippany – U.S. Military Academy 
• Enzo Gurijala, Millburn  – U.S. Military Academy
• Ian Kim, Wayne – U.S. Military Academy 
• Daniel Lee, Livingston – U.S. Military Academy 
• Lavanya Shenoy, Morris Plains – U.S. Military Academy 
• Dhir Patel, Wayne – U.S. Military Academy 
• Andrew Zhang, Millburn – U.S. Military Academy
• Ezekiel Ehrenberg, Randoph – U.S. Air Force Academy 
• Isabella Sun, Roseland – U.S. Air Force Academy
• Devan Patel, Madison – U.S. Air Force Academy
• Malia Nugent, Morristown – U.S. Air Force Academy

The following two NJ-11 students will be attending Service Academy Preparatory Schools or Programs in the coming year. Students attending a Preparatory School or Program do not require a Congressional Nomination:

• Kyle Ramos, Wayne – U.S. Naval Academy Preparatory School
• John Bettenbender, Glen Ridge – Air Force Falcon Foundation Scholarship

The Merchant Marine Academy allows Representatives to nominate candidates from anywhere in New Jersey. In addition to the appointees above, Rep. Sherrill nominated the following student who received an appointment to the Merchant Marine Academy:

• Enois Maceira Crespo, Middlesex – U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

Rep. Sherrill graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1994 and went on to serve as a Sea King helicopter pilot and Russian policy officer in the U.S. Navy for nearly 10 years.

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