WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, along with Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.) hosted Delawareans accepted into U.S. service academies June 12 during a reception in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center.

Each year, students interested in attending the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy or U.S. Military Academy at West Point apply for a nomination through members of the United States Congress. Members nominate top candidates from their home state, ensuring that the best and the brightest are considered for admission to the nation’s leading service academies.

In 2002, then-Senator Joe Biden, Senator Carper and then-Representative Mike Castle hosted the first Delaware Service Academy Reception in the Capitol.

The Delaware students who have accepted appointments to the service academies this year are:

U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.

• Tyler Johnes, Felton
• Brett Cressman, Newark
• Spenser Neidig, Hockessin

U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.

• Evan Cillo, Wilmington
• Chad Dohl, Newark
• Patrick Rowe, Jr., Bear
• Suyash Singh, Bear

U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.

• Zakary Ward, Wilmington
• Cole Fenice, Wilmington
• Dylan Simons, Seaford

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, N.Y.

• Jay Chagaris, Frederica
• Augustine Musika, Lewes
• Nicholas Parsons, Rehoboth Beach
• Alexandra Pullella, Wilmington
• Patrick Sharkey, Milford