Esty Nominates Avon's Henke to U.S. Military Academy

Connecticut Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (D-5) nominated an Avon student and two Farmington students Wednesday as candidates for the "U.S. Military Academy at West Point, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy," according to a press release. 

Mackenzie Henke, of Avon, is one of the nominees for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Jill Friedman, of Farmington, was nominated for the U.S. Naval Academy and Paul Kang, of Farmington, was nominated for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

Esty and a "diverse panel of leaders active in the veterans’ community" partook in the selection from a pool of Connecticut students in the Fifth District.

“I am incredibly impressed by the caliber of the students who applied for military academy nominations this year,” Esty said in a statement. “It’s inspiring to see so many of our young women and men eager to serve our country and defend our nation’s freedom. I am also grateful to the panelists who helped me select the finalists. Best of luck to all the nominees as they move forward in the application process.”

Esty nominated the following students:

U.S. Military Academy at West Point Nominees

Ms. Mackenzie Henke (Avon)

Mr. Hevin Na (Cheshire)

Mr. Spencer Persechino (Litchfield)

Mr. Timothy Gephart (New Fairfield)

Mr. Maximillian Holguin (Southbury)

Mr. Grant Ward (Southbury)

Mr. Nejad Abo-Hamzy (Thomaston)

Mr. Darren Cook (Waterbury)

U.S. Naval Academy Nominees

Mr. Wyatt Toczko (Burlington)

Mr. Derek Molkenbuhr (Cheshire)

Mr. Justin Hoyt (Danbury)

Ms. Jill Friedman (Farmington)

Mr. Zachary Anderson (New Fairfield)

Mr. Patrick Carello (Newtown)

Ms. Julia Davis (Newtown)

Mr. Gregory Meyer (Southbury)

Mr. Gregory Bombara (Weatogue)

Mr. Nicholas Santos (Wolcott)

U.S. Air Force Academy Nominees

Mr. Evan Lyons (Danbury)

Mr. Seth Paige (New Fairfield)

Mr. Theodore Roehl (New Fairfield)

Mr. Connor Sedore (Woodbury)

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Nominees

Mr. Paul Kang (Farmington)

Mr. Peter Hill-Ricciuti (Litchfield)