WASHINGTON DC — U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) has nominated 24 students from across the state of Alabama, including five from Madison County, to attend United States service academies.

These students want to attend service academies that exist for the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Army and Merchant Marine.

To receive a service academy nomination, candidates must live in Alabama and complete the required ACT or SAT exams.

Shelby nominated these students:

* Vincente Jesus Cameron of Madison – For U.S. Naval Academy. He is the son of Danny and Elaine Cameron and attends James Clemens High School.

* Cevyn Charell Crutcher of Huntsville – For U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. She is the daughter of Darrell and Chanda Crutcher and is a student at Hazel Green High School.

* Daniel Bryant Hicks of Gurley – For U.S. Naval Academy. He is the son of Alan and Lane Hicks and attends Madison County High School.

* Leah Elizabeth Lessmann of Madison – For U.S. Air Force Academy. She is the daughter of Steven and Alice Lessmann and attends Bob Jones High School.

* Jeffry Patrick Ross of Harvest – For the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. He is the son of Donald and Sherri Ross and attends St. John Paul II Catholic High School.

“I am honored to nominate these excellent students from Madison County to various U.S. service academies,” Shelby said. “Their dedication to academic excellence and their many achievements outside the classroom give me confidence in their ability to succeed in this new endeavor. I believe they will represent Alabama with distinction and look forward to their future accomplishments.”

In early spring, the service academies will contact students that have succeeded in the final admission decision.