Service Academy Nomination

Service Academy Night 2025

Congressman Tim Kennedy, in partnership with U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, invites high school students, families, and educators to attend Service Academy Night 2025 in Buffalo, New York. This annual event provides an opportunity to learn about the application process for the U.S. Service Academies and ROTC programs, as well as to meet representatives from each academy.

Event Details

📅 Thursday, October 2, 2025
🕕 Doors Open: 6:00 PM | Panel Begins: 6:30 PM
📍 Hohn Auditorium
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Campus
665 Elm Street, Buffalo, NY
🚗 Free parking available at the Roswell Park Parking Garage

Who Should Attend

High school students interested in applying to a Service Academy or ROTC program
Parents and families
School officials and JROTC staff

Meet Representatives From

U.S. Military Academy at West Point
U.S. Naval Academy
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
U.S. Air Force Academy
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
Army ROTC & Navy ROTC

RSVP

To RSVP, please contact our offices:

Senator Gillibrand’s Office: (716) 854-9725
Congressman Kennedy’s Office: (716) 852-3501

The honor of attending a service academy comes with the obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation. Members of Congress may nominate candidates for appointment to four of the five U.S. service academies:

U.S. Military Academy (USMA), West Point, NY
U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Annapolis, MD
U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, CO
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), Kings Point, NY
U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), New London, CT, does NOT require a congressional nomination for appointment.

Each Member may nominate up to fifteen individuals for each vacant academy slot allotted to the district. Best wishes to you as you pursue your goal of attending one of the U.S. Service Academies and serving our country.

The nomination application period opens May 15th of each year for those candidates who are high school juniors and will be seniors the following school year, or who have already graduated. Applications are due by Friday, October 31st.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a nomination?

Members of Congress may nominate applicants who meet the eligibility requirements established by law. A candidate may seek a nomination from the following:

A member of the U.S. House of Representatives who represents the congressional district in which the candidate resides.
U.S. Senators from his or her state.
The Vice President of the United States

What are the basic eligibility requirements?

Applicants seeking nominations from Congressman Kennedy must meet the following eligibility requirements as of July 1st of the year of admission to an academy:

Age: Be at least 17 years old, but not have passed the 23rd birthday
Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen
Marital Status: Must be unmarried, not pregnant, and without legal obligation to support children or other dependents
Residence: Must reside within the boundaries of the 26th Congressional District of New York.
Skill/Fitness: Must meet the medical, physical, and academic requirements of the Academy
SAT/ACT is required for the three DOD service academies(USMA, USNA, USAFA)

When do I apply for a nomination?

The nomination application period opens May 15th of each year for those candidates who are high school juniors and will be seniors the following school year, or who have already graduated.

Applications are due by Friday, October 31st.

What must be included in my nomination file?

A complete nomination file consists of the following items:

Application
Current photo
Official High School Transcript - sent directly to our office from your school
Official SAT and/or ACT Scores - sent directly to our office from the test governing body
Resume
Three letters of recommendation
Essay -- No more than 750 words on why you picked the academy you did.

What happens after I have completed my nomination file?

Applicants who submit a completed nomination file will be scheduled for an interview.

What criteria is used in selecting candidates?

Nominations are based on a holistic evaluation. Academic achievements, extra-curricular activities, leadership skills, physical aptitude, character, and motivation are taken into consideration.

Will I automatically be selected by the academy after I receive a nomination?

A Congressional nomination to a Service Academy does not guarantee admission to the Academy.

What if I choose more than one academy? Will I be limited to a single nomination?

No. You can be nominated to multiple academies. It is also possible to win multiple appointments.

When will I know if I have been offered an appointment by an academy?

Academies will begin to notify candidates of their admission status in February. All offers of appointment are generally sent out by May.

Required fields are followed by *.

Contact Information

Prefix: *

First Name: *

Last Name: *

Suffix:

Email Address: *

Street Address: *

City: *

State: *

Zip Code: *

Phone Number: *

Date of Birth: *

Gender: *

U.S. Citizen? * Yes No

Country of Citizenship:

Parent/Guardian Information

Names of Parents/Guardians: *

Email Address: *

Phone Number: *

Street Address: *

City: *

State: *

Zip Code: *

Education Information

High School Name: *

High School Address: *

City: *

State: *

Zip Code: *

GPA: *

Class Size:

Class Rank:

Graduation Date:

SAT Test Scores

Math:

Writing:

Critical Reading:

Composite:

ACT Test Scores

Math:

English:

Reading:

Science:

Composite:

Academy Information

First Pick:

Second Pick:

Third Pick:

Fourth Pick:

An appointment to the Service Academies is based on a desire by the candidate to devote a lifetime of military service and implies recognition by the appointee of an obligation to the government to devote him / herself to a military career. Are you interested in an appointment on that basis? Yes No

Additional Information

Extracurricular Activities:

Name of Hometown Newspaper:

Is it ok to use your name in a press release after receiving an appointment? Yes No