Twelve Fayette County students and two from Coweta County have received nominations to the country's several military service academies.

They are among 25 students throughout the state's Third Congressional District who have been tapped for the academies, according to Rep. Mac Collins (R-Hampton).

"Our nation's service academies offer a proud tradition of academic excellence combined with unparalleled military and leadership training," Collins said. "The nomination process is competitive, and I congratulate all those who applied."

Fayette County students include the following:

Alicia Waldrep Air Force Academy, Military Academy at West Point, and Merchant Marine Academy. She is a graduate of Fayette County High School and currently attends Colorado School of Mines). Parents are Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Waldrep.

Joshua Christopher Sauls Air Force Academy. A student at Fayette County High School, his parents are Mr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Sauls.

George Louis Christensen Air Force Academy, Naval Academy. A student at McIntosh High School, his parents are Dr. and Mrs. George Lewis Christensen.

LeeAnn Dorothy Browning Air Force Academy, Military Academy at West Point; student at Sandy Creek High School. Parents are Phillip and Dr. Maryann Browning.

Jonathan David Niebes Air Force Academy, Military Academy at West Point; student at McIntosh High School. Parents are Mr. and Mrs. David Niebes.

Eric Haddix Military Academy at West Point; student at McIntosh H.S. Parents are Mr. and Mrs. Don Haddix.

Logan Patrick Gallagher Naval Academy, Military Academy at West Point and Merchant Marine Academy; student at Sandy Creek H.S. Parents are Mr. and Mrs. Terry Gallagher.

Sara Salter Naval Academy, Military Academy at West Point, and Merchant Marine Academy; student at Sandy Creek H.S. Parents are Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Holsey Salter.

Jarrod Currin Air Force Academy, Naval Academy, Military Academy at West Point and Merchant Marine Academy; McIntosh H.S. Parents are Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey D. Currin.

Matthew Joseph O'Donnell Military Academy at West Point and Merchant Marine Academy; McIntosh H.S. Parents are Mr. and Mrs. William P. O'Donnell.

Douglas Stanford Gilbert Naval Academy, Military Academy at West Point; McIntosh H.S. Parents are Mr. and Mrs. Richard Gilbert.

Jonathan Garrett Sumner Air Force Academy, Military Academy at West Point and Merchant Marine Academy; graduate of Landmark Christian H.S. and currently is a student at Georgia Tech. Parents are Mr. James Sumner and Ms. Lori Sumner.

Coweta students nominated are as follows:

Andrea Tucker Air Force Academy; East Coweta H.S. Parents are Mr. and Mrs. Harold L. Tucker.

David Brett Riffe Naval Academy, Merchant Marine Academy; East Coweta H.S., Parents are Mr. and Mrs. Andrew David Rice.

The Academy Selection Board, consisting of seven members from different areas throughout the district, is responsible for reviewing applications, interviewing the applicants and making recommendations. The 25 nominations made by the board are sent to the respective academies for consideration.

The nomination notifies the academy that the student's abilities meet the high standards set forth by the Academy Selection Board. Appointments by the academies are made from now until the beginning of the school year. If appointed, students will be notified by Rep. Collins.

Students generally begin the application process in their junior or senior year of high school.