Angelina Gomez, a senior at Austin High School, said she received a nomination from Congressman Lloyd Doggett to the U.S. Naval Academy and plans to attend after graduation.

Gomez described the application process as extensive: “I had to do a fitness test. I had to do a really extensive medical examination. So there was, like, a huge process along with, like, writing more than 20 essays for all of it combined,” she said. She told the meeting she will move to Annapolis, Maryland, after graduation.

Gomez said athletics played a major role in her high school experience. “I’ve loved going to school at Austin High and being a student athlete here. The main parts of my high school experience have been being a part of the girls' basketball team, and then also, of course, being captain for my junior and senior year,” she said. Gomez added that “almost 50 members of my whole family have, like, our alumni here,” and framed her planned attendance at the Naval Academy as continuing a family legacy.

The remarks, attributed to Gomez, noted both the personal and procedural elements of seeking appointment to a service academy: congressional nomination, physical fitness evaluation, medical examination and multiple essays. No formal actions or votes were recorded in the transcript relating to the remarks.

Gomez said the next four years at the Naval Academy will be “really challenging,” and that she sought the experience to prepare for leadership responsibilities in her future career.