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When 17-year-old Nicole Staudinger got a call informing her she had been accepted to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, she beamed with the pride of knowing she’d have the opportunity to serve a country that has done so much for her family.

“I want to be part of something bigger than myself,” said Staudinger, a senior at Canyon High School in Santa Clarita. “My mom is a Chilean immigrant and I’m a first-generation (college student). This country gave a lot to my family.”

Staudinger is one of 15 high school students from Representative Mike Garcia’s (CA-27) congressional district to have been accepted into a top U.S. military academy this year. Garcia hosted a reception this week to congratulate the students, who live in Santa Clarita, Valencia, Palmdale, Simi Valley, Castaic, Canyon Country, Saugus, Lancaster, Stevenson Ranch and other parts of his district.

“It’s inspiring to see so many students in our communities with a desire to serve our nation,” Garcia said in a statement. “As a U.S. Naval Academy alum, I know how difficult it can be to receive a military service academy appointment. These young leaders rose to the challenge, and I look forward to watching them continue to make our communities proud.”

To receive a coveted spot at one of the military service academies, whose acceptance rates range from 8% to about 20%, the students went through a grueling application process, providing transcripts with stellar grades, reports with high SAT or ACT scores, and physical fitness assessment results.

All 15 were nominated by Garcia. Most of the military academies require a congressional or similar nomination, to even apply.

“(I’m involved in) extracurriculars like football, baseball and community service,” said 18-year-old Nick Parrinello, accepted into the United States Military Academy at West Point. “I think it all came together to put me over the edge. And when I found out, I could barely contain myself.”

The military academies students will be attending include the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York.

“I applied to the Merchant Marine Academy because I wanted to be able to serve my country and continue my education,” said Samuel Robertson, 18.

Students will take classes focused primarily on science, technology, engineering and math and will receive rigorous training in preparation for military careers.

“There are so many opportunities,” Griffin Nibarger, 18, said. “I’m really excited for the science courses and I’m looking forward to experiencing that super regimented lifestyle.”

After graduation from the academies, which are completely free, they must serve in a branch of the U.S. military. Their time in service varies but is typically five years. After that, some students pursue civilian careers while others remain in the military.

“I personally plan on spending my career in the military,” Parrinello said. “I want to do the best I can and make Santa Clarita and Southern California proud.”

The students will begin their studies and training later this summer.

“I know it will be a different experience than other colleges,” Staudinger said. “It will be more challenging, but I believe that when something is more challenging, it means you’re able to learn more from it.”

Here are the names of the students accepted into military academies from Garcia’s district:

Owen Ahten, William S. Hart High School, Santa Clarita, U.S. Naval Academy, Jakob Brunsell, U.S. Air Force Academy Prep School, Canyon Country, U.S. Air Force Academy, Olivia Burk, West Ranch High School, Castaic, U.S. Air Force Academy, Geneva Cesoni, West Ranch High School, Santa Clarita, U.S. Military Academy, Ty Deperno, West Ranch High School, Valencia, U.S. Naval Academy Foundation Scholarship Program, Thomas Hadji, Valencia High School, Valencia, U.S. Military Academy, Stephanie Galindo Hernandez, Eastside High School, Lancaster, U.S. Naval Academy, Isaac Kim, William S. Hart High School, Stevenson Ranch, U.S. Military Academy Prep School, Griffin Nibarger, West Ranch High School, Valencia, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Nick Parrinello, Trinity Classical Academy, Santa Clarita, U.S. Military Academy, Tyler Roberts, Saugus High School, Saugus, U.S. Military Academy Prep School, Samuel Robertson, Trinity Classical Academy, Valencia, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Nicole Staudinger, Canyon High School, Canyon Country, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Alexa Tipps, Paraclete High School, Palmdale, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, William Torres, Royal High School, Simi Valley, U.S. Air Force Academy