WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren, R-Plano, announced that U.S. Naval Academy Midshipman Alex Vandenberg of Sugar Grove will be his guest at the State of the Union address in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.

Vandenberg was nominated to the Naval Academy by Hultgren, and in an unprecedented achievement simultaneously earned all three Orders of Merit – academic, military and overall – and ascended to the top of his U.S. Naval Academy class the first semester of his first year.

“Alex has thrived at the Naval Academy, earning an unprecedented achievement and bringing great honor to the 14th Congressional District and to his family," Hultgren said in the release. "Earning the top spot in academics, military and overall class rank at the same time is extremely difficult, and I remain proud of his nomination. Alex has overcome great challenges to excel in his studies and in sports, playing on the varsity hockey team. I look forward to hosting him as my guest at the State of the Union address and honoring an American devoted to serving his country.”

During his first year at the U.S. Naval Academy, Vandenberg was ranked first of 1174 Plebes in Academic Order of Merit, Military Order of Merit, and Overall Class Rank. Vandenberg graduated from Marmion Academy in Aurora in 2015, where he was battalion commander for the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, the release stated.

Receiving a Bachelor of Science and a commission, Naval Academy graduates serve at least five years in the Navy or Marines following their studies, the release stated.