Washington, DC - Rep. Peter Welch today announced he has nominated 22 Vermont high school students to military service academies.

The nominations are for Vermonters seeking admission to the United States Military Academy at West Point, the Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD, the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, and the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY.

"I am very proud of the hard-working Vermont students I have nominated to our nation's service academies. These promising young Vermonters possess the strong commitment to public service that is so rich in the Vermont tradition," said Welch.

Welch will join Senator Bernie Sanders and Senator Patrick Leahy in honoring each of the delegation's nominees on Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Cedar Creek Room of the Vermont State House in Montpelier.

Welch's nominees are:

Joel Bassette, Quechee, home school - USMA, USNA
Thomas Blackmore, Danville, Danville High School  - USNA
Andrew Travis Brown, Morrisville, Montpelier High School - USNA
Hannah Campbell, St. Johnsbury, St. Johnsbury Academy - USAFA
Corey Cicio, Orange, Spaulding High School - USAFA
David Granato, Essex Junction, Essex High School - USAFA
Jacob Isham, Winooski, Winooski High School - USNA, USMA
Thomas Johnston, Taftsville (Woodstock), Mid Vermont Christian School - USMA
Daniel Lacroix, Richford, Richford Jr./Sr. High School - USAFA
Matthew Lane, Waterford, St. Johnsbury Academy - USMA, USAFA
Joseph Luna, Enosburg Falls, Enosburg Falls Jr/Sr High School - USNA
Marina McGrail, Manchester Center, St. Andrew's School (Middletown, DE) - USNA, USMA
Matthew McVay, Shaftsbury, Mount Anthony Union High School - USNA
David Perry, Richford, East Lyme High School (East Lyme, CT) - USNA
Alex Redznak, St. Johnsbury, St. Johnsbury Academy - USMMA
Andrew Renard, Springfield, Springfield High School - USNA, USMA
Alex Schueckler, Stamford, Drury High School (North Adams, MA) - USNA
William Shouldice V, Rutland, Mount Saint Joseph Academy - USMMA
Joseph Simons, Poultney, Poultney High School - USMA, USMMA, USAFA
Sean Stone, Wilder, Hartford High School - USMA
Ben Stuart, Georgia, Rice Memorial High School - USMA
Gregory Trahan, Derby Line, North Country Union High School - USMA

USMA - US Military Academy (West Point)
USNA - US Naval Academy (Annapolis)
USMMA - US Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point)
USAFA - US Air Force Academy