FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 20, 2014
Contact: Heather Denker
(316) 262-8992 (Office)
(316) 641-7844 (Mobile)
Congressman Pompeo Announces Service Academy Nominees
Today Congressman Mike Pompeo, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, announced the names of the young Kansans who will receive a nomination from the Fourth Congressional District of Kansas for appointment to one of the United States service academies for the Class of 2019.
Twenty-seven Kansas students have been selected this year by Congressman Pompeo from the applicants who were interviewed by the Fourth Congressional District’s Service Academy Nominations Board. The Fourth District Nominations Board consists of six Kansans who are veterans of armed services and volunteer to assist in this important mission. Members of the Fourth District Nominations Board were selected by Rep. Pompeo to aid in the nominations process.
“Year after year, the commitment of these applicants to their education, community, and country never ceases to amaze those of us involved in this selection process. The fact that these young men and women are choosing to dedicate their lives to our nation’s military and national security should be commended and celebrated. I will not soon forget the day I learned that I had been nominated by my Congressman to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point. I can attest that the desire to serve this great country runs deep and will serve them well throughout all of their future endeavors,” Congressman Pompeo said.
Upon receiving the nomination by Congressman Pompeo, the applicants must still meet the admission requirements of each service academy. The academies will make the final decisions on whom they will admit in early 2015. The honor of attending a service academy comes with an obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation.
Kansas Fourth Congressional District Service Academy Nominations:
United States Air Force Academy
Melissa Berger (Graduate of Valley Center High School | Attends Northwestern Preparatory School, CA)
Kyler Ehm (Wichita Collegiate)
Sofia Gilkeson (Kapaun Mt. Carmel, Wichita)
Cole Hansen (Graduate of Derby High School | Attends U. S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School)
Elizabeth Jarvis (The Independent School, Wichita)
Brandon Kaupa (Andover Central High School)
Lindsey Medina (Graduate of Kapaun Mt. Carmel, Wichita | Attends Kansas State University)
Alec Pendergrass (Bishop Carroll High School | Wichita)
Chelsey Ratzlaff (Maize High School)
Charles Alec Schillings (Wichita East High School)
United States Military Academy
Courtney Anderson (Derby High School)
Joshua Ash (Pratt High School)
Frank Dwornicki (Goddard Eisenhower High School)
Michael Liby (Sedgwick High School)
Derek Martin (Graduate of Conway Springs High School | Attends Washburn University)
Anthony Nilles (Halstead High School)
Kelly Nguyen (Wichita East High School)
Wyatt Pressnell (Heritage Academy|Home School, Wichita)
Isaac Stevens (Wichita Trinity Academy)
Simeon Willis (Wichita Southeast High School)
United States Naval Academy
Charles Beck (Andover High School)
Aaron Engberg (Goddard High School)
Jacob Funschelle (Maize South High School)
Elizabeth Jarvis (The Independent School, Wichita)
Sam Kerbs (Derby High School)
Austin Pitcher (Clearwater High School)
Chelsey Ratzlaff (Maize High School | Attends University of Richmond, Richmond, VA)
Evan Williams (Home School, Wichita and attends Butler Community College)
Simeon Willis (Wichita Southeast High School)
Richard Zirkle (Graduate of The Independent School, Wichita | Attends Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL, part of the U. S. Naval Academy’s Civilian Preparatory Program)
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