Story last updated at 12/26/2012 - 4:12 pm
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced the names of 33 Alaska high school seniors she is nominating for appointment to the U.S. military service academies for the class of 2017.
"This year's group of highly motivated men and women embody the strength of character and depth of knowledge we expect to see in our future leaders - both in the armed forces and in our communities," she said. "Each and every year, I am honored to nominate such accomplished Alaskans to our service academies."
Nominees are selected based on their academic record, extracurricular activities and leadership capacity. Murkowski's nominees will now compete against other candidates nationwide for a spot in the entering class. Though a congressional nomination to a service academy is an accomplishment within itself, it does not guarantee admission; service academies will make final decisions.
Murkowski's 2013 Service Academy nominees and their hometowns are:
U.S. Air Force Academy - Colorado Springs, Colorado:
Joel Ackerman, Copper Center*
Brandon Cameron, Anchorage
Brendan Flynn, Juneau*
Kyle Phillips, Juneau*
Mikayla Scarboro, North Pole
Coleman Smith, Palmer
Hannah Sponseller, North Pole
Ethan Stobbe, Kodiak*
Joshua Sy, Anchorage
Timothy Thornley, Anchorage
U.S. Military Academy - West Point, New York:
Thomas Antal, Fairbanks*
Andrew Banez, Anchorage
Nathanael Beveridge
Duncan Brewer, Kenai*
Samantha Everett, Palmer
Sullivan Gilley, Chugiak*
Derick Hanna, Wasilla
Luke Heun, Palmer
Jacob Miller, Fairbanks
Delainey Stokes, Fairbanks
U.S. Naval Academy - Annapolis, Maryland:
McKenzie Barnett, Kodiak
Scott Browning, Anchorage
Kara Butler, Wasilla
Susumu Jones, Anchorage
Brandon Kavalok, Palmer
Conrad Kress, Anchorage
Joseph Rauenhorst, North Pole
Mizani Rawhani, Petersburg
Sawyer Rickman, Soldotna
Jeremy Valero, Salcha
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy - Kings Point, New York:
Joel Ackerman, Copper Center
Thomas Antal, Fairbanks
Duncan Brewer, Kenai
Tanner Evans, Anchorage
Brendan Flynn, Juneau
Sullivan Gilley, Chugiak
Willa Nagel, Palmer
Kyle Phillips, Juneau
Ethan Stobbe, Kodiak
Thomas White, North Pole
(* Nominee received more than one service academy nomination)
