Graves Announces Nominations to U.S. Military Academies

KANSAS CITY, MO – U.S. Representative Sam Graves (MO-06) has announced United States Military Service Academy nominations for students in Missouri’s Sixth Congressional District. Each year, members of Congress are tasked with selecting qualified students from their respective districts to attend one of America’s prestigious military academies. 

"It is my honor to nominate these incredible young men and women to attend our nation’s military academies,” said Rep. Graves, who notified each student by phone of their nomination. “All have gone above and beyond to demonstrate their leadership abilities in their schools and communities. I know each and every one will go on to make North Missouri proud.”

The following students from across North Missouri received nominations from Congressman Graves:

Breanna Coonfare – U.S. Military Academy (Liberty North High School)

Ethan Holtman – U.S. Military Academy (Jefferson C-123 High School in Conception Junction)

Ryan Morrow– U.S. Military Academy (Park Hill South High School)

Iris Alvarez – U.S. Military Academy; U.S. Air Force Academy (Savannah High School)

Tade Wynn– U.S. Military Academy (Culver Military Academy, Hometown - Liberty)

Lance Meekins – U.S. Military Academy (Kearney High School)

George Freeman – U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; U.S. Naval Academy (Moberly High School)

Octavious Soriano – U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; U.S. Naval Academy (St. Pius X Catholic High School, Hometown – Kansas City)

Zacary Wheeler – U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; U.S. Naval Academy; U.S. Air Force Academy (Smithville High School)

Nikos Guerrero – U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; U.S. Air Force Academy (Park Hill High School)

Gabriel Watkins – U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; U.S. Air Force Academy (Lathrop High School)

Emma Bruhl – U.S. Air Force Academy (Vicenza High School)

Margaret Howard – U.S. Air Force Academy (West Platte High School)

Jacob Duckworth – U.S. Air Force Academy (Park Hill South High School)

Maxwell Casey – U.S. Naval Academy (Pembroke Hill School, Hometown - Parkville)

Evan Janiak – U.S. Naval Academy (Kearney High School)

 The nomination system is a very competitive process. Various military academies hold extremely selective admission standards. To help in the nomination process, Rep. Graves created an Academy Nominations Review Board. The board, made up of service academy graduates, veterans and citizens of the Sixth District, interviewed and reviewed all applicants before making final recommendations to Rep. Graves.

Students interested in being appointed to a service academy in the future are encouraged to learn more, particularly early in their high school career, by contacting Graves’ district office in Kansas City or by visiting graves.house.gov.

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