Graves Nominates Sixth District Students to Service Academies
(Liberty, MO) U.S. Congressman Sam Graves today announced he has nominated several Sixth District students to the United States Service Academies.
Each year members of Congress are responsible for selecting very highly qualified students to attend one of our nation's five prestigious military academies. Graves said many very qualified students applied for a nomination through his office this year.
Graves nominated the following area students:
*Samantha Verduzco, St. Joseph Central; T.J. Schieber, Penney High School; Mary Margaret Carmichael, St. Pius X High School; Ethan Millsap of Blue Springs; and Frank Tamburello, Staley High School to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.
* Grayson Gist, North Kansas City High School; Richard Woodruff, Liberty High School; Austin Ellwein, Smithville High School; Garrett Hull, Liberty High School; and Lawton Huffman of Weston to the United States Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado.
* Brock Hightower, Rockhurst High School, Dominic Chambers of Kansas City; Jake Busker of Putnam County High School; Joseph Torchia, Platte County High School; and Michael Tupica, Mid-Buchanan High School to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
* Tanner Ginavan, Fort Osage High School to the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York.
"I am both honored and proud to nominate these students," said Graves. "They have proven they can excel both in and out of the classroom. They are all well-rounded individuals that will make the Sixth District extremely proud."
The nomination system is a very competitive process. The various military academies hold very selective admission standards. To help in the nomination process, Graves created an Academy Nominations Review Board. The board, made up of service academy graduates and citizens of the 6th District, interviewed and reviewed all applicants and made final recommendations to Graves.
Graves, who notified each student by phone that he was nominating them, said it was a very difficult to make his final selections since all the students that applied were so exceptional. All of the applicants had impressive academic credentials and extensive involvement in school and community activities.
Students interested in being appointed to a service academy can find out more information by contacting Graves' district office in Liberty or by visiting his website: www.house.gov/graves.
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