U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) today announced that she is nominating 36 qualified high school seniors from 17 counties throughout West Virginia to the prestigious U.S. Military, Naval, Air Force, and Merchant Marine Academies. Nominees were selected by a board chosen by Senator Capito who reviewed each application, interviewed candidates, and made recommendations. 

“One of my most important responsibilities as a U.S. Senator is nominating bright, motivated West Virginians for admission to our nation’s prestigious service academies, and it is a task that I look forward to every year. I was extremely proud to nominate 36 outstanding West Virginians to represent our state at the service academies and become our nation’s future military leaders. These young men and women have proven themselves as the best and brightest, and I look forward to seeing them excel in the future,” Senator Capito said.

For more information on the academy nomination process, visit Senator Capito’s website here.

Senator Capito’s nominees for the service academies are listed below:

U.S. Air Force Academy

Nixon W. Brown, Greenbrier County

Owen C. Cosner, Monongalia County

Mason M. Derrick, Jefferson County        

Addison G. Eldridge, Mercer County

Sophia C. Elwood, Cabell County
*Also nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy 

Faith E. Foglesong, Jefferson County
*Also nominated to the U.S. Military Academy 

Haden M. Hodge, Putnam County
*Also nominated to the U.S. Military Academy

Daniel B. Martin, Wood County

Andrew M. McClanahan, Putnam County

Jackson C. McWhorter, Summers County

Maddox J. Reddington, Jefferson County

Keegan A. Sack, Putnam County

Benjamin K. Simerman, Wayne County
*Also nominated to the U.S. Military Academy 

Solomon R. Stoll, Cabell County

George T. Welti, Jefferson County

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

Noah Brown, Berkeley County

Tristan M. Rucker, Jefferson County

U.S. Military Academy

Ian E. Cline, Greenbrier County

Agustin T. Hall, Jefferson County
*Also nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy           

Travis A. Jenkins, Jefferson County

Garrett W. Johnson, Fayette County

Stephen A. McMillion, Harrison County

Hannah D. Phillips, Jefferson County

U.S. Naval Academy

Sean C. Fagan, Jefferson County

Jeremiah W. Fizer, Cabell County

Liberty G. Mannon, Cabell County
*Also nominated to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy           

Jameson R. Maynard, Ohio County

Kaitlin C. Ortiz, Ohio County

John D. Park, Berkeley County
*Also nominated to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy           

Merrick D. Reddington, Jefferson County

Joseph N. Simonton, Kanawha County

Chloe M. Smalley, Cabell County

August J. Welsh, Marshall County

Ashton S. White, Randolph County

William B. Wojtowicz, Hampshire County

Hector D. Zavala, Jefferson County