U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., has nominated 36 high school seniors from 17 counties across West Virginia, including a student from Harrison County, for admission to the United States’ prestigious service academies. The nominees are vying for spots at the U.S. Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Merchant Marine Academy.

Stephen A. McMillion of Harrison County was nominated to the U.S. Military Academy, joining a distinguished group of young leaders representing the Mountain State.

“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,” Senator Capito said.

“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.”

The nominees were chosen through a rigorous process conducted by a board selected by Senator Capito. The board reviewed applications, conducted interviews, and made recommendations based on the candidates’ qualifications and leadership potential.

Students nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy include 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. (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), and George T. Welti (Jefferson County).

Nominees for the U.S. Military Academy include 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), and Hannah D. Phillips (Jefferson County).

For the U.S. Naval Academy, nominees are 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), and Hector D. Zavala (Jefferson County).

The nominees for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy are Noah Brown (Berkeley County), Tristan M. Rucker (Jefferson County), Liberty G. Mannon (Cabell County, also nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy), and John D. Park (Berkeley County, also nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy).

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