U.S. Senator Joe Manchin announced Tuesday that he will nominate 40 West Virginia students from 20 counties to the U.S. service academies, which include the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point. Bridgeport High School’s Jack Funk is one of those individuals (see what academy he is chosen for below).

 

“It is such an honor to recommend 40 of West Virginia’s brightest young men and women to the U.S. service academies,” Senator Manchin said. “All of our students worked hard to earn these nominations and are determined to serve our country. Many are also striving to carry on their families’ proud military heritage. Today, I join all West Virginians in congratulating these hardworking and committed students, because a nomination to one of our elite service academies will develop these young men and women to become our next generation of military leaders.”

 

The students are from the following counties: Berkeley, Brooke, Greenbrier, Harrison, Jefferson, Kanawha, Marion, Marshall, Mason, Mercer, Mineral, Monongalia, Nicholas, Ohio, Pocahontas, Putnam, Raleigh, Taylor, Wirt and Wood.

 

Senator Manchin is recommending the following students to the service academies. Final admission is determined by the respective academy.

 

Air Force Academy

 

Sara Burton, Hedgesville High School

 

Jack Funk, Bridgeport High School

 

Lace Shoemake, Frankfort High School

 

Isaac Turner, Wheeling Park High School

 

Sarah Leslie, Greenbrier East High School

 

Bryce Graley, Putnam County

 

Nick Elekes, Spring Mills High School

 

Ken Wu, John Marshall High School

 

Erin Leslie, Greenbrier East High School

 

David Park, Air Force Academy Prep (Ohio County)

 

Military Academy at West Point

 

Jeremy Hammes, Herbert Hoover High School

 

Jonathan Benson, Wheeling Park High School

 

Sophie Parker, Wiesbaden High School (Monongalia County)

 

Seth Kerby, Wirt County High School

 

Chase DeMoss, Shady Spring High School

 

Tyler Owens, Pocahontas County High School

 

Jacob Morgan, Military Academy Prep (Taylor County)

 

Erik Willis, Keyser High School

 

Charles Willis, Carlisle Barracks, (Kanawha County)

 

Brandon Ralston, East Fairmont High School

 

Naval Academy

 

Mary Catherine Bolton, Parkersburg High School

 

Jacob Laing, Wheeling Park High School

 

Brette Geary, Brooke County High School

 

Mike Reed, Linsly School

 

Drew Johnson, Berkeley County

 

Rhiannon Turner, Musselman High School

 

Adrien Inman, Spring Mills High School             

 

Juliana O’Reilly, Martinsburg High School

 

James Dishner, Pikeview High School

 

Joseph Minor, Central Catholic High School

 

Merchant Marine Academy

 

Drew Polczynski, Jefferson High School

 

Nick Johnson, Parkersburg High School

 

Jake Cooper, Washington High School            

 

Noah Kessler, Teays Valley Christian

 

Hunter White, Point Pleasant High School

 

Colin Harvath, East Fairmont High School

 

Tyler Evans, Shady Spring High School

 

Braden Welsh, Bishop Catholic High School (Marshall County)

 

Samantha Dent, Parkersburg High School

 

Bridgett Carson, Nicholas County