U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) announced today that he will nominate 36 West Virginia students from 17 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 senior Mitchell Winkie is part of the list released today by Sen. Manchin.

 

“It is a great privilege to recommend 36 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 dedicated 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, Braxton, Cabell, Clay, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Kanawha, Marion, Mineral, Monongalia, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Putnam, Raleigh, Taylor and Wood.

 

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

 

Air Force Academy

 

Mara Brown, Seoul Korea, from Raleigh County

 

Dominic Raymond, Trinity Christian High School

 

Isaac Childers, Fairmont High School

 

Grace Skidmore, Braxton County High School

 

Emma Lindberg, Wentworth Military Prep School, from Jefferson County

 

Simon Sneeringer, Northwestern Prep School, from Putnam County

 

Chase Loving, Woodrow Wilson High School

 

Nic Cheuvront, Parkersburg High School

 

Alex Baumgartner, West Virginia University Parkersburg, from Wood County

 

Jacob Hanni, Teays Valley Christian High School

 

Military Academy at West Point

 

Hunter Hill, Parkersburg High School

 

Gabby Lovell, Jefferson High School

 

Sam Brown, Basic Training, from Clay County

 

Cody Bailey, Ripley High School

 

Jacob Morgan, Grafton High School 

 

Teran Barnitz, Virginia Tech, from Cabell County

 

Nicole Hess, Germany, from Berkeley County

 

Ryan Hayes, George Washington High School

 

Grant Lares, George Washington High School 

 

Jake Matthews, Basic Training, from Putnam County

 

Naval Academy

 

Mitchell Winkie, Bridgeport High School

 

Ellie McClung, Sissonville High School

 

Trevor Tucker, Ripley High School

 

Chad Hollandsworth, George Washington High School 

 

Connor Jelich, Ravenswood High School

 

Brady Watson, Frankfort High School, 

 

Arianna Crawford, Nicholas County High School

 

Sean Timberlake, Shepherd University, from Jefferson County

 

Garret Wilkins, South Harrison High School

 

Jack Terosky, Parkersburg High School

 

Merchant Marine Academy

 

Hannah Hill, Parkersburg High School

 

Justin McKown, Ripley High School

 

Cary Robertson, Pocahontas County High School 

 

Shandy Kuzava, Liberty High School

 

Sallie Samolitis, Parkersburg High School

 

Bryce Humphreys, Winfield High School

 

Editor's Note: Photo by Ben Queen of www.benqueenphotography.com.