Photo courtesy of the office of Gary Palmer.
Congressman Gary Palmer pictured with nominated students at a reception on January 17. Back, from left: Ryan Kirk, Tyler Ferguson, Daylen McGhee, Noah Probst, Gunnar Schultz, Jeffery Turnipseed, Duncan Morris, Robert Randolph, John Allen Bass, Thomas Jordan, Jackson Weyhe. Front, from left: George Moore, Jackson White, Elexus Oliver, Congressman Gary Palmer, Stav Pappas, Sarah Whitley, Sarah Rabenau, Kaitlyn Willis, Blake Randle, Savannah Stewart. Not pictured: Wiley Burns, Ethan Clarke, Cam Covington, Brianna Hebert, Davis Holley, Kaley Ann Fulton, Jackson McInvale.
Congressman Gary Palmer has announced the 27 students from the state’s sixth congressional district who have received nominations to attend U.S. service academies.
The students come from 15 high schools, two military preparatory schools and one university, and they were recognized, along with their families, at a reception at Vestavia Hills City Hall on Tuesday, Jan. 17. Of those students, three are from Chelsea High School, four are from Oak Mountain High School, two are from Spain Park High School and one is from Briarwood Christian School.
“Every year I have the honor and privilege of nominating outstanding students from the Sixth District of Alabama for an appointment to our nation’s service academies,’’ said Palmer. “Service academy recruiters often compliment Alabama’s Sixth District for the level of preparedness and exceptional achievements of students from our area. “
The application process for most U.S. service academies involves receiving a nomination from the student’s U.S. House representative, U.S. senator, the vice president or the president. These academies include the: U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York; U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado; U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland; and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York. Once the nomination is confirmed, the academy will review the whole candidate to determine admission. Students who are accepted become scholar soldiers at some of the most prestigious institutions in America.
Each December, Congressman Gary Palmer partners with his Academy Advisory Board to interview and nominate outstanding students from the Sixth Congressional District for an appointment to one of our nation’s service academies.
“Please join me in congratulating these students and their families for this major accomplishment in the application process,” said Palmer. “I look forward to seeing how each individual goes on to serve this country in the future.”
Nominated students from the 280 area are:
Chelsea High School
- John Allen Bass, nominated for the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy and U.S. Naval Academy
- Sarah Rabenau, nominated for the U.S. Air Force Academy and U.S. Military Academy
- Kaitlyn Willis, nominated for the U.S. Military Academy
Oak Mountain High School
- Blake Randle, nominated for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
- Gunnar Schultz, nominated for the U.S. Air Force Academy
- Ethan Clarke, nominated for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
- Sarah Whitley, nominated for the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy and U.S. Naval Academy
Spain Park High School
- Davis Holley, nominated for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
- Thomas Jordan, nominated for the U.S. Military Academy
Briarwood Christian School
- George Moore, nominated for the U.S. Military Academy and U.S. Naval Academy
– Submitted by the office of Gary Palmer.
