Press Releases

WICHITA—Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas), along with panels of local community leaders, will interview 25 area high school students who applied for nomination to a U.S. service academy on Friday, Nov. 1, at his Wichita District Office.

Rep. Estes has tapped 11 distinguished community leaders with varying backgrounds to serve on the four interview panels. Their knowledge and understanding of our U.S. Armed Forces, current events and education thoroughly equips them to vet this year’s exceptional applicants. In addition to meeting with the relevant panels, all applicants will also be interviewed by Rep. Estes.

“The 4^th District is blessed to have citizens deeply committed to this country and our future,” said Rep. Estes. “These panelists will bring their own unique backgrounds and experiences to interview the incredible students who have applied to our nation’s prestigious service academies.”

Every year, Members of Congress may nominate up to ten candidates for appointment to four of the five U.S. service academies: the U.S. Military Academy; the U.S. Naval Academy; the U.S. Air Force Academy; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, does not require a congressional nomination for appointment.

Service academies provide a world-class education with an approximate value of $250,000 in addition to a monthly stipend provided to the cadet. Academies make the final selection for appointments based on additional evaluations.

U.S. Military Academy Interview Panel:

• Renee Erickson – Kansas State Representative, House District 87; retired USD 259 teacher and principal
• Mark Segovia – U.S. Army Col. (ret.); simulator and ground instructor at Flight Safety Textron Aviation Training
• Greg Zuercher – U.S. Air Force and U.S Army Staff Sergeant (ret.); commander, VFW Post 112

U.S. Naval Academy Interview Panel:

• Scott Bishop – U.S. Naval Academy class of 2002; Navy Reserve Lt. Cmdr.; senior manager with Spirit AeroSystems
• Chad Gay – U.S. Marine Corps, Operation Desert Storm; Harvey County Sheriff; 25 years in law enforcement
• Matt Treaster – U.S. Naval Academy class of 1988, U.S. Navy Lt.; Assistant U.S. Attorney; parent of a Naval Academy cadet

U.S. Air Force Academy Interview Panel:

• David Dennis – U.S. Air Force Col. (ret.); retired teacher; former Kansas Board of Education chairman; current chairman of the Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners
• Don Jarvis – U.S. Air Force Academy class of 1988; parent of a 2019 Air Force Academy graduate
• Vanessa Unseth – U.S. Air Force Academy class of 2017; U.S. Air Force 1^st Lt.; logistics readiness officer and executive officer for the wing commander, McConnell Air Force Base

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Interview Panel:

• Laura Leva Patterson – U.S. Merchant Marine Academy class of 2004; Navy Reserve Lt.; regional sales engineer for Bosch Rexroth Corporation
• Sean Ritchie – U.S. Merchant Marine Academy class of 1992; Navy Reserve Lt.; field admissions representative for the Merchant Marine Academy and U.S. Coast Guard Academy; parent of a Coast Guard Academy graduate and a Merchant Marine Academy cadet; Cargill Transportation and Logistics North American operations lead

Ron Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas’ 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.