Press Releases

WICHITA—Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas), along with panels of local community leaders, interviewed 26 area high school students who applied for nomination to a U.S. service academy on Friday, Nov. 9, at his Wichita District Office. Two additional students were interviewed by phone.

"I'm always impressed by the quality of students we have here in Kansas," said Rep. Estes. "Each student I met with had an exceptional academic record and displayed the character and qualities needed to learn and serve at one of our U.S. 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. Academies make the final selection for appointments based on additional evaluations.

Nominations will be made after the first of the year. High school students interested in applying for 2020 should visit estes.house.gov/forms/serviceacademynomination.

Students who applied for a service academy are listed below in alphabetical order, along with their parents, high school and desired service academies.

Nathan Adler, son of Marcus and Michelle Adler
Trinity Academy | U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy

Zachary Bollinger, son of Shane and Emily Bollinger
Hesston High School | U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy

Nataleigh Cantu, daughter of Joseph and Karen Cantu
Augusta High School | U.S. Military Academy

Monty Christo, son of Monty and Jody Christo
Andover Central High School | U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy

Devin Dickinson, son of Jacob and Jill Dickinson
Wellington High School | U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy

Audrey Doffing, daughter of John and Melissa Doffing
Conway Springs High School | U.S. Air Force Academy

Paige Doran, daughter of Jim and Eloise Doran
St. John High School | U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy

Nicole Gish, daughter of Jason and Kim Gish
Trinity Academy | U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy

Ethan Grimm, son of Scott and Brandy Grim
Wichita High School Northwest | U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy

Wyatt Hendrickson, son of Todd and Lynette Hendrickson
Newton High School | U.S. Air Force Academy

Ethan Hull, son of Jason and Cheree Hull
Bishop Carroll Catholic High School | U.S. Military Academy

Collin Jensen, son of Dale and Denise Jensen
Valley Center High School | U.S. Air Force Academy

Milo Jones, son of Ben Jones and Maria Deckert
Newton High School | U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Naval Academy

Tanner Morris, son of Gary Morris
Derby High School | U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy

Manmeet Pelia, daughter of Yuvraj Singh
Wichita High School East | U.S. Air Force Academy

Taylor Pollock, daughter of Mark and Krista Pollock
South Barber High School | U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy

Trevor Reed, son of Michelle Reed
Valley Center High School | U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy

Arron Russell, son of Brandon and Mary Russell
Wichita High School Northwest | U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy

Michael Shuey, son of Jennifer Hadley
Wichita High School East | U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy

Kiley Sweet, daughter of Donald and Michelle Sweet
Maize South High School | U.S. Military Academy

Hunter Waite, son of Jason and Janine Waite
Trinity Academy | U.S. Air Force Academy

Sophia Weidner, daughter of Deborah Balentine
Andover High School | U.S. Air Force Academy

Courtney Weir, daughter of Richard and Tonja Weir
Maize South High School | U.S. Naval Academy

Sydney Wekamp, daughter of Charles and Penny Wekamp
Andover High School | U.S. Air Force Academy

Timothy Whetstone, son of David and Kate Whetstone
West Elk High School | U.S. Air Force Academy

Addison Willett, son of Jeff and Brandy Willett
Wichita Collegiate School | U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy

Annalise Young, daughter of William and Dacia Young
El Dorado High School | U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy

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 Education and the Workforce, and the House Committee on Homeland Security.