Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. Announces Service Academy Nominations

Salina, KS – This year, 53 Kansas high school students participated in U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D.’s Military Service Academy interviews, resulting in 38 applicants receiving nominations to at least one U.S. military service academy. 

“It’s a privilege and an honor to nominate these young men and women to our nation’s esteemed military service academies,” Senator Marshall said. “As a veteran myself, I commend their commitment to leadership, service, and duty. Their willingness to serve their country is inspiring and represents the best of our next generation.”

This year’s interviews were conducted in November at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, K. Applicants were interviewed by the following panelists: Scott Stuckey, Civilian Aid to the Secretary of the Army, Junction City; Janet Nichols, Protocol Chief, First Infantry Division, Manhattan; Jeff Mitchell, Naval Academy graduate, Blue and Gold Officer at the Naval Academy, Lawrence; Lee Gilgour, Blue and Gold Officer at the Naval Academy, Kansas City; Brevin Irvin, West Point Graduate, Wichita Firefighter, Firehouse 20, Wichita; and Bonnie Molz and Tyler Mason, staff for Senator Marshall. 

The following students received nominations from Senator Marshall: 

Raj Fanaswala, Overland Park, West Point

Kaitlyn Rambo, Topeka, West Point

Roman Feydash, Olathe, Air Force           

Nash McDaniel, Wellsville, West Point   

Elliese Thurlby, Overland Park, Naval      

Riddick Goss, Salina, Naval          

Finan McManus, Overland Park, Naval   

Sarah Yan, Overland Park, West Point    

Peyton Custer, Cheney Naval and Merchant Marine         

William Wood, Mission Hills, Naval         

Cristina Pena, McPherson, West Point and Naval             

Max Doerfler, Overland Park, West Point and Naval        

Jackson Tell, Lawrence, Air Force            

Zachary Osborne, Berryton, Naval           

Logan Wint, Valley Center, West Point and Naval             

Joshua Robison, Leawood, Naval             

Tatum Grimes, Olathe, West Point          

Aiden Lang, Sabetha, West Point, Naval and Merchant Marines    

Jack Graves, Leawood, West Point          

Bret Short, Wichita, West Point and Naval           

Robert Rasmussen, Overseas, Air Force and West Point  

Jack Kessler, Fairway, Air Force and West Point  

Ryan Thein, Manhattan, West Point        

David Allegri, Prairie Village, Naval          

Max Mitchell, Lawrence, Air Force, West Point and Merchant Marines    

Benjamin Thurmond, Overland Park, Naval         

Hannah Simmelink, Esbon, Air Force and Naval   

Aiden Howat, Olathe, Air Force and West Point  

Mark Buss, Enterprise, West Point and Naval       

Thomas Hapke, Kansas City, West Point  

Grace Coughlin, Olpe, Naval        

Henry Algya, Wichita, Naval        

Colleen McAlister, Prairie Village, Air Force         

Nicholas Westerhaus, Overland Park, Naval        

Olivia Lott, Overland Park, Air Force       

Riley Dwornicki, Wichita, Air Force and West Point          

Ethan Franz, Overland Park, Naval          

Sophia Gimino, Wichita, West Point       

Background:

Each year, Senator Marshall has the opportunity to nominate Kansas students for admission to at least one of the United States’ four elite military service academies, which include the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Students admitted to the Academies receive a bachelors’ degree and are required to serve at least five years active duty and three years as inactive duty following graduation.

All students nominated by Senator Marshall are further vetted and reviewed by Academy staff before receiving a final determination on acceptance. 

If you or a family member are interested in serving at a military academy, please complete an online application available on my website at marshall.senate.gov.