Walden nominates 3 Deschutes Co. students to service academies
Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., announced Thursday that he has nominated 10 Oregon students for acceptance to the prestigious United States service academies.
Walden’s Service Academy Nomination Board — retired and active-duty military officers who interview potential candidates for the service academies — recommended each student based on their academic performance, extracurricular involvement, and character.
“I am honored to nominate these outstanding young Oregonians to America’s service academies,” Walden said. “Years of hard work, dedication, and commitment to character have earned these future leaders these much-deserved nominations. By pursuing a higher education at one of our country’s select service academies, these students have shown a desire to lead by example, grow intellectually, and serve the United States in uniform. I am confident that each nominee will have tremendous success in this admirable endeavor and that their futures will be bright.
“I also thank my Service Academy Nomination Board for recommending these young leaders. Their experience serving our country in uniform is invaluable to the nomination process, and speaks to the caliber of the students they interviewed and recommended for nominations this year. Without their guidance and understanding of what it takes to succeed at the U.S. service academies, these nominations would not be possible,” said Walden. Serving on Walden’s Service Academy Nomination Board are: Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Paula Brown; Col. Smith, Jeff, Oregon Air National Guard; Lt. Col. Lee, Travis, Oregon Army National Guard; Retired U.S. Navy Commander John Howard; Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col Kirk Mickelsen.
The service academies include the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado; the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York; the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland; and the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York. Final selection for admission to the service academies will be determined by officials at each respective academy this spring.
Students who are interested in learning more about service academy nominations can visit Walden’s website at https://walden.house.gov/academynominations.
The nominees from Oregon are as follows:
Baker County
Clay Keller, son of Douglas and Theresa Keller of Baker City, attended Baker High School — nominated to the United States Naval Academy.
Deschutes County
Jackson Clough, son of James and Jill Clough of Bend, attending Summit High School — nominated to the Unites States Air Force Academy. Benjamin Roberts, son of Andrew and Kimberly Roberts of Bend, attending Bend Senior High School — nominated to the United States Naval Academy. Levi Schwarz, son of Janet and Douglas Schwarz of Bend, attended Bend Senior High School — nominated to the United States Naval Academy.
Jackson County
Dana Jung, daughter of Dr. Tae Kyung Jung and Mikyoung Yang of Medford, attending North Medford High School — nominated to the United States Military Academy (West Point), and United States Air Force Academy.
Klamath County
Brandon VanMeter, son of Stephen and Amy Johnson of Klamath Falls, attending Klamath Union High School — nominated to the United States Naval Academy, United States Air Force Academy, and United States Military Academy (West Point). Nolan Britton, son of Robert and Bobbie Sue Britton of Klamath Falls, attending Lost River High School — nominated to the United States Air Force Academy. Jacob Healy, son of Mike and Julie Healy of Klamath Falls, attending Mazama High School — nominated to the United States Naval Academy. Maximillian Balakas, son of Martin Balakas and Kathleen Todd of Klamath Falls, attending Mazama High School — nominated to United States Military Academy (West Point).
Umatilla County
Kirk Liscom, son of Matthew and Shelley Liscom of Pendleton, attending Pendleton High School — nominated to the United States Naval Academy.
