WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Senator Pat Roberts today released the names of the young Kansans who will receive his nomination for appointments to U.S. Service Academies.

"I am very pleased to announce this year’s nominees," Senator Roberts said. "These men and women are outstanding representatives of Kansas in every way, and I wish them the best of luck."

In making the nominations, Senator Roberts followed the recommendations of his Academy Screening Board. The nonpartisan Board is comprised of seven volunteers from across Kansas and is overseen by Karin Wisdom, Senator Roberts’ District Director in Wichita. As part of the decision-making process, board members conduct personal interviews with the applicants, as well as review their written applications, G.P.A, and standardized test scores.

Once nominated by Senator Roberts, the applicants then must meet the individual admission requirements of each academy. The academies will make the final decision on who will receive an appointment of admission. Due to the limited number of openings at each academy, not every nominee will receive an appointment. The academies this spring will announce appointments for the class entering in June 2010. Senator Roberts’ nominees are as follows:

Air Force Academy - (Colorado Springs, Co)

Richard "Dan" Cook, Lawrence

Trenton Ferguson, Kensington

David Gardiner, Gardner

Laura Junge, Overland Park

Wendy Lathrom, Wichita

Todd Lee, Lawrence

Calvin Morgan, Lawrence

Taylor Pearce, Wallace

Eric Ruth, Johnson

James Vechery, Wichita

Jacob Barren, Bonner Springs

Anthony Broll, Shawnee

Pamina Buechner, Lawrence

Haley Doyle, Prairie Village

Kennan Healy, Leawood

Daniel Hiller III, Olathe

James Holcomb, Mission Hills

Bryce Loesing, Wichita

Dylan Macoubrie, Leawood

Lee Moody, Garnett

Adam Morel, Overland Park

Kevin Palmer, Kansas City

Anthony Pinto, Overland Park

Alexandra Rader, Wichita

Elizabeth Rubin, Overland Park

Joshua Rydberg, Overland Park

David Shelton, Prairie Village

Stephen Stringfield, Wichita

Nathaniel Swift, Olathe

Thomas Wegener, Overland Park

Logan Abbott, Wichita

Luis Basalo, Overland Park

Michael Beachem, Basehor

Regina DiMarco, Easton

Robert Fee Jr., Hutchinson

Craig Fentress, Caney

Tucker Jennings, Salina

William Koch, Leawood

Andrew Laib, Emporia

Joshua Peiffer, El Dorado

Zachary Ramirez, Topeka

Robert Samson, Leavenworth

Colton Sheffer, Overland Park

Joshua Thornton, Erie

Jordan Yano, Overland Park

Miles Wenger, McPherson

Senator Roberts will begin accepting applications in March for nominations to academy classes entering in June 2011. Applications at that time should be directed to Karin Wisdom at Senator Roberts’ Wichita office (155 North Market St., Suite 120, Wichita, KS 67202 or 316-263-0416).

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